Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, March 8
Muncie, Ind.
1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
4-9, 0
10
at
9
Ball State
9-5, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Eastern Michigan
2
0
0
4
2
0
0
0
2
10
15
2
Ball State
0
0
1
0
1
1
1
2
3
9
13
3
EMU Takes Down Defending MAC Tournament Champions, Ball State, 10-9
3/8/2024 6:17:00 PM | Baseball
The Eagles saw a season-high 15 hits while seven Eagle batters tallied multiple knocks
MUNCIE, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team knocked off the defending Mid-American Conference Tournament Champions, Ball State University, in a thrilling 10-9 conference opening tilt Friday, March 8. With the win, Eastern stands 4-9 (1-0 MAC) on the season while Ball State falls to 9-5 (0-1 MAC).
How it Happened
The Eagles got the scoring started early, putting two runs on the board in the top of the first inning, with Cooper Vance (New Waterford, Ohio/Mohawk) and Cory Taylor (Shelbyville, Ind./Shelbyville) each driving one run in.
The Cardinals then gained ground, narrowing the lead to 2-1 until the Green and White expanded its advantage in the fourth. Eastern Michigan hit two home runs in the inning as Lucas Johnson (Hamilton, Ontario/Westdale Secondary/Wright State) sent a solo shot to left field before Logan Hugo's (Essexville, Mich./Essexville Garber) three-run blast to left. Overall, the Eagles pushed four runs across in the frame, bringing their lead to 6-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth.
Eastern held Ball State without a run before expanding their lead to 8-1 the following inning. Taylor's RBI single highlighted a two-run output in the frame for the Eagles.
The Cardinals fought back, closing the gap to 8-6 until EMU added some insurance in the ninth. The Eagles scored twice on Taylor's two-run homer, bringing the score to 10-6 in favor of Eastern Michigan.
Ball State refused to go away, putting three runs on the scoreboard before the game ended. However, the Eagles held strong, eventually winning 10-9.
Game Notes
» The Eagles scored first for the fifth time this season with two runs in the opening frame. EMU is now 4-2 this season when scoring first, and 3-1 when scoring in the first inning.
» Johnson homered to left field to kick off the Eagles' four-run fourth inning. The homer marked the first of his collegiate career. Johnson finished the day 2-for-5 at the plate with one RBI for the third multi-hit performance of his EMU tenure.
» Hugo scorched a ball to left field for his third long ball of the season in the fourth, scoring Giano Zuccaro (Middleburg Heights, Ohio/Berea Midpark/Charleston) and Glenn Miller (Pentwater, Mich./Pentwater/Spring Arbor). Hugo finished his day with three RBI for the third time in his career and first time this season. Additionally, the performance marked his second straight with multiple RBI as he recorded two in Eastern's previous game against No. 9 Vanderbilt University, March 5.
» With four runs in the top of the fourth inning, Eastern grabbed its fifth four-run inning of the season, EMU now holds a 3-2 record when recording a four-run inning this season.
» Taylor had another solid outing, batting 3-for-5 at the dish with four RBI, marking his second game this season notching multiple hits and RBI, and the sixth time in his career doing so. The senior set a career-high with four EMU baserunners driven in throughout the game. Taylor has batted 8-for-13 with six RBI, two home runs, one triple, and three runs scored over his previous three games.
» The Eagles set a season-high with 15 hits in the contest, securing its seventh game this season with double-digit hits. EMU holds a 4-0 record when notching 13 or more hits.
» With the win, Eastern has notched its second consecutive series-opening win as it previously bested Houston Christian University, 14-4, in the first game of a four-game game set, Feb. 29.
» Kyle Schroedle (Redding, Calif./University Prep/Crown College), Vance, and Zuccaro each knocked two hits on the day, marking their third, fourth, and fifth multi-hit outings of the season, respectively.
» Jones had another solid day on the bump, tallying 6.0 IP, allowing four earned runs off eight hits, while striking out five and walking none, marking the first start in his career where he refused to relinquish a base-on-balls.
» Relieving Jones after six innings of work, Andrew Dukesherer (Byron Center, Mich./Grandville/Muskegon C.C.) went on to pitch the seventh inning for the Eagles, allowing no walks, runs, or hits for the first time in his Eastern Michigan career.
