Sunday’s MAC Baseball Results
Ball State 8, Toledo 7
Bowling Green 3, Akron 2
Northern Illinois 10, Miami 7
Western Michigan 3, Eastern Michigan 1 (7 innings)
Eastern Michigan 5, Western Michigan 4 (7 innings)
Dayton 10, Kent State 5 (7 innings)
Dayton 4, Kent State 0 (7 innings)
Central Michigan 14, Ohio 3
 
Stories courtesy of MAC Sports Information Departments
 
Ball State 8, Toledo 7
Box Score
 
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Most balls that had any carry on them Sunday were going to right field.
 
The cold, late March wind was howling that direction, taking anything lifted that way much farther than normal. Most of the big hits in the air had gone that way.
 
Not Noah Navarro's.
 
When the Ball State second baseman stepped to the plate with two outs and the score tied in the bottom of the ninth, he did it the hard way.
 
Navarro smashed an 0-1 offering from Cal McAninch through the wind and over the left center field fence for his first home run of the season. It gave the Cardinals an 8-7 win for the day and a 3-1 victory in the series.
 
It was the second walk-off win in as many weekends for Ball State (12-9, 6-2 MAC), as the Cardinals won a second straight series to open MAC play.
 
Ryan Peltier continued a hot-hitting weekend, going 3-for-4 at the plate and driving in three runs. His two-RBI single helped stake Ball State to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, and his two-RBI double in the sixth tied the game at 5-all after Toledo (4-17, 2-6 MAC) had scored five unanswered.

Adam Tellier and Trenton Quartermaine followed Peltier's sixth-inning double with run-scoring singles to put the Cardinals back on top. But Toledo responded two innings later with two runs in the eighth to tie it up heading to the final frame.
 
Ty Johnson came out of the bullpen to toss a scoreless top of the ninth to set the stage. In the bottom of the ninth, Nick Powell lifted a ball to right center that threatened to end it before being caught at the wall. Navarro's blast two pitches later was never in doubt.
 
Tyler Ruetschle started on the mound for BSU and worked through the first four innings scoreless before Toledo got some offense going. The Cardinals also got some clutch pitching from Tyler Schweitzer who came on in relief with the bases loaded in the sixth to limit Toledo's damage after they had scored four runs to take the lead.
 
Ball State will take a break from non-conference play this coming week with a three-game series against Butler. The teams will play a single game Friday at Butler and a Saturday doubleheader in Muncie.

Based on guidance surrounding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, general public attendance is not permitted at First Merchants Ballpark Complex this season.
 
 
Bowling Green 3, Akron 2
Box Score
 
AKRON, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University baseball team clinched another series victory on Sunday (March 28) by defeating the University of Akron, 3-2, in thrilling fashion. The Falcons have opened Mid-American Conference play with consecutive series victories for the first time in 20 years. Bowling Green improves to 6-2 in league play after winning the final three games of the series, which was being staged at UA's Skeeles Field.
 
Will MacLean picked up the save for the Falcons in dramatic fashion. With BGSU leading by a score of 3-1 in the ninth inning, Akron had the bases loaded with no outs. With the hitter at the plate in a 3-1 count, MacLean induced a 6-4-3 double play, before stranding the tying run on third base with a swinging strikeout.
 
Right-handed pitcher Gage Schenk picked up the win, pitching the Falcons into the ninth inning in his best start in the Orange and Brown to date. Schenk allowed just one earned run, scattering six hits while picking up five strikeouts. With his outstanding effort, the native of Wapakoneta registered his third win of the season and fifth of his career.
 
Bowling Green played from in front all day, as Ryan Johnston's RBI single up the middle gave the visitors a 1-0 advantage in the first inning. BGSU tacked on two more runs in the sixth, as Tyler Haas scored on an error prior to Adam Fallon plating a run with a sacrifice fly.
 
