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The Eastern Michigan Eagles baseball team advanced to the third day of the Mid-American Conference Tournament with a 6-2 victory over the Northern Illinois Huskies Thursday afternoon, May 26 at All Pro Freight Stadium. The Eagles (21-35) earned their first MAC Tournament win since 2012.
Eastern's bats came alive in the game, springing for 10 hits, its first double-digit hitting effort since May 10. Three players had two-hit days, while two also had two-RBI games. Leading the Eagles was redshirt junior Marquise Gill who had two hits, including a two-run double. Fellow redshirt junior Michael Mioduszewski had the other two-RBI contest, scoring a pair on a double of his own. Junior Jeremy Stidham had EMU's fifth RBI as well a double in a 2-for-4 game. Finally sophomore Brennan Williams had his 19th multi-hit game of the season with a pair of knocks, including his second triple of the year.
It was an excellent start for freshman Tyler Butzin as the lefty earned his third win of the season after going five shutout innings, while only giving up four hits and striking out four as well. In relief, junior Sam Delaplane went 2.1 to finish the game, only allowing one base runner on a walk.
For NIU, their tournament run ended prematurely, but the season as a whole was by all measures a successful one. The Huskies 24 wins this season were the most since 2011 when NIU finished 30-27.
Eastern now continues it's postseason with game three from Avon Friday. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m. against the loser of the Kent State and Toledo game.