Mid-American Conference

EMERSON, Ga.- Western Michigan took both games of Saturday’s doubleheader, 11-7, 10-0, to complete a three-game series sweep over UT-Martin. The Broncos improve to 3-3 on the season and head to Clarksville, Tenn., next weekend for four games at the Governors Classic, hosted by Austin Peay.

Junior shortstop Kurt Hoekstra fueled the sweep over the Skyhawks, batting .643 (9-for-14) over the weekend with two triples, four RBIs, five runs scored, a pair of walks and two stolen bases. He collected six hits on Saturday and drove in four runs during game one of the doubleheader.

Junior RHP Gabe Berman (1-0) earned the win in game one, throwing 2.2 innings of relief. Freshman LHP Tanner Allison (1-1) made his first career start in game two and picked up the win. He held UTM to two hits over 5.1 scoreless innings and struck out four. Allison started game one in center field, where he batted 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI.

The Broncos had 27 hits between the two games of the doubleheader.

GAME 1: WMU 11, UTM 7
Western Michigan powered past UT-Martin in game one of Saturday’s doubleheader, 11-7. The Broncos scored a run in the first and five more in the second to open a 6-1 lead through two innings. UTM scored six unanswered over their next five at bats to pull ahead, 7-6, but the Broncos shot back with five runs in the bottom of the eighth to take the 11-7 victory.

Hoekstra went 4-for-5 in the game with two triples and four RBIs. He fueled the five-run comeback in the eighth with a bases-clearing triple.

Sophomore second baseman Nick Vogelmeier had three hits and smacked his first career triple in the first. He went on to score on a single by Brett Sunde. Vogelmeier also drove in two runs with a single in the second.

Western Michigan racked up a season-high 15 hits in the game. Hunter Prince doubled in the second and had an RBI single in the eighth. Allison had three hits, cracking an RBI double in the second. Sunde finished with one hit and two RBIs.

Senior RHP Chad Mayle started on the mound and went 6.1 innings, allowing five runs and eight hits. He walked three and struck out two. Junior LHP Derek Schneider was called from the bullpen in the seventh, but was unable to record an out and was replaced by Berman.

Berman walked the first batter he faced in the seventh to intentionally load the bases and then struck out Luis Paublini for a second out. With two away Matt Hirsch delivered a two-run single for the Skyhawks to put UTM ahead, 7-6.

Berman got out of the seventh with a strikeout and went on to retire the side in the top of the eighth, giving the offense a chance to regain the lead in the bottom half of the inning. Berman allowed a pair of one-out singles in the ninth, but closed out the victory with a strikeout and a popout for his first win (1-0) of the season.

GAME 2: WMU 10, UTM 0
Allison teamed up with relievers Will Nimke, Jacob Piechota and Peyton Gray to post a combined four-hit shutout in game two. Nimke did not allow a hit over 1.2 innings. Piechota and Gray each threw an inning and yielded just one hit. All three relievers recorded a strikeout. Allison sat UTM down in order in the second, third and fourth innings.

Sophomore third baseman Grant Miller had the hot bat in game two, going 3-for-3 with two doubles and four RBIs. Hoekstra and Sunde each had two hits and five other Broncos collected one apiece. WMU ripped five doubles in the game.

WMU got on the board in the second with a bases loaded walk by Tyler Frank, who had one of those doubles and three RBIs.

The Broncos piled on five runs in the third and three more in the fourth to go up 9-0. Western Michigan scored its final run in the seventh. Freshman designated hitter Evan Nelson hit a two-run single in the third and Miller plated two with a double down the left field line. Miller drove in all three of WMU’s runs in the fourth with a bases-loaded double. Sunde scorched an RBI double in the seventh.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The University of Akron baseball team played errorless baseball as it battled through a pair of pitchers' duels to split its twinbill against Charlotte on Saturday afternoon. The Zips took game one, 2-1, and suffered a seven-inning 1-0 loss in the second game at Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium.

The Zips' pitching staff shined in both games as the offense struggled to string hits together.

"Each game was well pitched by both teams. There weren't many hits by either team as hitters were kept off-balance very well," said head coach Rick Rembielak.

Both starting pitchers, junior John Valek III (1-0) and junior JT Brubaker (0-1), went deep as Valek posted seven innings pitched with a career-high six strikeouts. Brubaker pitched the complete seven-inning game two.

