Friday’s Baseball Results
Western Michigan 7, Ohio 6
Eastern Michigan 8, Kent State 4
Northern Illinois 4, Bowling Green 3
Central Michigan 6, Miami 2
Ball State 7, Toledo 5
Stories courtesy of MAC Sports Information Departments
Western Michigan 7, Ohio 6
Boxscore
ATHENS, Ohio – With two outs in the top of the ninth, freshman Blake Dunn delivered an RBI single to right field to give Western Michigan baseball a 7-6 victory over Ohio on Friday afternoon at Bob Wren Stadium.
After back-to-back fly outs to begin the top of the ninth, junior Nate Grys drew a walk before stealing second base two pitches later to give WMU a runner in scoring position.
On a 2-2 count, Dunn roped a ball that went past the out stretched glove of the Ohio second baseman and into right field. Rounding third on the throw, Grys was called safe at home on a close play at the plate to give WMU a 7-6 lead.
In the bottom of the ninth, redshirt senior RHP Andrew Reisinger recorded one out before an error put the tying run on-base for the Bobcats. In stepped fellow senior RHP Jimmy Townsend-Chase who retired the final two batters of the game to earn his seventh save of the season and give WMU a 7-6 victory.
The Bronco offense was powered by Dunn and Grys who went a combined 8-for-9 at the plate with five RBIs and four runs scored while also collecting two doubles and a home run. Overall, WMU pounded out seven runs on 12 hits while Ohio had six runs on eight hits.
Dunn became the third Bronco this season to register a perfect day at the plate going 5-for-5 with two RBIs, a run scored and one double. Dunn's five hits marked a new career-high for the freshman outfielder.
Grys went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, three runs scored, two doubles and a home run on Friday. The Madison Heights, Mich., native was just a triple away from completing the cycle. Grys blasted his 10th home run of the season in the top of the fourth, marking the first Bronco to reach double digit home runss in a season since 2009. Grys now has a 19 career home runs.
On the mound, junior RHP Nic Laio got the start and went 6.1 innings allowing five runs on seven hits with five strikeouts. It's the third straight start for Laio in which he has went at least six innings.
Reisinger earned his eighth win of the season on Friday to improve his overall record to a stellar 8-1. Reisinger out of the bullpen went two innings, allowing no runs on no hits in nine batters faced. Townsend-Chase earned his seventh save of the season, retiring the final two batters of the game.
With the win, WMU improves it overall to 21-22 and 10-10 in Mid-American Conference play. The Broncos and Bobcats are back at it for game two on Saturday, May 12 with first pitch set for 3:00 p.m.
Western Michigan jumped out to a 5-2 lead through five innings in game one against Ohio on Friday. The Broncos scored a run in the first and fourth innings before recording three in top of the fifth.
Grys blasted his tenth home run of the season over the left field wall to extend the Bronco lead in the top of the fourth. Grys' 19 career home runs rank as the 15th most in program history.
In the top of the fifth, WMU scored three runs on two hits with all three runs coming with two outs. Juniors Jimmy Roche and Jesse Forestell drew two out walks before a wild pitch advance both to second and third. Fellow junior Nate Grys brought them both around to score on a two-RBI single to give WMU a 4-2 advantage.
With Blake Dunn at the plate, the Saugatuck, Mich., native scored Grys with an RBI double to left center field to give the Broncos a 5-2 lead. It was Dunn's seventh double of the season.
The Bobcats rallied back in the sixth and seventh innings, scoring one in the sixth and three in the seventh to gain the lead. Just like the Broncos, the Bobcats scored three runs on two hits in the bottom of the seventh to grab a 6-5 lead.
WMU tied the game at 6-6 in the top of the eighth after back-to-back singles gave WMU runners on the corners with no outs. Sophomore Drew Devine executed a perfect sacrifice bunt toward the first base side, scoring Dunn from third to tie the game.
Dunn provided the heroics for the Broncos in the top of the ninth, registering the go-ahead RBI single with two outs to regain the lead. On a 2-2 count, Dunn slapped a ball to right field that scored Grys from second.
Ohio had the game-winning run at the plate in the bottom half of the inning before Townsend-Chase closed the game out to earn his seventh save of the season. Townsend-Chase's seven saves is tied for fourth most in a single-season in school history.
Eastern Michigan 8, Kent State 4
Boxscore
KENT, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team knocked off Mid-American Conference leader Kent State University, 8-4, Friday afternoon, May 11, at Schoonover Stadium. It was EMU's (20-28, 12-10 MAC) first regular season win over KSU (32-14, 16-6 MAC) since 2015.
The Eagles gave the Golden Flashes trouble they have not seen for a majority of the season, as the eight runs are the most given up by KSU in MAC play this season. In addition, EMU tagged MAC ERA leader Joey Murray for four runs, two more than the most he had given up in any of his 13 starts this season.
The offense only ended up with six hits in the game, but made the most of its opportunities. Sophomore Zachary Owings (Saline, Mich.-Saline) had a two-hit, three-RBI day, including his fifth home run of the season, this one a two-run bomb. Junior Kolton Schenker (Augusta, Kan.-Augusta (Labette C.C.)) also had two hits, including a double, and three RBIs.
