East Michigan News

Junior infielder Cooper Vance delivered a decisive home run for Eastern Michigan University (EMU) in their baseball game against Kent State University, securing a 12-11 victory in the 12th inning. This win was crucial for EMU as it gave them sole possession of the sixth and final spot in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Tournament with only two games left in the regular season.

John Hale and Harrison Travis were key players for EMU, contributing significantly to the team's offense. Hale had a productive day with three extra-base hits, including two doubles and a home run, driving in three runs. Travis recorded four hits, drove in two runs, and hit his 10th home run of the season, which initiated Eastern's comeback in the 12th inning.

Senior pitcher Dom Anderson started on the mound for EMU, pitching 4.1 innings. Freshman Cal Rutherford secured the win by striking out Kent State's final batter in the top of the 12th inning. Kent State's Jordan Kolenda took the loss.

The game saw both teams exchanging leads multiple times. Kent State initially led with solo home runs but Eastern responded with timely hitting and strategic plays to stay competitive throughout. In particular, Lucas Johnson and Hale contributed crucial RBIs that set up Vance's game-winning homer.

This victory marked several achievements for EMU: it was their first walk-off win of the season and their sixth comeback win this year. The team reached double digits in runs, hits, and RBIs for the 13th time this season, maintaining an impressive record when achieving these numbers.

EMU now faces Western Michigan and Central Michigan as they aim to secure their spot in the MAC Tournament with just a narrow lead over these rivals.

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