Valek's career-high six strikeouts bests his previous mark of five, posted on two occasions. In addition, the southpaw allowed one run on six hits and walked two, ending his outing after 100 total pitches.

Junior Zach Beaver relieved Valek in game one and posted a scoreless eighth inning to set up a save situation for junior Daulton Mosbarger who was awarded his first career save after pitching the final frame.

In the front end of the doubleheader, the Zips (3-2) out-hit the 49ers 10-6 and scattered their ten hits throughout the game as they struggled to place a runner in scoring position until the fifth inning.

An RBI double put Charlotte (1-1) ahead 1-0 in the third. The lead would stick until the eighth inning when sophomore infielder Dom Iero clubbed a two-run single with runners on the corners for the 2-1 victory. Iero was one of four Zips to end the game with two hits.

In the second game, Brubaker absorbed the loss despite a strong outing in which he pitched six innings, gave up four hits and one run while striking out two and walking none.

The 49ers plated the game's only run, coming on a wild pitch in the fifth inning.

Charlotte starter JD Prochaska got the win after working six innings on the mound, fanning five Zips and holding them to three hits as Akron was narrowly out-hit, 4-3, in the shutout.

Sophomore catcher Brian Lees led Akron in hits, going 3-for-5 throughout the doubleheader.

The rubber match of the three-game series will take place on Sunday at Hayes Stadium. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.

DeLAND, Fla. - Ryan Heeke's two-out ninth-inning RBI single broke a 6-6 tie Saturday and propelled the Central Michigan baseball team to an 8-6 victory over Stetson in the opening game of a non-conference doubleheader at the Hatters' Melching Field.

The Hatters came back to take the nightcap, 13-6, ending CMU's win streak at four. The Chippewas (5-2) and Hatters (3-5) close their four-game series on Sunday at noon. Freshman right-hander Pat Leatherman will start for CMU.

Freshman left-hander Braxton Markle, the fourth CMU pitcher, earned his first collegiate win in the opener and Tim Black picked up his third save.

Lead-off hitter Nick Regnier collected four his to lead the Chippewas' 12-hit attack. Pat MacKenzie, Cody Leichman and Logan Regnier added two hits apiece. One of Logan Regnier's hits was a double.

CMU staked starter Adam Aldred to a 6-0 lead after three innings, but the Hatters chipped away with two runs in the fourth, three in the sixth and one in the seventh to forge a 6-6 tie.

Leichman led off the ninth with a single and Alex Borglin bunted pinch runner Colton Bradley to second. After an intentional walk to Logan Regnier and a strikeout, Bradley scored on Heeke's single to center field. Regnier advanced to third on the play and later scored on a wild pitch.

"It was just a dogfight," CMU coach Steve Jaksa said. "They brought a couple guys in who put up a bunch of goose eggs in a row. I was very pleased with the big hit for Ryan with two outs."

Heeke's base hit continued an early season trend of the Chippewas coming through in the clutch.

"Anytime, when you have a lot of at-bats in the course of a year, you're going to fail and the ability to handle that and persevere is really important," Jaksa said. "And that's what we've been able to do for a good share of the year so far even though it's still in its infancy. We have to continue to do that."

Black allowed a one-out single in the bottom of the ninth, then induced a pair of fly balls to end it.

Markle allowed one hit and struck out one over 1 2/3 innings. Aldred surrendered four runs on eight hits over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out two and walked three. Jimmy McNamara and Sean Martens also worked in relief for CMU.

"We used quite a few arms at different times to try to stem the tide," Jaksa said. "A couple of them came through and pitched really well."
Walker Sheller, the third Stetson pitcher, took the loss.

The Chippewas led in the nightcap, 5-4, when Stetson erupted for four runs in the fifth off CMU starter Jordan Grosjean. Garrett Rusini's three-run double was the big blow.

Grosjean (0-1) allowed eight runs (six earned) on 10 hits. He walked one and struck out four in taking the loss. Josh Pierce and Connor Kelly worked in relief for the Chippewas.

CMU committed a season-high four errors in the game, and was charged with seven in the doubleheader.

MacKenzie singled, doubled, tripled and drove in two runs to lead CMU at the plate, while Morgan Oliver had a two-run single to highlight the Chippewas' four-run third inning.

