Niles, Ohio – Eastern Michigan scored eight runs in the top of the fourth inning and went on to defeat the Youngstown State baseball team 15-5 in a non-league matchup on Wednesday at 717 Credit Union Field at Eastwood.
The Eagles scored twice in the top of the first inning before the Penguins pulled even with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second. EMU erupted for eight runs on five hits in the top of the fourth to go back in front before adding one run in the fifth to build an 11-2 advantage.
YSU trimmed its deficit to 11-5 when Ryan Schummer belted a three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth, but EMU answered with a three-run homer of its own in the top of the sixth to lead 14-5. The Eagles added a single tally on a solo blast in the top of the ninth for the final margin.
Brady Shannon and Misael Uriepero each notched two hits including a double while Chyran Humphries added a two-run single for the Penguins, who were topped in the hit column by the Eagles, 14-8.
YSU starter Mikey Rodriques suffered the loss after surrendering seven runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and three walks over 3.2 innings. Lane Rhodes was responsible for three runs as the first of three relievers to appear in the game for the Penguins. Jake Ferretti allowed four runs while fanning three batters over two innings while Griffin Almond permitted one run over three innings on the mound.
The Eagles scored a pair of runs in the top of the first inning to take an early 2-0 lead. John Hale and Bruce Jellison were hit by the first two pitches of the game before Ty Stecko reached first on a fielder's choice to put runners at first and third. Devan Zirwas drove in Hale from third with a sacrifice fly and Leewood Molessa followed with an RBI single that plated Stecko.
The Penguins evened the score with two runs of their own on three straight hits in the bottom of the second inning. Nic Goodwin hit a leadoff single and James Carlson followed with a double to set up a two-run single from Humphries.
Eastern Michigan regained the lead with eight runs on five hits in the top of the fourth inning. TJ Williams reached with a one-out infield single, advanced to second on a wild pitch, stole third and scored when Jellison reached on a fielder's choice. Hale walked and scored on Stecko's RBI single before Zirwas delivered a two-run double. A pair of walks preceded a three-run home run by Drew Jones and Williams added an RBI double for his second hit of the inning to give the Eagles a 10-2 advantage.
EMU pushed across a single run in the top of the fifth inning to push its lead to 11-2. Stecko reached with a one-out single, swiped second and scored on an RBI single from Zirwas.
Youngstown State cut into EMU's lead with three runs in the home half of the fifth inning. Nathan Beckley drew a leadoff walk, Shannon singled and Schummer followed with a towering three-run blast that cleared the bullpen beyond the right field wall.
Eastern Michigan responded in the top half of the sixth with a three-run homer from Jellison to increase its lead to 14-5. Zirwas added a solo homer in the top of the ninth inning for the game's final run.
Zirwas finished 4-for-5 at the plate with a double, a home run and five RBIs for the Eagles offensively while Williams went 3-for-4 with an RBI double and two runs scored.
EMU starter Ethan Davis allowed two runs on four hits over two innings in a no-decision. Michael Pfeiffer tossed two scoreless innings as the first of five relievers to appear in the contest for the Eagles. Greg Kennedy was responsible for three runs before Emmett Gillies, Ethan Rowland and Henry Slaby combined to not allow a hit over the final 4.2 innings.
The Penguins will host Milwaukee on Friday at 11 a.m. to open a three-game Horizon League series at 717 Credit Union Field at Eastwood. Friday's series opener will be the annual Akron Children's School Day Game with thousands of area students in attendance.