» Drew Jones (Cleveland, Ohio/Brush/Ohio State) entered the game in relief effort in the bottom of the ninth inning and pitched out of a bases-loaded jam to secure the victory for the Eagles, marking the first save of both his EMU and college career. Jones joins fellow hurler Aaron Pirkle (New Albany, Ohio/New Albany/Akron) as the only Eastern pitchers to earn a save this season.
Historical Notes
» Friday's game marked the 170th all-time between the Eagles and Cardinals, after the win, Ball State holds the series edge by just one game, as Eastern has compiled an 84-85-1 record in the series.
» The Eagles tabbed their 28th conference-opening win, dating back to 1973, EMU is 28-24 in conference-openers.
» Head Coach Robbie Britt has extended his conference-opening win streak to 5-0 with Friday's win.
» After winning last season's conference-opener, 8-7, against the University of Akron, March 10, the Eagles have tabbed consecutive conference-opening wins for the first since they did so in the 2016 and 2017 seasons, besting Bowling Green State University in both wins. Eastern topped the Falcons 5-4, March 25, 2016, before beating them again the next season, 7-6, March 24, 2017.
» Friday's win marks the second consecutive season where Eastern has won against the defending conference tournament champion as they edged Central Michigan University last season, 3-1, in the first game of a three-game series in Mt. Pleasant, May 5.
Up Next
The Eagles and Cardinals will meet again for game two of the three-game set tomorrow, March 9, at 1 p.m.
How it Happened
The Eagles got the scoring started early, putting two runs on the board in the top of the first inning, with Cooper Vance (New Waterford, Ohio/Mohawk) and Cory Taylor (Shelbyville, Ind./Shelbyville) each driving one run in.
The Cardinals then gained ground, narrowing the lead to 2-1 until the Green and White expanded its advantage in the fourth. Eastern Michigan hit two home runs in the inning as Lucas Johnson (Hamilton, Ontario/Westdale Secondary/Wright State) sent a solo shot to left field before Logan Hugo's (Essexville, Mich./Essexville Garber) three-run blast to left. Overall, the Eagles pushed four runs across in the frame, bringing their lead to 6-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth.
Eastern held Ball State without a run before expanding their lead to 8-1 the following inning. Taylor's RBI single highlighted a two-run output in the frame for the Eagles.
The Cardinals fought back, closing the gap to 8-6 until EMU added some insurance in the ninth. The Eagles scored twice on Taylor's two-run homer, bringing the score to 10-6 in favor of Eastern Michigan.
Ball State refused to go away, putting three runs on the scoreboard before the game ended. However, the Eagles held strong, eventually winning 10-9.
Game Notes
» The Eagles scored first for the fifth time this season with two runs in the opening frame. EMU is now 4-2 this season when scoring first, and 3-1 when scoring in the first inning.
» Johnson homered to left field to kick off the Eagles' four-run fourth inning. The homer marked the first of his collegiate career. Johnson finished the day 2-for-5 at the plate with one RBI for the third multi-hit performance of his EMU tenure.
» Hugo scorched a ball to left field for his third long ball of the season in the fourth, scoring Giano Zuccaro (Middleburg Heights, Ohio/Berea Midpark/Charleston) and Glenn Miller (Pentwater, Mich./Pentwater/Spring Arbor). Hugo finished his day with three RBI for the third time in his career and first time this season. Additionally, the performance marked his second straight with multiple RBI as he recorded two in Eastern's previous game against No. 9 Vanderbilt University, March 5.
» With four runs in the top of the fourth inning, Eastern grabbed its fifth four-run inning of the season, EMU now holds a 3-2 record when recording a four-run inning this season.
» Taylor had another solid outing, batting 3-for-5 at the dish with four RBI, marking his second game this season notching multiple hits and RBI, and the sixth time in his career doing so. The senior set a career-high with four EMU baserunners driven in throughout the game. Taylor has batted 8-for-13 with six RBI, two home runs, one triple, and three runs scored over his previous three games.
» The Eagles set a season-high with 15 hits in the contest, securing its seventh game this season with double-digit hits. EMU holds a 4-0 record when notching 13 or more hits.