Brooks Wilson earned the win in relief of starter Ben Rakus.

ROCK HILL, SC - The Rockets split a double header with Winthrop on Saturday afternoon. The Eagles jumped all over UT in the early game, winning 11-3, but the Midnight Blue & Gold rallied back in game two for the 4-3 victory.

Junior RHP Caleb Schillace was extremely solid on the mound in his second start of the season. The LaGrange, OH native gave up just two hits and struck out four in six innings of work.

With the game tied 3-3 heading into the ninth inning, Toledo executed perfect situational baseball. after AJ Montoya doubled in the top of the ninth. The Rockets executed to sacrifice bunt moving him to third and then Montoya scored the winning run on a Ryan Callahan single to left field.

The Rockets capitalized on a crucial error from the Winthrop starter, Zach Sightler, in the top of the fifth inning to propel them to victory.

Junior C Lucas Sokol reached base after being hit with a pitch and advanced to second as freshman A.J. Montoya singled to left field. Sokol then scored on a throwing error from Sightler and Montoya advanced all the way to third. After a Ryan Callahan walk, senior INF Anthony Smith singled up the middle to score Montoya and gave UT a two-run lead.

Sophomore OF Jordan Kesson registered an RBI double in the top of the eighth and scored junior John Martillotta to Give Toledo a 3-0 lead. However in the bottom of the eighth the Eagles tagged senior RHP Andrew Mara for three runs and tied the game. Toledo responded and improved to 2-4 on the season.

The Eagles offense came alive early on Saturday afternoon. Winthrop scored all 11 of its runs during game one in the first five innings, including three runs in the first, fourth and fifth innings.

Sophomore LHP Steven Calhoun was tagged with the loss as he gave up five earned runs in just 2.1 innings on the mound. Calhoun's relief fared no better against the potent Eagles attack as junior RHP Kevin Kline gave up six runs on four hits in his 2.1 innings of work.

The Rockets did cut into the Winthrop lead as freshman Matt Hansen and junior Tyler Baar each tallied an RBI. Hansen led Toledo with a 3-for-4 effort at the dish.

The Midnight Blue & Gold return to the diamond next weekend with a trip to to Blacksburg, VA with a four-game slate against Virginia Tech on Feb. 27-March 1.

MORAGA, Calif. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team dropped a pair of games Saint Mary's College Saturday afternoon, Feb. 21. The Eagles fell, 2-1, in the first seven-inning affair at Louis Guisto Field before the Gaels took game two, 6-1. The doubleheader setback pushes EMU down to a 1-5 record, while SMC improves to 5-2 with the sweep.

EMU will look to even the series against the Gaels in Sunday's series finale, Feb. 22. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. PT as the Eagles continue their nine-game swing through the state of California.

GAME 1 – Saint Mary's 2, Eastern Michigan 1
Eastern Michigan dropped the first leg of a doubleheader, 2-1, when Saint Mary's College recorded a walkoff base knock in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Eagles managed just two hits, while the Gaels saw Corbin Burnes toss a complete game, earning his second win of the season.

Mitchell McGeein (Calgary, Alberta-Vauxhall) posted one of the Eagles' two hits in the game when he hit a solo homer, scoring the only run for Eastern Michigan. It was McGeein's third home run of the season and the third-straight game where the Calgary, Alberta native has hit a long ball. EMU's other hit came off of the bat of John Montgomery (Anaheim Hills, Calif.-JSerra). The Gaels scored two runs on eight hits in the contest.

Charlie Land (Wheat Ridge, Colo.-Wheat Ridge-Mesa C.C.) made the start for Eastern, tossing 5.2 innings, allowing just one run on six hits. Land struck out four, while walking just one in the game. Devon Bronson (Southgate, Mich.-Anderson) was saddled with the loss for EMU. Bronson (0-1) tossed 0.2 innings, while Matthew Beaton (Guelph, Ontario-Bishop Macdonnell Catholic) inherited one of Bronson's base runners, later allowing him to score, charging Bronson with the loss. Burnes (2-0) was the starter for the Gaels and he allowed just two hits, while striking out eight. His only blemish was when McGeein lifted one over the fence in the top half of the second.

Saint Mary's opened up the scoring when Anthony Gonsolin  hit a two-out double to left centerfield before Collin Ferguson singled him home on an RBI single into center, giving the Gaels a 1-0 lead.

