East Michigan News

Eastern Michigan University's baseball team faced a setback in their series finale against Ball State University, concluding the contest at Oestrike Stadium with a 9-5 loss in the Mid-American Conference play. The Eagles initially held a 5-3 lead into the ninth inning before the Cardinals mounted a six-run rally to clinch the victory. Ball State's Garret Harker, now with a 3-1 record, secured the win, while Eastern's Ethan Davis received the loss, taking his season record to 2-1.

Ty Stecko led the offense for the Eagles, delivering two hits, including a home run, while also achieving two RBIs. On the mound, Tyler Kapa started for Eastern and pitched 5.1 innings, allowing three earned runs and managing six strikeouts against five walks.

In game progression, Eastern Michigan took the early lead with a score by Bruce Jellison and further extended it with Stecko's two-run home run, marking his seventh of the season. The lead was briefly diminished in the fifth inning when Ball State tied the score. Jellison's RBI in the sixth inning regained the lead for Eastern, followed by a run from Devan Zirwas in the seventh inning. However, a ninth-inning three-run homer by Ball State transformed the game’s direction, concluding with three more runs for the Cardinals.

The defeat resulted in a shift for both teams' records, with Ball State advancing to 23-10 (10-2 MAC) and Eastern Michigan updating to 13-15 (8-7 MAC). Stecko's efforts put him among the top MAC players in terms of home runs. Kapa's performance boosted his season strikeout total to 44, ranking him fourth in the conference.

Looking ahead, the Eagles will host the University of Toledo for a three-game series at their home field from April 11-13. The team encourages followers to stay updated on EMU Baseball via their social media platforms.