The Eastern Michigan baseball team lost to Dayton, 4-1 on Tuesday, April 16 at Oestrike Stadium in Ypsilanti. The Eagles have lost four of their last five games and are just 3-7 in their last 10 outings. Tyler Henry took the win for Dayton as he gave up no runs in four innings pitched.
Neither team scored through the first five innings of the game as both pitching staffs dominated. Tyler Koons got the start for EMU and pitched five innings, giving up zero runs and just three hits. He also struck out five batters and walked two. Dylan Keller, the start for the Flyers, was nearly as good. He pitched 4.2 innings and also gave up three hits. He finished with three walks and four strikeouts.
The first run of the game came in the bottom of the sixth inning when Eastern Michigan broke through to take the lead. Jeff Timko hit a homerun to center field off Will Sheats, but the lead didn’t last long. In the top of the seventh inning, Dayton got even. Thomas House came in from the bullpen to replace Koons and gave up three hits over three innings pitched. House allowed Michael Garrity to reach first base, which scored Bryce Hellgeth.
The game remained tied through the bottom of the seventh and the entire eighth inning. In the top of the ninth, the Flyers earned their first lead of the game. Caleb Hester came in to pitch for the Eagles and gave up three runs in the inning. Garrity came around to score on an error by Drake Peggs. Riley Tirotta knocked in two more runs for good measure, giving Dayton a 4-1 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth. The Eagles couldn’t find any offense to make a comeback.
Henry earned the win for Dayton, as he improves to 2-1 on the year. He finished with 4.0 innings pitched, three hits, and no earned runs. Hester took the loss for the Eagles, his first of the year, as he walked two batters and gave up three runs in one inning of work.
Timko had a team-high three hits and was responsible for the only run scored. Peggs also added a hit and a walk in four plate appearances. Garrity was the only Dayton player with multiple hits as he was 2-3 at the plate to go along with one RBI and a run.
Eric Roof and his team were not available for comment.
The Eagles will return home this weekend for a three-game series against Ohio beginning on Friday, April 19 at Oestrike Stadium. Eastern Michigan is currently 3-9 in conference play.
