Marshall University Athletics
Home Runs Highlight Eastern Michigan's Doubleheader Sweep of Baseball
5/18/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Home Runs Highlight Eastern Michigan's Doubleheader Sweep of Baseball
5/18/2002
Huntington, W.Va.-Eastern Michigan University belted nine home runs in two games and swept a doubleheader from Marshall University at University Heights. EMU won the first game 11-9 and went on to win the second game 17-12. The two teams combined for 18 home runs on the day. With the losses, Marshall falls to 17-34 overall, 7-19 in conference. The Eagles improved to 29-26 overall, 17-9 in conference.
Eastern Michigan jumped out to an early 6-0 lead after three innings in the first game. The burst was highlighted by home runs by Brian Bixler and Ryan Goleski.
Marshall responded with three runs in the bottom of the third to cut the lead in half on a three run home run by Adam Fairman.
With the score 6-3, EMU went on a 5-1 run to grab an 11-4 lead. Marshall rallied for five runs in the bottom of t he sixth, however, to cut the lead to 11-9. Mike Koitsopolous hit a three-run homer in the inning, and was followed by a home run off the bat of Craig Dziedziejko. The back-to-back home runs marked the second time over the weekend the duo pulled off the feat.
Marshall threatened in the last inning but was unable to score. With runners on first and third and nobody out, Ross Winiemko stuck out Marty Rini and David Colangelo and forced Koitsopolous into a ground-out to record his sixth save of the season.
Bixler led the way for the Eagles in the first game, going three for five, with two home runs, and adding three runs and three RBI. Greg Anglin and Chad Jenkins also added home runs for the Eagles.
Colangelo led the Marshall attack, going three for four with two runs and a RBI. Matt White also added a home run for the Thundering Herd.
Grant Harper (4-7) picked up the loss for Marshall, allowing 11 runs and 11 hits over five innings of work.
Tom Gallus (4-5) picked up the win for EMU, allowing nine runs and 10 hits over 5.2 innings of work.
The fireworks continued in the second game as the two teams combined for nine more home runs.
Marshall jumped off to an early 6-1 lead after three innings on the strength off a three-run home run by Fairman, his second three-run home run of the day.
However, EMU cut the lead to 6-5 when Luke Beeler hit a grand slam over the center field wall with two outs in the top of the fourth inning.
Marshall was able to extend the lead in the bottom of the inning when Dziedziejko homered to center field to give MU an 8-5 lead.
The Eagles regained the lead in the top of the fifth, exploding for six runs and grabbing 11-8 lead. The outburst was highlighted by a three-run blast by Ryan Goleski.
Marshall refused to give up, however, and managed to score four runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 12-11 lead. Marty Rini hit a two-run home run to make it 11-10 and Colangelo followed with another two-run home run to give MU the lead.
Eastern Michigan scored the last six runs of the game and was able to go on to sweep the doubleheader with a 17-12 victory.
Dale Hayes (3-1) pitched 4.1 innings of relief, allowing zero runs and only three hits to record the victory.
Chris Meadows (2-3) took the loss for Marshall, allowing seven runs on eight hits.
Jenkins led the EMU attack in the second game, going four for five, with three runs and three RBI. Bixler also added a home run for the Eagles, his third of the day.
Fairman led the way for Marshall in the second game, going three for five, with two runs and three RBI.
The two teams will complete the series on Sunday, May 19, at noon at University Heights. Eastern Michigan can clinch the Mid-American Conference West Division title with a victory. The game will mark the final appearance for Thundering Herd seniors Colangelo, Ryan Kobbe, Homer Renshaw, Rini, Sean Smith and White.