Johnston had two of Bowling Green's four hits, going 2-for-3 on the day with a walk and RBI. Jack Krause and Dylan Dohanos also had hits in the win. The Falcons had eight walks, including two apiece from Haas and Adam Furnas.
 
Bowling Green hosts Kent State next weekend for Steller Field at Gary Haas Stadium Opening Weekend. The four-game series will take place over April 2-4, beginning with the home opener on Friday at 3:05 p.m. The Friday and Sunday games will be video streamed for free. Live stats will be provided for all four ballgames.
 

Northern Illinois 10, Miami 7
Box Score

OXFORD, OH — The Northern Illinois University baseball team scored five unanswered runs in the final four innings Sunday to defeat the Miami RedHawks 10-7 at McKie Field at Hayden Park and take the final game of the four-game weekend series.
 
NIU (5-14, 4-4 MAC) trailed 7-5 heading into the sixth inning. Designated Hitter Morgan Holmes (Minneapolis, Minn./Des Moines Area CC) hit his second double of the game with one out, then scored on a Wade Rankin (Columbus, Ind./Kankakee CC) double down the left field line that made the score 7-6. Rankin advanced to third on a passed ball. Jordan Larson (Dodgeville, Wis./College of DuPage) then drew a walk to give NIU runners at the corners. Paddy McKermitt (Hampshire, Ill./Burlington Central) drove in Rankin with a bunt single to tie the game 7-7.
 
Holmes started the scoring threat in the top of the eighth with a lead-off ground-rule double. Jack Blazevich (Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove South) then reached on an error by Miami reliever Logan Schmitt, which allowed Holmes to score the go-ahead run to give NIU an 8-7 lead. Larson made the score 9-7 with an RBI single to right field. Kyle Seebach (Rochelle, Ill./Rochelle Twp.) entered the game from the Huskies' bullpen in the bottom of the eighth and promptly struck out the side. NIU added an insurance run in the ninth on a Jake Dunham (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) RBI single. The RedHawks got the tying run to second base in the bottom of the ninth but Seebach's fourth strikeout of the game secured the win for the Huskies.
 
"Today was a great bounce back win after three extremely tough losses," said head coach Mike Kunigonis. "This team has toughness and showed its resilience today. They never quit and never say die. We need to have a good week of practice this week and be ready for our home opener next weekend."
 
The Huskies got on the board in the top of the second. Holmes hit a double down the left field line with one out. He reached third on a Tyler Bosma wild pitch, then scored on another wild pitch to put the Huskies ahead 1-0. NIU built on its lead in the top of the third. An RBI groundout from Dylan Lonteen (Peoria, Ill./Illinois Central College) scored Nick Drobushevich (Moline, Ill./Moline) to make the score 2-0 with two outs. With Matt Barnes (Bloomington, Ill./Heartland CC) at third, Kam Smith (Colonial Beach, Va./The Steward School) launched his fifth home run of the season to put NIU ahead 4-0.
 
Ryan Anderson (Palatine, Ill./McHenry CC) kept the RedHawks scoreless through the first two innings, stranding three runners on base. Miami (13-9, 6-2 MAC) scored its first runs off Anderson in the bottom of the third on a Nate Stone two-run home run over the right field fence, cutting the Huskies' lead in half 4-2.
 
NIU stretched the lead back to three in the top of the fifth. With runners at first and second and one out, Lonteen reached on a fielder's choice as the RedHawks were unable to turn a double play. The relay throw allowed Drobushevich to score and give the Huskies a 5-2 lead. Miami took the lead with five runs in the bottom of the fifth, highlighted by a three-run double off the bat of shortstop Billy Kopicki, to go ahead 7-5.
 
Holmes was 3-for-5 at the plate with three doubles. Lonteen and Smith each drove in two runs. Nick Bonk (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Stevenson) earned the win after pitching a perfect seventh inning. Seebach struck out four over the final two innings to earn the save.
 
