Eastern Michigan Athletics
Wednesday, April 12
Columbus, Ohio
6:35 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
3
at
1
Ohio State
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Eagle Pitching Bullies the Buckeyes in 3-1 Victory
4/12/2017 9:54:00 PM | Baseball
EMU held OSU to just five hits, and none after the fourth inning
COLUMBUS, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team locked down the Ohio State University bats in a 3-1 victory Wednesday night, April 12, at Bill Davis Stadium. The Eagle (13-20) pitching staff held OSU (14-19) to just five hits on the night, and none after the fourth inning to defeat the Buckeyes for the first time since 2009.
Three pitchers combined to go the distance. Junior starting pitcher Justin McMurtrey (Redding, Calif.-Shasta (Butte C.C.)) took a no decision after going the first 3.2, only surrendering the lone run on five hits. Senior Justin Thompson (Canton, Mich.-Plymouth (Concordia)) earned his first win of the season in a brilliant performance, going the next 4.1 innings, only allowing one base runner on a walk, and striking out four.
Finally, senior Matthew Beaton (Guelph, Ontario-Bishop Macdonnell Catholic) got his third save of the year with a quick ninth inning, including a strikeout. It was the eighth save of his career, which ranks tied for eighth in EMU history.
EMU got all the runs they needed on a two-RBI single from senior John Montgomery (Anaheim Hills, Calif.-JSerra), who now has a team-best 24 on the year. EMU's third run came on a solo home run in the ninth inning from sophomore John Rensel Jr. (Tallmadge, Ohio-Tallmadge), his first of the season and second of his career.
The Eagles got the two runs early on in the first inning, getting two of the first three batters on via an error and double from junior Brennan Williams (Commerce Township, Mich.-Walled Lake Northern), putting runners at second and third for Montgomery. The EMU RBI leader did what he's done all season, knocking both of them in on a single to make it 2-0.
McMurtrey got through the first three innings unscathed, with the only threat a bases loaded jam in the second, but he pitched his way out of trouble to get to the fourth with the 2-0 lead.
In the fourth, he got the first two batters out, including one on his first strikeout, but Ohio State got a two-out rally, and an RBI base hit pulled OSU within one, chasing McMurtrey from the contest. In relief, Thompson got out of the jam, maintaining the lead through four.
Thompson continued the trend, carving through the Buckeye lineup the next four innings, only allowing a solo base runner on a walk in the fifth, but then retiring the next 11 straight to keep the 2-1 lead into the ninth.
EMU got some insurance in the ninth courtesy of a solo home run from Rensel, which was blasted over the right field fence. His first of the season gave EMU the 3-1 advantage into the bottom of the ninth.
Entering in the ninth, Beaton finished what was started with a quick inning, only allowing one base runner on a walk, but otherwise shutting down the Buckeyes with a strikeout to clinch his third save, and the two-run win.
Eastern will return home this weekend for a three-game set against MAC East foe Ohio University. The series against the Bobcats will begin with a 6 p.m. first pitch, Friday April 14, at Oestrike Stadium.
Three pitchers combined to go the distance. Junior starting pitcher Justin McMurtrey (Redding, Calif.-Shasta (Butte C.C.)) took a no decision after going the first 3.2, only surrendering the lone run on five hits. Senior Justin Thompson (Canton, Mich.-Plymouth (Concordia)) earned his first win of the season in a brilliant performance, going the next 4.1 innings, only allowing one base runner on a walk, and striking out four.
Finally, senior Matthew Beaton (Guelph, Ontario-Bishop Macdonnell Catholic) got his third save of the year with a quick ninth inning, including a strikeout. It was the eighth save of his career, which ranks tied for eighth in EMU history.
EMU got all the runs they needed on a two-RBI single from senior John Montgomery (Anaheim Hills, Calif.-JSerra), who now has a team-best 24 on the year. EMU's third run came on a solo home run in the ninth inning from sophomore John Rensel Jr. (Tallmadge, Ohio-Tallmadge), his first of the season and second of his career.
The Eagles got the two runs early on in the first inning, getting two of the first three batters on via an error and double from junior Brennan Williams (Commerce Township, Mich.-Walled Lake Northern), putting runners at second and third for Montgomery. The EMU RBI leader did what he's done all season, knocking both of them in on a single to make it 2-0.
McMurtrey got through the first three innings unscathed, with the only threat a bases loaded jam in the second, but he pitched his way out of trouble to get to the fourth with the 2-0 lead.
In the fourth, he got the first two batters out, including one on his first strikeout, but Ohio State got a two-out rally, and an RBI base hit pulled OSU within one, chasing McMurtrey from the contest. In relief, Thompson got out of the jam, maintaining the lead through four.
Thompson continued the trend, carving through the Buckeye lineup the next four innings, only allowing a solo base runner on a walk in the fifth, but then retiring the next 11 straight to keep the 2-1 lead into the ninth.
EMU got some insurance in the ninth courtesy of a solo home run from Rensel, which was blasted over the right field fence. His first of the season gave EMU the 3-1 advantage into the bottom of the ninth.
Entering in the ninth, Beaton finished what was started with a quick inning, only allowing one base runner on a walk, but otherwise shutting down the Buckeyes with a strikeout to clinch his third save, and the two-run win.
Eastern will return home this weekend for a three-game set against MAC East foe Ohio University. The series against the Bobcats will begin with a 6 p.m. first pitch, Friday April 14, at Oestrike Stadium.
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