The advantage did not last long when McGeein stepped to the plate with one out in the top of the second. The junior ripped a 1-1 pitch over the leftfield fence to knot the game at one run apiece.

There was no more scoring until the final half inning of the game when the Gaels walked off with the victory. Brett Rasso led off the inning with a bunt single before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt. After Bronson walked Zach Kirtley, Head Coach Mark Van Ameyde went to the bullpen, opting for Beaton. A wild pitch started Beaton's day, allowing runners to advance to second and third before Gonsolin hit a single up the middle to win the game for SMC.

GAME 2 – Saint Mary's 6, Eastern Michigan 1
In the nightcap, Saint Mary's jumped in board with a run in the first inning as Brett Rasso scored on a ground out to second base after advancing to third on a throwing error.  The run came on the heels of a thwarted EMU scoring opportunity in the top of the frame when the Eagles loaded the bases but could not capitalize.

SMC expanded the advantage to 2-0 in the fourth via another EMU error, but the Eagles would cut into the deficit in the sixth when McGeein came around to score on a double down the right field line by catcher Adam Dennison (Broadview Heights, Ohio- Padua Franciscan) for his first extra base hit and RBI of the season.

The Gaels added a pair of runs in both the sixth and seven innings to go on top 6-1. Junior Michael Marsinek (Streetboro, Ohio-Walsh Jesuit) was touched up for a pair in unearned runs in his only inning of while sophomore Sam Delaplane (San Jose, Calif.-Leigh) surrendered two more in the following stanza.

Eastern Michigan was unable to mount a rally despite leaving runners on base in each of the final three innings.

In the ninth, earning his first start freshman David Lett (Farmington Hills, Mich.-North Farmington) singled up the middle on a 3-2 offering before taking second on a passed ball. Junior Austin Wilson (Valrico, Fla.-Bloomingdale Sr.) followed with a walk prompting SMC to make a call to the bullpen for Gonsolin. Gonsolin was wild with his delivery as he loaded the bases, but still found a way to battle back to get Jordan Peterson (Gilbert, Ariz.-Highland-Chandler-Gilbert C.C.) to ground into a double play before striking out McGeein to end the contest.

The Eagles collected seven hits in the contest, but were 1-for-11 at the dish with runners in scoring position. Junior Augie Gallardo (Hemet, Calif.-Hemet-Mt. San Jacinto College) was saddled with the loss in his first career start, tossing 5.0 innings striking out five but walking four. Left-handed starter Johnny York picked up the win for Saint Mary's tossing 111 pitches in 6.2 innings of work while striking out six.

WACO, Texas – Kent State (2-4) looked to grab the series win over No. 21 Baylor (5-2) in the rubber match game two of a doubleheader on Saturday, but fell just short in the 10th inning as the Bears were able to take both games of the twin bill 6-1 and 4-3.

In the early game, the Bears opened up the scoring in the 2nd with a run then added three more in the 4th to get ahead 4-0.  Kent State's sole run came in the 6th when Curtis Olvey singled, advanced on a single by Conner Simonetti, and then Jacob Neuschaefer hit Olvey home on another single.

That was as close as the Golden Flashes would get as the Bears plated two more runs in the 7th to make it a 6-1 game one final.

Jared Skolnicki had another good start on the mound with six hits, four runs (three earned), no walks and four strikeouts in six innings.  In his Kent State debut, Chris Martin tossed two innings with two hits, two runs and two walks.

Sawyer Polen and Zarley Zalewski had a good offensive output in game one with three hits each.

In game two, Baylor was able to get in front in the 2nd on a two-out walk, stolen base and RBI single to center.  Another run did not come across until the 4th on a series of singles.

The Kent State bats came through in the 7th as they scored two runs to tie the game.  It started with two fielder's choices by  Zalewski and Tommy Monnot that loaded the bases for Curtis Olvey to bat them both in on a base hit.

The Flashes looked like they would win the series in the top of the 10th after Polen scored after he reached and came around on a series of errors.  But, the Bears answered back with two runs in the bottom of the inning on two outs on a double, hit by pitch and a walk-off single to seal the 4-3 win.

