Eastern Michigan Athletics
Sunday, March 14
Starkville, Miss.
1 p.m. CT
Eastern Michigan University
4-5
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Mississippi State
13-3
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Eastern Michigan
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Mississippi State
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Baseball Falls to Mississippi State in Series Finale in Starkville
3/14/2021 4:58:00 PM | Baseball
Kattula blasts another; EMU hurlers close game with five consecutive scoreless innings
STARKVILLE, Miss. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team was on the diamond for the third and final game of its series at No. 3-ranked Mississippi State University today, March 14. Although EMU hurlers were able to keep the Bulldogs from scoring in six of the home team's eight frames, the team was unable to overcome an early deficit, and ultimately fell, 4-1, at Dudy Noble Field.
Despite hard-fought efforts in the second and third games of the series, respectively, today's setback closed out the wrong end of a series sweep for Eastern (4-5, 0-0 MAC), who entered the three-game set after its best six-game start (4-2) under third-year Head Coach Eric Roof. Despite the weekend losses, the Green and White will begin its Mid-American Conference slate with a ledger just one game under the .500 plateau.
After an incredible eight-inning performance from junior pitcher Justin Meis (Pittsburgh, Pa.-Bethel Park) in game two of the weekend series, Match 13, Eastern's pitching was again strong in the finale. Senior Luke McGuire (Shelby Twp., Mich.-Stevenson) got the start and went 4.0 innings for the visiting Eagles. Despite allowing three earned runs, McGuire was able to toss two scoreless frames and strike out two Bulldogs in his time on the hill. From there, it was a committee of Eagles that got work on the hill. Sophomore Cameron Wagoner (Tecumseh, Mich.-Tecumseh) continued his impressive start to the 2021 campaign, tossing 2.0 innings of perfect baseball in perhaps his most efficient outing of the young season. The effort was Wagoner's first of the season without surrendering a hit, an accomplishment he has now recorded three times in his career. Fellow sophomore Trevor House (Okeana, Ohio-Ross) was next up for the Eagles as he took over for Wagoner in the seventh. Although the second-year lefty gave up three hits, he displayed incredible poise and was able to get out of his frame without any runs surrendered. Junior Zach Fruit (Dundee, Mich.-Dundee (Lansing C.C.)) worked the eighth inning for Eastern, and needed just eight pitches, six of which were strikes, to sit down the home club in 1-2-3 fashion.
Despite Mississippi State's four runs, Eastern pitchers were able to keep its opposition from scoring in six of its eight innings, including each of the last five. The Bulldogs recorded just four hits during their final five frames of at-bats, and were held without a hit in three of their final five trips to the plate. EMU has now held opposing hitters scoreless in five-or-more consecutive innings four times this season, including twice against the No. 3-ranked team nationally, Mississippi State (8.0 innings Saturday, March 13.).
Offensively, the highlight game from team batting leader, freshman Mark Kattula (Sterling Heights, Mich.-Stevenson), who sent a line-drive shot clear out of the park in the top half of the third inning. The home run, his second of the season, was his team-best 11th hit of the season. Kattula notched his 10th with a single in the first inning of the contest, and finished the day with a team-best 2-for-4 effort.
After Kattula's set of knocks in the first and second innings, respectively, EMU had only a small number of opportunities to score again in the game. One opportunity came in the fourth, as senior Shane Easter (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Comstock) lined a two-out single to give EMU its first baserunner since the second inning. Unfortunately, a foul ball out ended the frame just moments later.
EMU only got one runner into scoring position the rest of the game after its second-inning homer, a stat made possible by senior Christian Bault (Maineville, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller (Lincoln Trails)), who smacked a one-out double, his first extra-base hit of the season, in the sixth inning. Consecutive strikeouts followed, however, which kept EMU from scoring.
Although EMU's pitching staff was able to keep the game close through the final portion of the action, EMU's bats faced an equally good outing from the home team, which put the final nine Eagles hitters of the game away in order to earn the win over Eastern, 4-1.
With today's game in the books, Eastern will now head north for its first conference action of the season, beginning next weekend, March 19-21, with a four-game weekend series at the University of Akron. The series kicks off Friday, March 19 at 3 p.m. with games following Saturday, March 20 at 12 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., and Sunday, March 21 at 12 p.m.
To stay up to date with all things EMU baseball, continue to check EMUEagles.com, or follow the team on Twitter, @EMU_Baseball.