NIU opens its home slate next weekend with four games against the defending Mid-American Conference champions Central Michigan, starting Friday, April 4 at 2 p.m. Unfortunately, due to COVID restrictions, attendance at Ralph McKinzie Field at this time is limited to 165 fans. Entrance will be allowed on a first to come general admission process through the North gate on the first base side of the field. The North gate will open 30 minutes prior to first pitch each day. NIU Athletics reserves the right to reserve some attendee spots for parents of NIU Baseball student-athletes if necessary on gameday.
 
Masks must be worn while inside Ralph McKinzie Field and self-monitored general admission social distancing will be required. A limited concession menu will be available. Some areas near the dugouts or other team areas previously open to the public will be restricted as additional COVID precautions. The pet area will also be moved to down the third base side of the field.
 

Western Michigan 3, Eastern Michigan 1 (7 innings)
Eastern Michigan 5, Western Michigan 4 (7 innings)
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
 
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – In the first home series of the season the Western Michigan baseball team split its Monday doubleheader with in-state foe Eastern Michigan, winning game one 3-1 and falling in game two 5-4 to split the series inside Robert J. Bobb Stadium at Hyames Field.

On Monday the Broncos scored seven runs on 16 hits and hit a stellar .327 as a team. WMU had five players with a batting average over .300 in the Monday doubleheader, led by junior Connor Charping. Charping hit .667, going 4-for-6 at the plate with
two runs scored and one stolen base.

Fellow junior Justin McIntyre led WMU on Monday in the RBI department, going 3-for-7 with three RBIs including one double. In the two games against the Eagles, McIntyre posted a .571 slugging percentage and a .429 on-base percentage.

Redshirt freshman Will Morrison was a tough out at the plate against the Eagles on Monday with a 1-for-4 performance, scoring two runs and drawing three walks. Morrison ranked third on the team with a .571 on-base percentage. Junior Sean O'Keefe swung a hot bat against EMU going 3-for-7 with one RBI.

On the mound in the doubleheader the Bronco pitching staff posted a 1.29 ERA and held EMU batters to a .208 batting average. WMU used just four pitchers on Monday, totaling 11 strikeouts. Senior RHP Will Mullen led the charge, starting game one and throwing 5.2 innings, allowing one earned run on three hits with six strikeouts.

In the four-game series with Eastern Michigan the Broncos hit .328 and scored 19 runs on 41 hits. As a team the Broncos posted a .464 slugging percentage and a .404 on-base percentage. McIntyre led WMU with a .438 batting average to go along with six RBIs, three doubles, one home run and two runs scored.

As a pitching staff against the Eagles the Broncos recorded a 2.81 ERA with three different pitchers registered a 0.00 ERA. As a staff WMU tallied 32 strikeouts and gave up just 10 earned runs on 27 hits.

With the doubleheader split Western Michigan now has an overall record of 3-11 and 3-5 in Mid-American Conference play. The Broncos are back in action at home April 2-4 for a four-game series with Akron.

Game One (Western Michigan – 3, Eastern Michigan – 1)

In game one of Monday's doubleheader the Broncos rode the stellar performance of senior RHP Will Mullen to a 3-1 victory over Eastern Michigan.

Mullen picked up his first win of the season in game one throwing 5.2 innings, allowing one earned run on three hits with six strikeouts. Freshman RHP Ryan Watt earned his first career save, throwing 1.1 innings in relief, allowing no runs on one hits and striking out one.

Offensively the Broncos scored three runs on five hits with four Broncos earning a hit against the Eagles. Western Michigan was powered by junior Justin McIntyre who went 2-for-3 at the plate with all three Bronco RBIs.

Freshman Max Huntley scored one of the Bronco runs, going 1-for-3 at the plate with a run scored. Hitting in the two-spot in the line-up redshirt freshman Will Morrison was 0-for-1 at the plate but drew two walks scored two runs.
Eastern Michigan put the pressure early in game one loading the bases in both the first and second inning. However, Mullen got out of both jams to keep the Eagles off the scoreboard.