Eric Lauer went 3.1 innings in the second game for his first start this season.  He allowed four hits and two runs while walking one and striking out three.  John Birkbeck and Zach Spangler followed with a combined 4.1 scoreless frames.  Eli Kraus pitched 1.1 innings in his Kent State debut with no hits, walks or runs and two strikeouts.  Josh Pierce suffered the loss, allowing the two hits and two runs in the 10th.

The Golden Flashes' six hits were spread out in the rubber match with no one grabbing more than one and no extra-base hits in the contest.  Olvey led the team with two RBI.

Kent State travels to compete in the Coastal Carolina tournament next weekend where they will face West Virginia, Illinois and host Coastal Carolina in a three-game set.

LUBBOCK, Texas - Trailing 6-0 in the top of the ninth to No. 5 Texas Tech (8-1), the NIU baseball team (3-4) scored four runs in the frame but the rally came up short as the Huskies fell, 6-4. Northern Illinois University lost game two of the doubleheader, 6-0.

Junior Brian Sisler (DeKalb, Ill./DeKalb) finished the day 5-for-8 at the plate with a double and two RBI in game one. He was 2-for-3 in game two. The NIU bullpen, who accounted for 6.2 innings in the doubleheader, surrendered one run on the day, with only two hits and three walks allowed.

“It was a tough weekend for Huskieball. We had our opportunities again today but we couldn’t get it done on the offensive side of the ball. Our staff did a great job all weekend of giving us a chance to win,” said Head Coach Mike Kunigonis. “The bullpen was very impressive and I look to build on their success. We look forward to getting back in the Chessick Center for a good week of practice. We will be ready to win a series next weekend against Tennessee Tech.”

GAME ONE
The Red Raiders scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 4-0 lead on NIU. With one run in the fifth and another in the sixth, TTU jumped out to a 6-0 lead.

In the first eight frames, the Huskies accounted for six hits and stranded 10 men on base. In the ninth inning, it all came together for Northern Illinois University as it took advantage of three-straight free bases by Red Raider pitching staff.

Joe Jumonville (Munster, Ind./Munster) drove home the first run of the inning on a ground out give NIU its first run of the weekend. Jason Gasser (Dyer, Ind./Mt. Carmel) reached base on error to send Malique Ziegler (Des Moines, Iowa/Des Moines East) home and cut the deficit to four runs.

On the very next at bat, Sisler doubled down the left field line - his fifth of the season - to put the Huskies within two runs of TTU, 6-4.

NIU was unable to score any more runs in the game, however, as the Huskies recorded a fielder’s choice and a groundout to end the game.

GAME TWO
NIU quickly found themselves in a hole against the Red Raiders, surrendering two runs in the first and second. Texas Tech added two more in the fifth inning to take a 6-0 lead in the ball game.

The Huskies looked to erase the deficit in the seventh frame as it loaded the base, started by a walk from Brad Wood (Orland Park, Ill./St. Laurence) and followed by a single from Gasser. Justin Fletcher (Pekin, Ill./Illinois Central) loaded the bases after reaching base on error with two outs but NIU was unable to capitalize on the chance. Northern Illinois University would leave two more men on base in the eighth inning.

Gasser finished the game 2-for-4, joining Sisler as the only other Huskie with multiple hits in the game.

Ryan Olson (Sterling, Ill./Newman Central Catholic), Andrew Frankenreider (Peoria, Ill./Dunlap) and Donovin Sims (Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah Community) rounded out the Huskies effort on the mound, tossing 4.2 innings in the game. Olson was unblemished in his 1.2 innings, striking out one and retiring all five batters her faced.

NIU will return to action Friday, February 27 when it heads to Cookeville, Tenn., for a three-game series with Tennessee Tech. 

MARIETTA, Ga. – A three-run homer by Mitch Longo (Mayfield, Ohio) propelled the Ohio baseball team (5-0) to a 13-2 victory against the Longwood Lancers (1-4) on Saturday morning at the Lake Pointe Sports Complex in Marietta, Ga. 
 
The Bobcats claimed an early 3-0 lead in the first inning, with an RBI single by Cody Gaertner (Pittsburgh, Pa.) sending Garrett Black (Lima, Ohio) across the plate. A 2 RBI-single by Kyle Dean (Athens, Ohio) scored Gaertner and Jake Madsen (Cincinnati, Ohio), who initially reached base on a walk.
 