» With the win, Eastern has notched its second consecutive series-opening win as it previously bested Houston Christian University, 14-4, in the first game of a four-game game set, Feb. 29.
» Kyle Schroedle (Redding, Calif./University Prep/Crown College), Vance, and Zuccaro each knocked two hits on the day, marking their third, fourth, and fifth multi-hit outings of the season, respectively.
» Jones had another solid day on the bump, tallying 6.0 IP, allowing four earned runs off eight hits, while striking out five and walking none, marking the first start in his career where he refused to relinquish a base-on-balls.
» Relieving Jones after six innings of work, Andrew Dukesherer (Byron Center, Mich./Grandville/Muskegon C.C.) went on to pitch the seventh inning for the Eagles, allowing no walks, runs, or hits for the first time in his Eastern Michigan career.
» Drew Jones (Cleveland, Ohio/Brush/Ohio State) entered the game in relief effort in the bottom of the ninth inning and pitched out of a bases-loaded jam to secure the victory for the Eagles, marking the first save of both his EMU and college career. Jones joins fellow hurler Aaron Pirkle (New Albany, Ohio/New Albany/Akron) as the only Eastern pitchers to earn a save this season.
Historical Notes
» Friday's game marked the 170th all-time between the Eagles and Cardinals, after the win, Ball State holds the series edge by just one game, as Eastern has compiled an 84-85-1 record in the series.
» The Eagles tabbed their 28th conference-opening win, dating back to 1973, EMU is 28-24 in conference-openers.
» Head Coach Robbie Britt has extended his conference-opening win streak to 5-0 with Friday's win.
» After winning last season's conference-opener, 8-7, against the University of Akron, March 10, the Eagles have tabbed consecutive conference-opening wins for the first since they did so in the 2016 and 2017 seasons, besting Bowling Green State University in both wins. Eastern topped the Falcons 5-4, March 25, 2016, before beating them again the next season, 7-6, March 24, 2017.
» Friday's win marks the second consecutive season where Eastern has won against the defending conference tournament champion as they edged Central Michigan University last season, 3-1, in the first game of a three-game series in Mt. Pleasant, May 5.
Up Next
The Eagles and Cardinals will meet again for game two of the three-game set tomorrow, March 9, at 1 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Jones, Bobby (2-1)
L: Jacob Hartlaub (1-1)
S: Jones, Drew (1)
Batting:
HR: Hugo, Logan 1 ; Taylor, Cory 1 ; Johnson, Lucas 1
RBI: Hugo, Logan 3 ; Vance, Cooper 1 ; Taylor, Cory 4 ; Johnson, Lucas 1
SH: Miller, Glenn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Zuccaro, Giano 2 ; Hugo, Logan 2 ; McRae, Blake 1 ; Vance, Cooper 1 ; Taylor, Cory 2 ; Johnson, Lucas 1 ; Miller, Glenn 1
CS: Hugo, Logan 1 ; McRae, Blake 1 ; Vance, Cooper 1
HBP: Hugo, Logan 1
Batting:
2B: Decker Scheffler 1 ; Casey Turturici 1 ; Matthew Kamins 1 ; Nick Gregory 1
3B: Michael Hallquist 1
HR: Matthew Gonzalez 1 ; Blake Bevis 1
RBI: Decker Scheffler 2 ; Michael Hallquist 1 ; Matthew Gonzalez 2 ; Blake Bevis 1 ; Houston King 1 ; Matthew Kamins 1
SF: Houston King 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Decker Scheffler 1 ; Matthew Gonzalez 1 ; Korbin Griffin 1 ; Dylan Grego 1 ; Blake Bevis 2 ; Grant Miller 1 ; Matthew Kamins 1 ; Nick Gregory 1
HBP: Decker Scheffler 1 ; Michael Hallquist 1 ; Hunter Dobbins 1 ; Blake Bevis 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
2
H
3
RBI
4
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
3
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
UTIL
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballIF
/ Baseball
IF
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball16th Annual EMU Baseball Golf Outing
Sunday, October 05
Oestrike Stadium Turf Replacement Time lapse
Friday, October 03
Oestrike Stadium Upgrades Reveal
Thursday, October 02
Alumni Achievement Award - Anthony Tomey
Friday, September 26