Despite hard-fought efforts in the second and third games of the series, respectively, today's setback closed out the wrong end of a series sweep for Eastern (4-5, 0-0 MAC), who entered the three-game set after its best six-game start (4-2) under third-year Head Coach Eric Roof. Despite the weekend losses, the Green and White will begin its Mid-American Conference slate with a ledger just one game under the .500 plateau.
After an incredible eight-inning performance from junior pitcher Justin Meis (Pittsburgh, Pa.-Bethel Park) in game two of the weekend series, Match 13, Eastern's pitching was again strong in the finale. Senior Luke McGuire (Shelby Twp., Mich.-Stevenson) got the start and went 4.0 innings for the visiting Eagles. Despite allowing three earned runs, McGuire was able to toss two scoreless frames and strike out two Bulldogs in his time on the hill. From there, it was a committee of Eagles that got work on the hill. Sophomore Cameron Wagoner (Tecumseh, Mich.-Tecumseh) continued his impressive start to the 2021 campaign, tossing 2.0 innings of perfect baseball in perhaps his most efficient outing of the young season. The effort was Wagoner's first of the season without surrendering a hit, an accomplishment he has now recorded three times in his career. Fellow sophomore Trevor House (Okeana, Ohio-Ross) was next up for the Eagles as he took over for Wagoner in the seventh. Although the second-year lefty gave up three hits, he displayed incredible poise and was able to get out of his frame without any runs surrendered. Junior Zach Fruit (Dundee, Mich.-Dundee (Lansing C.C.)) worked the eighth inning for Eastern, and needed just eight pitches, six of which were strikes, to sit down the home club in 1-2-3 fashion.
Despite Mississippi State's four runs, Eastern pitchers were able to keep its opposition from scoring in six of its eight innings, including each of the last five. The Bulldogs recorded just four hits during their final five frames of at-bats, and were held without a hit in three of their final five trips to the plate. EMU has now held opposing hitters scoreless in five-or-more consecutive innings four times this season, including twice against the No. 3-ranked team nationally, Mississippi State (8.0 innings Saturday, March 13.).
Offensively, the highlight game from team batting leader, freshman Mark Kattula (Sterling Heights, Mich.-Stevenson), who sent a line-drive shot clear out of the park in the top half of the third inning. The home run, his second of the season, was his team-best 11th hit of the season. Kattula notched his 10th with a single in the first inning of the contest, and finished the day with a team-best 2-for-4 effort.
After Kattula's set of knocks in the first and second innings, respectively, EMU had only a small number of opportunities to score again in the game. One opportunity came in the fourth, as senior Shane Easter (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Comstock) lined a two-out single to give EMU its first baserunner since the second inning. Unfortunately, a foul ball out ended the frame just moments later.
EMU only got one runner into scoring position the rest of the game after its second-inning homer, a stat made possible by senior Christian Bault (Maineville, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller (Lincoln Trails)), who smacked a one-out double, his first extra-base hit of the season, in the sixth inning. Consecutive strikeouts followed, however, which kept EMU from scoring.
Although EMU's pitching staff was able to keep the game close through the final portion of the action, EMU's bats faced an equally good outing from the home team, which put the final nine Eagles hitters of the game away in order to earn the win over Eastern, 4-1.
With today's game in the books, Eastern will now head north for its first conference action of the season, beginning next weekend, March 19-21, with a four-game weekend series at the University of Akron. The series kicks off Friday, March 19 at 3 p.m. with games following Saturday, March 20 at 12 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., and Sunday, March 21 at 12 p.m.
To stay up to date with all things EMU baseball, continue to check EMUEagles.com, or follow the team on Twitter, @EMU_Baseball.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Fristoe, Jackson (2-0)
L: McGuire, Luke (1-1)
S: Sims, Landon (1)
Batting:
2B: Bault, Christian 1
HR: Kattula, Mark 1
RBI: Kattula, Mark 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kattula, Mark 1
CS: Easter, Shane 1
HBP: Easter, Shane 1
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Batting:
2B: Dubrule, Scotty 1
HR: Tanner, Logan 1
RBI: Dubrule, Scotty 3 ; Tanner, Logan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Tanner, Logan 2 ; Hatcher, Josh 1 ; Forsythe, Lane 1
CS: Jordan, Rowdey 1
HBP: Jordan, Rowdey 1 ; Allen, Tanner 1 ; James, Kamren 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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/ Baseball
RHP
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LHP
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RHP
/ Baseball
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RHP
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