Following a lone Longwood run in the fourth, Ohio extended their lead with a nine-run inning in the fifth. RBI-singles by Gaertner and John Adryan (Delran, N.J.) began Ohio’s hot streak, followed by a pair of 2 RBI-single by Connor Callery and Manny De Jesus (Caguas, Puerto Rico) to continue the momentum. A three-run homer by Longo capped off the inning, sending De Jesus and Garrett Black home.
 
The Lancers tacked on a single run in the sixth, which Ohio matched in the seventh.
 
Ohio pitchers Jeremy Cronk (North Plans, Ore.) and Logan Jacik (Omaha, NE) pitched the eighth and ninth innings, respectively, allowing just one hit apiece to solidify the Bobcat victory, 13-2.
 
MAC Pitcher of the Week Connor Sitz earned the win, marking his second of the season. The starter threw six innings in which he struck out three, allowed nine hits and two earned runs.
 
Longwood’s Travis Burnette was charged with his first loss of the season, allowing five hits, five earned runs, walking three and striking out for during his four innings on the mound.
 
Ohio and Longwood will face off for the final game of the series Sunday at 9 a.m. 

Caleb Stayton provided the day’s fireworks with a three-run homer on a line shot to right center in the eighth inning that led Ball State to a 6-3 win over High Point in the first game of a two-game day in Aiken, S.C.

The homer was the first of the season and sixth of Stayton’s career and highlighted an eighth inning that Elbert Devarie opened with a single to left field to improve to 3-for-4 on the day.  Alex Call’s bunt single put runners at first and second with no outs, but a fielder’s choice bunt by  Jarett Rindfleisch got Devarie out at third.  With two outs, Stayton’s three-run homer cleared the bases and gave the Cardinals a 6-3 lead.

Zach Plesac started the game on the mound for the Cardinals and lasted 5.2 innings, allowing only two runs, while striking out seven.  Devin Wilburn came on in relief and allowed only one hit against the seven batters he faced in 1.2 innings.

For the second straight day, B.J. Butler entered the game and in the eighth with one out and a runner on first, gave up a bloop single that tied the contest at 3-3.

Butler retired three straight batters in the ninth to end the game and earn the win to improve to 1-0 with one save on the season.

After giving up a first inning run to High Point, Ball State tallied two runs in the bottom of the fourth and one in the fifth to take a 3-1 lead, but the Panthers responded with another run in the sixth to close the gap to 3-2.

Ball State’s two runs in the fourth came when Stayton singled to right field to score Call, who had walked to lead off the inning.  Sean Kennedy reached on a fielder’s choice that scored Call and the Cardinals led 2-0.  Ball State added the third run in the fifth on a Devarie single to left field that scored Scott Tyler, who walked and advanced to third on a Ryan Spaulding base hit down the third base line.

Stayton was 2-for-4 in the game with four runs-batted-in and one run scored, including the game-winning HR.  Call was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while Devarie had one RBI in his 3-for-4 showing.  Rindfleisch was 2-for-4 and scored two runs.

Ball State’s batters two through five in the batting order combined for nine hits in 15 at-bats with five RBI and five runs scored.

With the win, Ball State evened its record at 2-2 on the season and will face Elon Saturday at 4:30 and again at 11 a.m. Sunday.

In Saturday's second game of the day, the Ball State baseball team scored early and often and raced out to a 9-1 lead after three innings before completing the contest with an 18-8 victory over Elon.

The Cardinals rallied for 18 runs on 16 hits to improve to 3-2 on the year.  Ball State will face Elon Sunday at 11 a.m. to complete its weekend of baseball in Aiken, S.C.

Despite a day of outstanding offense, it was a relief pitching performance from Devin Wilburn that may have been the highlight of the second game.  Wilburn, who also pitched in the first game of the day for the Cardinals, made another appearance and got the Cardinals out of a sixth inning jam by striking out two batters.  In 2.2 innings pitched, he struck out eight of the 12 batters he faced to quiet any late-inning rally chances from the Phoenix and earn the pitching victory.

Ball State started the day’s scoring with three runs in the first thanks to a two RBI double by Sean Kennedy.  The second inning saw the Cardinals’ lead increase to 5-0 on the strength of a double by Jarett Rindfleisch that plated two runners.