On the hill, senior Justin McMurtrey (Redding, Calif.-Shasta (Butte C.C.)) earned his fourth win of the season after going the first six innings, allowing four runs on eight hits while striking out five. In relief, a pair of freshmen preserved the four-run lead, as Scott Granzotto (Northville, Mich.-Gabriel Richard) and Thomas House (Okeana, Ohio-Ross) combined to go the final three innings, allowing no hits and just one walk, while facing the minimum after a double play.
Kent State grabbed the early lead in the first, scoring a run off of no hits, as a walk and HBP eventually came around on an RBI ground out. After one, KSU led 1-0.
Eastern rallied in the top of the third, tagging Kent for four runs on four hits. Freshman Nate Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) led off the frame with a four-pitch walk, followed by an infield single by junior Max Schuemann (Portage, Mich.-Portage Northern) to put runners on the corners with one out. Owings drove in the first with a solid single to left, tying the game at one.
After a fly out, sophomore Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) took a pitch off his back to load the sacks up for Schenker with two away. The lefty singled through the right side to plate two more, giving EMU its first lead, 3-1. The next batter, freshman Jared Kauffman (Springboro, Ohio-Bishop Fenwick), followed with a bloop single to center to plate another, giving EMU the three-run advantage.
The Golden Flashes manufactured another run in the bottom of the third, turning a leadoff double into a run on a ground out, cutting the lead to 4-2. Kent State had another prime scoring opportunity in the fourth, getting the first two runners on via a double and single, but a triple play got EMU out of the inning.
With runners on the corners and a fly out to center, Nate Jones gunned out the runner at home, and his brother, Nick, turned around fired down to second to nail the man trying for the bag, ending the inning. It was EMU's first triple play turned since recording one against Michigan, April 18, 2012.
Following a scoreless fifth, Kent State tied the game back up in the sixth inning with a pair of runs on four hits, knotting the contest up at four with three innings left to play.
EMU got the lead back in a big way in the top of the seventh, as Owings unloaded a two-run home run off the scoreboard in right field. His fifth of the season gave EMU the 6-4 lead. Granzotto fired a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh, keeping the two-run lead into the eighth.
There, Eastern tacked on a couple more. Nick Jones led off with a walk, and was driven in on a double from Schenker, his third RBI of the game. Later in the inning, with a man on third, sophomore Devin Hager (Commerce Township, Mich.-Walled Lake Northern) executed a perfect squeeze bunt, scoring the eighth run of the day, and giving EMU its largest lead of the game.
In the bottom of the eighth, a leadoff walk was erased by the new reliever, House, on a 4-6-3 double play, to navigate the Eagles into the ninth with the 8-4 lead. In the ninth, House continued to mow down KSU hitters, going 1-2-3 again to preserve the series-opening win.
Eastern and Kent State get back into action tomorrow, May 11, for game two of the weekend series. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
Northern Illinois 4, Bowling Green 3
Boxscore
BOWLING GREEN, OH – Late-inning heroics from red shirt junior Hunter Bross (Scottsdale, Ariz./Mesa Community College) lifted the Northern Illinois University baseball team to a 4-3, 11-inning victory over Bowling Green Friday afternoon at Steller Field.
Bross smacked a leadoff home run to left field – his third of the season and the 11th of his career – as he put the Huskies in front for good as they earned their second-straight win in improving to 18-31 overall, and 7-15 in the Mid-American Conference.
"Hunter's homer was one of the biggest and hardest hit balls I've seen," Huskies' head coach Mike Kunigonis said. "The wind was howling in and he turned the wind around. It was a giant moment for him and the team."
Up until that point, the Huskies saw their 3-0 lead dwindle as the Falcons responded with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. From there however, neither team could gain much of an advantage.
"It was a great grind out win," Kunigonis said. "We made it a lot more difficult on ourselves than it needed to be but this group found a way to win."
An RBI single from Jake Dunham (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) put the Huskies in front 1-0 in the first inning, and Joe Jumonville (Munster, Ind./Munster) laced a run-scoring single to center field in the second for a 2-0 NIU ledger. Kam Smith (Colonial Beach, Va./The Steward School) then made it a 3-0 Huskie lead in the fifth when Tommy Szczasny (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln-Way North) scored on a double play ball. But Bowling Green countered with two runs on an NIU error and one on an RBI single to third base to knot the score at 3-3.
Senior LHP George Faue (Corcoan, Minn./Iowa Central) made a spot start for the Huskies after slated starter Tanner Foster (St. Charles, Iowa/Southeastern Community College) was a late scratch, but Faue made the most of it as he fired 7 1/3 innings of four-hit ball. He didn't give up an earned run and struck out six batters while walking only two.
"George was fantastic making a spot start for us," Kunigonis said. "Great outing when we needed it the most. It was huge for him to step up for us."
Sophomore RHP Nate Thomas (South Bend, Ind./Mishawaka Marian) came on in relief and tossed the final 3 2/3 innings to earn his first win of the season. He scattered three hits and fanned one batter.