Western Michigan got on the board first in the bottom of the third with one run on one hit. With two outs and a runner on second McIntyre rocketed an RBI single to left field, scoring Will Morrison from second to give WMU an early 1-0 lead.

The Broncos added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth with two runs on three hits. After a wild pitch, WMU had runners on second and third before McIntyre delivered once again with a two RBI single to left field to extend the Bronco lead to 3-0.

EMU gained a run back in the bottom of the sixth as EMU's Christian Bault hit a solo home run over the left field wall. That was it for the Eagles as Ryan Watt sat down EMU 1-2-3 to secure the 3-1 victory for the Broncos.

Game Two: Eastern Michigan 5, Western Michigan 4

Not letting the first game's offensive struggles deter them, the Eagles scored five to outlast Western Michigan, 5-4, in the second game of the afternoon.

Junior Scott Granzotto (Northville, Mich.-Gabriel Richard) picked up his first win of the season, going 4.0 innings and striking out two in the win. Sophomore Cameron Wagoner (Tecumseh, Mich.-Tecumseh) earned the save for his 3.0 innings of work.

Showcasing their plate discipline from the very start, Eastern batters stayed patient at the plate, and as a result, were awarded three consecutive walks to load the bases to begin the game. After a pitching change by Western, senior Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) stepped to the plate, and sent a sacrifice fly to center field to plate the Eagles' first run of the contest. Shortly after, a fielder's choice by classmate Jeff Timko (Rochester Hills, Mich.-Brother Rice) put runners on the corners for the Green and White. Soon after, both freshman Mark Kattula (Sterling Heights, Mich.-Stevenson) and Timko would score on a passed ball to give EMU the 3-0 advantage after the first half-inning.

The Broncos were not held off the scoreboard for long, as they responded with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning to make it a 3-1 game.

Eastern added more runs to its lead in the top of the fourth. Beginning with a leadoff single from senior Eli Gora (Portage, Mich.-Portage Northern), junior Jared Kauffman (Springboro, Ohio-Bishop Fenwick) drew the walk in the subsequent at-bat. A passed ball from the Broncos put both runners in scoring position for junior Will Oberg (Wayzata, Minn.-Wayzata (Heartand)), who launched a ground-rule double to center field to put the Eagles up, 5-1, after three and a half innings.

Once again responding to Eastern offense, Western managed to score a run in the bottom of the frame to pull back within three, 5-2.

After a scoreless fifth for both sides and nothing new for the Eagles in the top of the sixth, the Broncos attempted a comeback in the bottom half. A pair of hits plated two runs for Western, and made the score 5-4 after six complete.

Taking a one-run lead into the bottom of the seventh, Wagoner worked his way to two quick outs. After the Broncos grounded a single to third, Gora caught the runner trying to steal second two pitches later to end the game with the Eagles on top, 5-4.

Eastern Michigan will get to play at home for the first time since 2019 when it hosts Miami University Friday-Sunday, April 2-4, for an Easter weekend series. Friday's game is set for 4 p.m., with Saturday's doubleheader scheduled for 1 and 4 p.m. First pitch on Sunday will be at 1 p.m.
 
 
Dayton 10, Kent State 5
Dayton 4, Kent State 0
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

DAYTON, OHIO- The Golden Flashes came up on the wrong end of a seven-inning double header on Sunday, falling 10-5 in game one and 4-0 in game two at Schoonover Stadium.

GAME ONE | Dayton 10 Kent State 5
The Golden Flashes struck first on Sunday, plating four runs in the second inning. Walks to Collin Mathews and Justin Miknis were followed by a run-scoring single from Nick Elsen, who kept his strong weekend going. Mack Timbrook followed with a blast over the right field wall for his third homer of the season to make it 4-0.

The lead wouldn't last long as Dayton struck back with four of their own in the third. The Flyers took advantage once again of hit batters, getting plunked four times in the inning including twice with bases loaded. A bases loaded walk added another as did a single. Richie Dell replaced starter Max Rippl and got out of the inning with the game tied at four.