Four more runs in the top of the third built the Cardinals’ lead to 9-1 in the contest.  The four-run inning was led by a RBI doubles from Matt Eppers and Ryan Spaulding and a two-RBI single to right center field from Alex Call.  Call extended his streak to 46 games of reaching base safely for the Cardinals.

Ball State kept the offense going in the fifth inning and added three more to increase its lead to 12-1 before Elon tallied seven in the bottom of the fifth with the help of a grand slam to close the gap to 12-8.

The Cardinals offense in the fifth was led by an Elbert Devarie RBI double and a pair of groundouts that knocked in runs for Ball State.  Matt Eppers’ singled and scored on an Elon error to give Ball State a 13-8 advantage through six.  Kennedy added an RBI single in the seventh to increase the lead to 14-8, and Caleb Stayton added another run after scoring on a wild pitch.

Devarie put an exclamation point on the late-inning scoring with a solo home run to move the Cardinals lead to 16-8.  It completed a 3-for-5 hitting performance in the second game for Devarie with two RBI and four runs scored.

Ball State would add two more in the ninth to stretch its lead to 18-8 and seal the victory.

Trevor Henderson started the day on the mound for Ball State and went 4.2 innings, allowing five earned runs and striking out six.  Collin Brockhouse came on in relief in the bottom of the fifth before David Current came on to get the Cardinals out of Elon’s big inning and Wilburn and Trevor Simon finished the game.

Kennedy was 3-for-6 with three RBI, while Eppers was 3-for-5 with two RBI and three runs scored.

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Miami RedHawks (1-4, 0-0 MAC) fell to UNC-Asheville, 5-3, and Wofford, 7-4, Saturday in a doubleheader that saw Miami score first but unable to hold their lead in each game.

UNC-Asheville 5, Miami 3

Miami scored the game’s first runs in the top of the second inning. Adam Yacek and Chad Sedio started off the inning with back-to-back singles, putting runners on first and third with no outs. A wild pitch scored Yacek and advanced Sedio to second. Jacob Wolf then reached base on an error by the shortstop and Sedio advanced to third. Kendall Johnson then hit a sac fly, scoring Sedio and extending the lead. Later in the inning, Jacob Wolf scored on yet another wild pitch. The RedHawks exited the second inning with a 3-0 lead.

A sac bunt in the top of the fifth by the Bulldogs cut into the Miami lead. Then, after an error in the infield advanced a Bulldog runner to third base, a single brought the runner home. The Bulldogs then tied the game up on a sac fly to right field. Through the middle of the fifth, the score stood at 3-3. 

The Bulldogs took their first lead of the day in the top of the eighth when a two-out double with runners on the corners scored two, putting UNC-Asheville up 5-3. The RedHawks loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth but they couldn’t overcome and that was all the scoring the Bulldogs needed to secure a 5-3 win over the Red & White.

Wofford 7, Miami 4
For the third game in a row, Miami got the first run of the game. Matt Honchel began the second inning with a double and after two straight outs, Chad Sedio singled to left center, scoring Honchel. Miami exited the frame with a 1-0 advantage.

Wofford wasted little time evening the game up at one apiece. The Terriers led off the bottom half of the third inning with a hit by pitch. After a fielder’s choice, two singles brought the runner around to score the tying run. 

Wofford struck again in the bottom in the fourth. With the bases loaded and one out, the Terriers hit into a fielder’s choice, however a throwing error scored two runs. The very next play was a mirror image of the last as a fielder’s choice and a RedHawk throwing error turned into two more runs. Wofford would add one more run in the inning, leaving the frame with a 6-1 advantage. 

The RedHawks cut into the lead in the top of the sixth inning. Steve Sada began the inning with a leadoff walk and Scott Slappey singled. After a Gary Russo strikeout, Honchel singled in Sada, cutting the lead to 6-2.

The Terriers added another run in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI single. The RedHawks got one back in the top of the eighth when Max Andresen hit a sac fly that scored Slappey. Wofford took a 7-3 lead into the bottom of the eighth.

The RedHawks got a leadoff double by Sedio in the top of the ninth and he eventually scored on a hit by Sada that resulted in a Terrier throwing error. However, the comeback came up short as Wofford closed out the game and earned a 7-4 victory over the Red & White.

Miami returns to the diamond next Friday at the Fighting Camel Classic in Buies Creek, N.C. The three-game set features matchups against Campbell, Furman and Maryland-East Shore.