YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team fell to Mid-American Conference opponent Kent State University, 9-5 and 4-3, May 29 at Oestrike Stadium.
Three Eagles saw three-hit days from freshman Evan Sines (Lancaster, Ohio-Lancaster), junior Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller), and senior Daniel Warkentin (Leamington, Ontario-Leamington District).
EMU had strong starts from junior Justin Meis (Pittsbugh, Pa.-Bethel Park) in game one and veteran ace Davis Feldman (Warren, Mich.-Brother Rice) in game two. Meis went 4.2 innings, striking out nine. Feldman went 6.2 innings, allowing just six hits and striking out a career-high 10 batters.
Game One: Kent State 9, Eastern Michigan 5
Kent State jumped to an early lead in the first, after a sac fly scored the runner on third. However, Meis was able to boune back and strike out the final batter of the inning.
Meis worked through some trouble in the second and third innings, but managed to work through two on and bases loaded situations to keep the score at 1-0, Kent State.
The Eagles took the lead in the bottom of the third. With Hopkins and junior Gabe Denton (Clare, Mich.-Clare (North Iowa)) aboard via walks, Warkentin smacked a double to the corner in left field, plating both runners to give Eastern the 2-1 lead after three.
Despite the Golden Flashes tying things up to start the fourth, the Eagles took their lead back in the bottom half of the frame. After a four-pitch walk was issued to senior Mike Monahan (Saline, Mich.-Saline) to lead off the inning, freshman Evan Sines (Lancaster, Ohio-Lancaster) followed with a single to left. The runners were able to move into scoring positions on a sacrifice bunt from senior Nate Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview), paving the way for Hopkins to deliver a double to the right field corner and put the Eagles ahead, 4-2, after four.
Once more finding a response, KSU scored two runs of its own to tie the game, 4-4.
Undeterred by the Kent State momentum, Eastern took the lead back in the bottom of the fifth. Beginning with back-to-back singles from Warkentin and senior Eli Gora (Cincinnati, Ohio-Anderson) to put runners on the corners, the Golden Flashes opted for pitching change before facing Monahan. Opting for a bunt, the Kent State defense looked to try and stop the run from scoring, but with Warkentin not advancing, Monahan made it safely to first to load the bases. Bringing Sines up to the plate, the freshman was hit by the pitch to score a run and give Eastern the 5-4 lead after five.
While Eastern held its advantage through the sixth inning, the Golden Flashes rallied to connect for hits of their own and take advantage of errors by the Green and White, scoring five to take a 9-5 lead into the final half.
Unable to get anything going in the bottom of the seventh, EMU fell to KSU, 9-5.
Game Two: Kent State 4, Eastern Michigan 3
Just like the first game of Saturday's two games, Kent State found the scoreboard first, taking the 1-0 lead after the top of the first inning. The Golden Flashes added two in the second and one in the third to take a 4-0 lead before the Eagles found a response.
Sines led off the third inning with a single to become Eastern's first baserunner of the contest. After an ensuing hit by pitch from junior Jared Kauffman (Springboro, Ohio-Bishop Fenwick), Hopkins would get the RBI on a single through the gap on the right side of the infield, pulling the Eagles within three, 4-1.
After a 1-2-3 fourth inning from Feldman on the mound, Warkentin was able to lead off the bottom of the inning with a solo shot over the left field wall, cutting Kent State's lead to 4-2.
Feldman tossed his second-straight three-up, three-down frame in the top of the fifth, continuing to aid the Eagles' momentum. Leading off with a Nate Jones double, a groundout from Hopkins to the right side of the field would move him over to third. Nick Jones would then deliver at the plate with a single through the left side, bringing the Green and White within one, 4-3.
The Golden Flashes would be retired in order in the sixth, and held scoreless in the seventh to put the Eagles back at the plate for their final three outs. Feldman exited with two outs gone in the top of the seventh. He was met by thunderous cheers from the large crowd, as well as hugs from teammates and coaches.
A Hopkins single started off the bottom of the seventh, and was followed by a Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) bunt that, due to an error by KSU, moved Hopkins over to third. However, EMU's comeback effort fell short as it grounded in to an inning-ending double play and would fall to Kent State, 4-3.
Eastern Michigan will close out its season against Kent State tomorrow, May 29, at Oestrike Stadium. While the game is scheduled for 1 p.m., fans are encouraged to arrive early to witness the Senior Day ceremony set to take place before the start of the game.
To stay up to date with all things EMU baseball, continue to check EMUEagles.com, or follow the team on Twitter, @EMU_Baseball.
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Baseball Rallies, Ultimately Drops Doubleheader to Kent State - EMU Eagles
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