The Flashes couldn't bring home runners in the third and fourth and the game went tied into the fifth. Dell only gave up three hits in his relief appearance and two happened in the fifth. The big blow was a three-run homer by Riley Tirotta that just sailed over the left field wall. The Flashes got one run back in the bottom of the fifth, scoring on a bases-load ground out. The Flyers would break it open in the top of the seventh, scoring three times on four hits and taking advantage of an error.

GAME TWO | Dayton 4 Kent State 0
In game two, the Flyers struck early. Dayton took advantage of a pair of errors to push across an unearned run against starter Colin Romel. It would be the only offense until the third when the Flyers would plate the final three runs of the game. Eddie Pursinger tripled down the right field line on a ball that was nearly stopped by Elsen at first. Instead, it rattled around the right field corner and brought home two runs. Pursinger scored a pitch later on a squeeze play.

The Flashes could not solve 6-8 right hander Cole Pletka. Kent State got a pair on in the third on a Cam Touchette double and Ben Carew getting hit by a pitch, but the runners would be stranded on first and second. Kent State would get runners into scoring position in the fifth and again in the seventh, but to no avail.

The losses drop Kent State to 8-11 on the season while Dayton is now 9-15. Sunday closed out the non-conference slate for Kent State, they head to Bowling Green for a four-game series starting on Friday. First pitch is set for 3:05 on Friday afternoon.
 

Central Michigan 14, Ohio 3
Box Score
 
ATHENS, Ohio – It's not how you start, but how you finish.
 
The Central Michigan baseball team tied its season high with 18 hits – the biggest blow a three-run home run by Chase Rollin – on Sunday in topping Ohio, 14-3, in the finale of a four-game Mid-American Conference series at the Bobcats' Bob Wren Stadium.
 
The Chippewas won the final two games of the series to earn a split, improving to 10-8, 2-2 MAC. They collected 27 hits in outscoring the Bobcats, 26-5, in the final two games of the series.
 
"I really challenge the team to go into these weekends not with a goal or an expectation of how many you want to win," CMU coach Jordan Bischel said. "The goal is to win the next one no matter who you're playing or how many you're playing or whatever.
 
"I've got to challenge myself to do the same thing and really just look at how we played and what was good to see was that we played our style of baseball in games 3 and 4 and when we do that, we're usually pretty tough."
 
They're pretty tough too when they get the kind of pitching they got from J.T. Rogoszewski (1-1) on Sunday. The senior right-hander, a transfer from North Carolina, turned in his best performance of the season, allowing three runs on four hits, walking two, and striking out five over six innings.
 
"The box score may not show it, but that game was won with pitching and defense," Bischel said. "It was a really, really hard day to pitch and defend and we did those two things extremely well.
 
"(Rogoszewski) was outstanding. Three runs on a day like today is like throwing a shutout on a normal day. The wind was impacting the movement on the ball and the ball was carrying. He really, really pitched a nice ballgame for us."
 
Grant Frazer and Ian Leatherman finished up. The lone blemish in their combined three innings was one walk.
 
Rollin, a junior, hit a three-run homer in the third inning to break a 2-2 tie and put the Chippewas ahead for good. He also doubled twice and finished with a career-high six RBI. The homer was the first of his career.
 
"Chase gave us a really big lift," Bischel said. "He's a guy who does everything right for our program and he's played a somewhat limited role this year. He's been an awfully good player for us and I probably should have him in the lineup more. He took advantage when he had the opportunity."
 
Zach Gilles led the Chippewas with four hits, while Justin Simpson had three. Zach Heeke, Colton Cocoa and Jakob Marsee added two apiece.
 
A season-high seven of the Chippewas' hits went for extra bases and they had a combined 10 in the final two games of the series. The Chippewas entered the series as the MAC's scoring leader.