Baseball Powers Past Miami to Win Weekend Series

OXFORD, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University baseball team totaled 12 runs on 12 hits to defeat Miami University in the series finale Monday, April 11, at McKie Park. The victory gives the Eagles the series win over the RedHawks,winning three of four games.

Junior Luke Russo (Howell, Mich.-Howell) was mowing people down on Monday, striking out 11 Miami hitters over 5.0 innings of work to help propel Eastern (13-16, 9-7 MAC) past the RedHawks, 12-7.

In addition to his 11 strikeouts, Russo (1-0) went 5.0 innings, giving up three runs, on four hits, and walking just one for Eastern Michigan. Senior Justin Reinkall (Superior, Wis.-Superior (Southeast)) also made an impact on the mound for the Eagles, throwing one scoreless inning while allowing one hit, with no walks and two strikeouts.

Senior Shane Easter (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Comstock) led the way offensively for the Eagles, going 2-for-4 in the ballgame with a double and four RBIs. Senior Daniel Warkentin (Leamington, Ontario-Leamington District (Parkland)) furnished a standout day at the dish as well, going 2-for-5 with a home run, a walk, and an RBI. Senior Brady Huebbe (Peru, Ill.-La Salle-Peru (Northern Illinois)) also chipped in, going 2-for-5 for Eastern Michigan with two doubles and two RBIs.

How It Happened

The Eagles got on the scoreboard first, starting in the second inning. Eastern Michigan’s offense started clicking and put up four runs, including a one-run error off the bat of junior Matt Kirk (Milford, Ohio-Milford (Toledo)).

The RedHawks then gained ground, narrowing the lead to 4-1 until the Eagles expanded their advantage in the third. Eastern Michigan brought home a pair, with one run driven in by freshman Aaron Dolney’s (Plymouth, Mich.-Detroit Country Day) single, which brought the Eagles lead to 6-1.

Miami narrowed EMU’s lead to 6-4 before the Eagles stretched the advantage to 9-4 in the fourth inning. The Eagles notched three runs in the frame, two of them coming across on a two-RBI double from Huebbe.

Eastern Michigan kept the RedHawks scoreless before building on their lead in the eighth inning. The Eagles pushed two runs across on a two-run double off the bat of Easter that brought home Warkentin and freshman Logan Hugo (Essexville, Mich.-Essexville Garber), bringing the Eastern Michigan advantage to 11-4.

The Eagles kept Miami off the scoreboard before building on their lead to 12-4 the following inning. Eastern Michigan picked up a run on Warkentin’s two-out solo home run. Miami put three runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Eagles still coasted to the 12-7 win.

Game Notes

» Russo struck out a career-best 11 RedHawks hitters. The 11 K’s is tied for a game-high by an Eagles pitcher this season (Adam Falinski (Howell, Mich.-Detroit Catholic Central) – 11 at Miami, April 10). 

» The Eastern Michigan pitching staff combined to strike out 17 Miami hitters, a season-high mark for the Eagles’ staff. Furthermore, Eastern Michigan pitchers faced 39 Miami hitters in the game, allowing three ground balls and five fly balls while striking out 17.

» Five Eagles had multiple hits in the ballgame as Eastern tallied 12 hits in the win. Additionally, it is the 12th time this season the Green and White have totaled double digit hits.

» Easter drove in four runs for Eastern Michigan. The four RBIs tie a career-high for the captain (4 at Austin Peay, Feb. 15, 2020). Additionally, it is Easter’s fourth multi-RBI game of the season.

» The Eagles’ power output was led by Huebbe, who had two extra-base hits, including a home run, in the ballgame along with two RBIs. The stat line marks the fourth time this season Huebbe has tabbed a multi-RBI performance.

» Huebbe’s solo shot gives the center fielder a team-leading 10 homers. He is the first player in the Mid-American Conference to reach double-digit home runs, having only played in 21 games this season.

» Eastern Michigan’s highest-scoring inning was the second when it pushed four runs across. It is the 13th time this season the Eagles have tallied four runs-or-more in a half-inning.

» Dolney added two RBIs in the win. It is the catcher’s third multi-RBI performance of the season.

» Senior Will Oberg (Wayzata, Minn.-Wayzata (Heartland C.C.)) notched two hits in his first start of the 2022 campaign. It is Oberg’s second straight game with multiple base knocks. Furthermore, Oberg is hitting 4-for-10 (.400) in three games played for the Eagles this season.

Historical Notes

» The 11 punch outs by Russo is tied for second in EMU’s modern statistical history (1999-Pres.) for strikeouts in an outing (Falinski, 11 & Ryan Lavoie, 11).

Up Next

The Eagles return home for a four-game set against Ohio, April 15-17, inside Oestrike Stadium.