On Friday, Feb. 18, the Eastern Michigan University baseball team fell 11-9 to Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C. at The Winthrop Ballpark.
Junior Frankie Volkers came out of the bullpen for EMU and took the decision. Volkers had no strikeouts, two hits, three walks, and conceded four earned runs. WU Jaret Monterey outperformed Volkers with seven strikeouts, three hits, one walk, and conceded three earned runs. Senior Zach Fruit threw the first four innings. Fruit gave up three runs and two earned on three hits, with one walk and three strikeouts.
Junior Matt Kirk led the offense for the Eagles, going 4-for-5 earning two doubles and an RBI. Senior Shane Easter contributed two RBIs and went 3-for-5. Senior Bradley Huebbe went 1-for-5, completing a triple and bringing in two RBI’s. Huebbe’s triple was just the second of his career.
“Historically we have a very good team and we want to get back to that. Now it’s just our hunger and I’ve seen it in this team,” Easter said (emueagles.com).
EMU’s highest scoring inning was the eighth with three runs, while scoring two runs in the second inning, two in the fifth inning, and two in the ninth inning. EMU went 4-for-13 with runners in scoring position and had eight walks caused by Winthrop pitching.
WU won the game by scoring three runs in the second inning, four in the fifth inning, two in the sixth inning, and two in the eighth inning.
EMU pitchers saw 43 Winthrop hitters this game, allowing four ground balls and 11 fly balls. Volkers and Fruit had five strikeouts collectively.
“I really like our squad. It’s a bunch of guys that get after it. It’s a bunch of guys that give you good effort every single day and it’s a good mix,” coach Eric Roof said (emueagles.com).
WU leads the all-time head-to-head series against EMU 0-3 as of Feb. 18. The two programs had a three-game series this weekend. You can view those end-game results on emueagles.com.
Next weekend the Eagles will travel to Cookeville, TN to face Tennessee Tech in a three-game series.
