On Friday March 25, the Eastern Michigan University baseball team hosted the home-opening series against Akron at Oestrike Stadium in Ypsilanti, MI. The eagles had a combined amount of 28 runs and 29 total hits in the double-header win. EMU won the first game 10-9 and the second game 18-6.
In game one, Akron brought a 10-3 deficit down to just one in the ninth inning. EMU closed that game with a 10-9 victory. In game two, the Eagles were down 5-0 in the first inning. EMU made a huge comeback, ending the game with an 18-6 win over the Zips.
Senior Zach Fruit started game one on the pitching mound. Fruit went six innings, gaining a career-best six strikeouts, only allowing four walks. Three of his six frames were scoreless.
Senior Brady Huebbe went two-for-four, tying for the team leaderboard in hits. Huebbe completed a triple and earned his EMU-career-high four RBIs. Senior Daniel Warkentin also went two-for-four at the plate. The upperclassmen hit a double, a home run, and completed a career-high-tying three RBIs. Junior Gabe Denton finished game one going two-for-four with two RBIs.
In game two, Junior Zach Gillig completed the victory out of the bullpen for EMU. The right-hander pitched for 6.1 innings, only giving up one run on five hits. Gillig allowed no walks and struck out seven Akron batters. Junior Mason Marquis pitched for one inning, allowing one hit with no walks and gaining one strikeout.
Warkentin ended the two game series with three home runs, which marks the first time he had back-to-back home run games and more than one home run in a single game.
The Eagles record now stands at 7-12 overall and 3-3 in the Mid-American Conference as of March 25.
Next weekend EMU will host another weekend full of baseball against the Western Michigan University Broncos. On April 1, the game will start at 3 p.m. A double header will be held at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on April 2. The last game will be at 1 p.m. on April 3. These games will be hosted at Oestrike Stadium.
