Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
West Virginia
Baseball Blanks West Virginia, 23-0, to Split Doubleheader
3/20/2010 8:31:18 PM | Baseball
EMU comes back after a 5-3 loss in game one to stun West Virginia with a 23-run performance in game two
Game 1 Box score
Game 2 Box score
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. (EMUEagles.com) – After dropping game one of its doubleheader, 5-3, the Eastern Michigan University baseball team rebounded in a big way in game two, as the Eagles blanked West Virginia University, 23-0, on Saturday evening, March 20, at Hawley Field.
The split moves EMU's record to 6-12, while WVU goes to 9-10.
A day after being shut out by the Mountaineers, 4-0, the Eagles used a 10-run top of the fourth to key the win, along with an outstanding performance on the mound from sophomore right hander Kendall Lewis (Huntsville, Ohio-Indian Lake). Lewis went seven innings in the victory, giving up just three hits and three walks, while striking out seven.
Redshirt sophomore transfer Ben Magsig (Okemos, Mich.-Okemos-Lansing C.C.) drove in a career and game-high six runs in game two, finishing the contest 3-for-6 with two runs scored.
Senior Todd Graves (St. Marys, Ohio-St. Marys Memorial) had a stellar day at the plate as well, hitting his first home run of the season and finishing with five RBI. Graves finished 3-for-4 at the dish with two runs scored in game two, while senior Andrew Marshall (Mason, Mich.-Mason) went 2-for-5 with a grand slam home run to go along with two runs scored and four RBI.
Junior college transfers Bo Kinder (Wapella, Ill.-Clinton Community-Kaskaskia C.C.) and Aaron Chavez (Milpitas, Calif.-Milpitas-Ohlone C.C.) both performed well in game two, as Kinder tallied two hits, including his third home run of the season, and scored five runs, while Chavez finished the day 3-for-6 at the plate.
Going into the top of the fourth innings with a 6-0 lead, the Eagles put the game out of reach to take a 16-0 lead, as a grand slam by Marshall, coupled with four other EMU hits and a WVU error, paved the way for the Eagles.
It marks the second time the Eagles have scored 20 or more runs under Head Coach Jay Alexander, the first time being a 27-7 win at Bowling Green State University on April 8 of last season. For West Virginia, the loss marks the largest defeat by an opponent at home in school history, and the program's worst loss since falling to James Madison University, 29-3, on April 17, 2002.
In a much different game prior to the 23-0 victory for the Eagles, the team fell, 5-3, as junior Matt Skirving (Midland, Mich.-H.H. Dow) and Kinder both finished with two hits in the loss, while sophomore right hander Jordan Glover (Toronto, Ontario-Ontario Schools) took the loss on the mound for EMU.
The Eagles and Mountaineers wrap up their four-game set at noon tomorrow, March 21, at Hawley Field.
