In a series originally meant to be played on March 31, graduate student Thomas House (Ross, Ohio) threw the first pitch against the Ohio University Bobcats (10-14, 7-4 MAC) on Saturday, April 1, at 5 p.m. for game one of three inside Bob Wren Stadium.
The Eastern Michigan University Eagles (11-11, 4-6 MAC) kept fans on their toes after losing a 5-run lead and almost pulling off a late rally against the Bobcats. The Eagles ultimately fell short, 6-7, in game one. Games two and three were played in a doubleheader on Sunday. Despite a strong pitching performance, both went in favor of the home team, 4-8 and 4-6.
Saturday’s game saw graduate student Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio) quickly start the scoring off with an RBI for the Eagles, getting sophomore Joseph Kross (Brunswick, Ohio) in for the run and the inning’s only scoring play. Hopkins would go on to earn another RBI in Sunday’s doubleheader, adding to his season total of 24 and second-most on the team. Kross, team leader for RBI’s, earned two over the weekend as well, pushing his season total to 27.
Also on the offensive side, senior catcher Aaron Dolney (Plymouth, Michigan) hit two home runs, a first in his career as an Eagle. Outfielder Kyle Shroedle (Redding, California) also put on a career-best performance with his two-run home run in the fourth inning to mark the first time he has hit a home run in two consecutive games.
The first game of Sunday’s doubleheader was led off by a homer from Kross that earned him his two aforementioned RBIs and an early 2-0 lead for the Eagles. His scoring play was immediately followed by an RBI from Hopkins to further extend their lead to 3-0. The Bobcats would not remain shut out for long though, ending the inning with a two-run RBI play.
The Eagles saw their last run of the game come in the fourth inning courtesy of an RBI from junior Darren Kraft (Mount Pleasant, South Carolina). In the sixth inning, the Bobcats cleaned house, racking up seven runs and too big a hole for EMU to climb out of, ending 4-8 for Ohio.
The last game of the series remained a shootout until the sixth inning with the teams were tied 3-3 when the Bobcats hit a three-run home run to go up 3-6. Junior Cory Taylor (Shelbyville, Indiana) capped off the scoring for the Eagles in the eighth inning with an RBI, cutting the final score to 4-6.
With this result, EMU is currently ninth in the Mid-American Conference, seven spots behind Ohio, and just one spot behind their next opponent. The Eagles will briefly return home before heading to Akron University (12-15, 5-7 MAC) on Tuesday, April 4, at 3 p.m. for their last regular season bout against the Zips.
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