"Nate came in and shut the door," Kunigonis said. "He battled out of some very tough spots which was great to see. We need to keep this momentum going into tomorrow's game."
RHP Michael Lasiewicz will take the mound for the Huskies tomorrow in the second game of the three-game set. First pitch is set for 12 noon.
Central Michigan 6, Miami 2
Boxscore
OXFORD, Ohio – Steve Jaksa has won 500 games as the Central Michigan baseball coach.
Some of those wins came relatively easily, others were a little more stressful. Put this one in the latter category.
On Friday, the Chippewas lost starting pitcher Pat Leatherman to injury just one batter in to their Mid-American Conference game at Miami (Ohio) and then trailed, 2-0, heading into the sixth inning.
But the Chippewas got an outstanding patchwork performance from three relievers and some timely hitting in rallying to beat the RedHawks, 6-2, in the opener of a three-game series at McKie Field.
It was the 500th CMU victory for Jaksa, who is in his 16th season as the Chippewas’ coach. He is just the sixth coach in MAC history to achieve that milestone. He is No. 2 in CMU history behind Dean Kreiner, who won 516 games in leading the program from 1985-98.
“I guess it’s a matter of longevity,” said Jaksa, who received a Gatorade shower from his players shortly after the game ended. “It feels good to get it because it means a lot for a lot of guys who have been in the program.
“The Gatorade has soaked in, but probably not the actual (accomplishment). We’ll celebrate it a little bit on the bus back, and then we’ve got to get ready to get No. 501 tomorrow which will be a big win this weekend and keep ourselves rolling.”
The series continues on Saturday at 4:05 p.m. and closes on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. The win lifted CMU to 13-9 in the MAC and into a tie for third place with the RedHawks, who are also 13-9 in league play. They trail second-place Ball State, 14-8.
The Chippewas (22-26-1 overall) took a 3-2 lead in the sixth inning when Daniel Robinson hit a two-run homer and Zach Heeke later delivered an RBI single. CMU extended it to 6-2 with a three-run ninth. Zavier Warren had a two-run single and Griffin Lockwood-Powell singled in a run.
Jack Collins set down the RedHawks’ Nos. 2, 3 and 4 hitters in order in the ninth for his first career save. Cam Brown (2-1) earned the win, going 2 2/3 innings in his first appearance since April 15.
The Chippewas needed a strong performance from their bullpen and they got it as Leatherman left with an injury after getting the leadoff hitter on a fly ball.
Jordan Patty went two innings and then gave way to Brown, who allowed three hits. Collins went the final four frames, allowing just two hits. Both of Miami’s runs came in the third inning off of Patty.
“It’s been the next man in, it’s been a roller-coaster that way a little bit, we just found a way to patch it together,” Jaksa said. “Patty gave in and gave us what he could, and Cam Brown, he came in – first time he’s pitched since he hurt his ankle and he did a heck of a job. Both of those guys just gave us everything they had. (Collins) just did a hell of a job just finishing that thing out.
“So proud of the resilience. We’re not done yet, but it was a really good come-from-behind win.”
Spencer Mraz (4-3) took the loss. He allowed three runs on seven hits, walked two and struck out one over 5 1/3 innings. Miami is 29-17 overall.
The Chippewas outhit the RedHawks, 14-9.
Jacob Crum, Warren, Robinson, Lockwood-Powell and Evan Kratt, the top five hitters in the Chippewa lineup, had two hits apiece and finished a combined 10 for 22.
Robinson’s home run was his fourth of the season and his second in four games. He now shares the team lead with Lockwood-Powell.
Ball State 7, Toledo 5
Boxscore
TOLEDO, Ohio – Junior Griffin Hulecki went 4-for-5 with three RBIs to help lift the Ball State baseball team to a 7-5 victory at Toledo Friday afternoon.
The Cardinals have now won nine straight Mid-American Conference games. Losses today by Kent State and Miami mean that Ball State (27-22, 14-8 MAC) currently sits alone in second place in the league standings and is just two games behind Kent State for the top spot with five MAC games remaining.
Ball State never trailed against host Toledo (17-29, 10-12) and scored six of its seven runs with two outs. Hulecki had a key two-out, two-run double in the eighth inning to give the Cardinals a 6-3 lead. Three batters later, junior John Ricotta pushed across another run with a bases loaded walk.
"Two out RBIs are like gold and today they made the difference," Ball State head coach Rich Maloney said. "[Starting pitcher] John Baker was gritty and T.J. Baker was solid in relief."
Toledo tried to rally in the bottom of the ninth, but T.J. Baker retired the final two batters with a strikeout and groundout.
John Baker (4-4) held the Rockets to two earned runs over the first 6.1 innings to earn the win. The righty added five strikeouts to lift his season total to 108.
Hulecki's four hits were a personal high while his three RBIs equaled his career high. Sophomore Noah Powell and senior Jeff Riedel each scored twice.
If Ball State wins one of the next two games against Toledo, it will clinch a spot in the upcoming MAC Tournament. Saturday's game is set to begin at 1:05 p.m.
