The Eastern Michigan University baseball team dropped a matchup against Michigan State Wednesday, 3-2, at Comerica Park in Detroit, Mich.
“It’s a lot of fun to be out here and what an opportunity for the guys,” noted EMU manager Mark Van Ameyde. “A lot of them probably grew up watching the Tigers play [here].”
Three Eagles landed hits in the contest, with David Lett being the top hitter. Lett went 1-for-2 with an RBI. Davis Feldman pitched a shutout through three innings before being pulled in the fourth inning.
After two hitless innings by the Spartans and the Eagles, Michigan State would reach on a single to right field in the bottom of the second with two outs and would reach second on a wild pitch. Davis Feldman would walk the next batter, but got out of the jam with no runs scored.
EMU recorded their first hit on a bunt single from Brennan Williams. Austin Wilson then reached on a single. A wild pitch on an attempt to steal third would make way for Wilson to cross home with ease, giving the Eagles a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth.
Going into the bottom of the fourth, Feldman was replaced by Kyle Huckaby. With two away, Michigan State reached on a shot into the left field corner. The Spartans followed that with a two run home run to take a 2-1 lead.
Huckaby walked the next batter and gave up a base hit to put two men on with two outs. Huckaby would be pulled after pitching just two outs and was replaced by Justin Thompson, who would close the inning with a long fly out.
EMU loaded the bases in the fifth with only one away and a base hit by Lett scored the tying run. After a pitching change by Michigan State, the Spartans would close out the inning without another run scoring, leaving the score tied at two going into the bottom of the fifth.
EMU reached base in the seventh when Jeremy Stidham was hit by a pitch. Then Marquise Gill poped out to right field, but poor base running by Stidham resulted in him getting doubled up at first for the double play.
Michigan State would bunt for a single in the bottom of the seventh, but a throwing error allowed the runner to cruise to second. A steal then put the leading run on third with one away. A walk followed and put runners on the corners, making the Eagles go to the bullpen once again. A throwing error on a pickoff attempt would score another run, giving the Spartans a 3-2 lead.
The Eagles and Spartans would go scoreless in the eighth, leaving the Eagles one more chance to tie it in the ninth. Mitchell McGeein struck out to start the inning. John Montgomery then grounded out to second and John Rensel struck out to seal the 3-2 defeat.
“As far the game goes, it’s disappointing to lose the way we lost,” Van Ameyde said. “One run game, tight late, low scoring. It was a pretty good ballgame for the most part. We really weren’t able to do anything offensively and just made one too many mistakes defensively and that’s what happens.”
