Eastern Michigan University’s baseball team was unable to keep pace with the Indiana Hoosiers on Wednesday afternoon and was defeated by a score of 9-1, the second loss to the Hoosiers in two days.
For the second consecutive game, the Eagles sent a freshman pitcher out to the mound giving left-hander, Kyle Huckaby, his second career start. In his two innings he gave up four earned runs on three hits and forty-three pitches.
Huckaby would not be alone in the earned run category as each pitcher for the Eagles gave up at least one on the day.
In a scene reminiscent of the game that took place the day before, Indiana landed first on the scoreboard in the first inning. After allowing a hit to Hosier Casey Rodrigue and advancing to third after, first baseman, Craig Dedelow singled to right field and Rodrigue was able to score from third on an error made by shortstop, David Lett, to make the score 1-0.
Three of Huckaby’s earned runs would come on one swing of the bat allowing a three run homer to Brian Wilhite with one out (4-0). Huckaby’s day came to an end, as Augie Gallardo came out to replace him in the next inning.
The top of the third got off to a good start for EMU after a walk to first baseman Brennan Williams and hits by Jordan Peterson and Mike McGeein loaded the bases with only one out. A fly out and a hit into a fielder’s choice would end the threat, and Indiana would later make the Eagles pay for the missed opportunity.
Indiana would score another two in the fifth inning making the score 6-0 before Eastern made another attempt to get on the scoreboard. Once again, EMU was able to cash in on an error made by the Hoosiers as a poor throw by their right fielder, Will Nolden, allowed Mike McGeein to score from second after he doubled to left field. That would be the lone run Eastern would be able to muster.
Three insurance runs in the seventh and eighth innings would put the icing on the cake for the Hoosiers and allowed them to end the day with a 9-1 win.
Eastern Michigan’s record falls to 6-12 on the season after the loss and is Kyle Huckaby’s first on the year (0-1). Meanwhile, Indiana, who picked up their seventh straight win, improves to 10-4 on the year and will prepare to welcome California State Fullerton to their hometown for a three game series beginning Friday.
The Eagles were originally scheduled to play a three-game series at Northern Kentucky, but the series has since been canceled due to unplayable field conditions and rain in the forecast. The team announced today that in its place, EMU will participate in a double-header Saturday, March 14, in Columbus, Ohio.
The first game on the day Eastern is set the take on Ohio State University at 3 p.m. followed by a game against Evansville where the first pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
