Complete Schedule (PDF).
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan University head baseball coach Jay Alexander announced his team's schedule for the 2010 season today, Sept. 16, which includes 25 consecutive road games to start the season.
“It will be a challenge for our club to play on the road for the first month and half, but we are excited and look forward to the start of our season,” Alexander said. “It will certainly benefit us and get our team ready for the tough Mid-American Conference season.”
The Eagles begin the 2010 season in Lawrence, Kan. for a showdown with the University of Kansas Jayhawks, Feb. 19-21, at Hoglund Ballpark. Last season, the Jayhawks finished the season with a 39-24 record, including a 25-4 mark in their home stadium.
From there, the Eagles head to Mobile, Ala. for the South Alabama Tournament, Feb. 26-28. The Eagles open up against host South Alabama before games against the University of North Florida and perennial college baseball powerhouse, Wichita State University. Last season, the Shockers finished 30-27 under legendary head coach Gene Stephenson.
After a four-game set in Morgantown, W. Va. against the West Virginia University Mountaineers, Jay Alexander makes his return to Detroit as the Eagles head to Wayne State University to take on the Warriors, March 26. Alexander coached at Wayne State for six seasons (2003-08), compiling a 161-148 record, including 34 wins in his final season with the Warriors – the most by any WSU team in school history. He was twice named the GLIAC Coach of the Year and was a two-time NCAA Regional qualifier.
The Eagles open up their Mid-American Conference schedule on the road, as the team heads to Buffalo, N.Y. for a three-game set with the University at Buffalo Bulls, March 26-28. The Eagles and Bulls did not play last year, as their last meeting was in 2007 when EMU took two out of three on the road.
The Eagles make their much anticipated return to Oestrike Stadium, April 2, when they host the defending MAC regular season champion Bowling Green State University Falcons for a three-game MAC set. The two teams met just once last season, as EMU registered a 27-7 victory at BGSU, April 8. Wally Gerbus (Fairfield, Ohio-Stephen T. Baden) hit four homers to lead the Eagles, shattering several EMU and MAC batting records en route to National Player of the Week accolades.
EMU will host a key MAC series at Oestrike Stadium, April 9-11, when the defending MAC Tournament champions from Kent State University come to Ypsilanti for a three-game set. The Golden Flashes swept the Eagles in Kent, Ohio last season, the only time the two teams met in 2009. The last time EMU beat KSU was in the MAC Tournament championship game in 2008, as the Eagles earned a bid to Ann Arbor for the NCAA Regional.
After going 5-4 against Big Ten Conference opponents last season, the Eagles will have a chance to have similar success with three games slated against Big Ten teams. The Eagles will head down the road to Ann Arbor to take on the University of Michigan, March 30, at Ray Fisher Stadium, after going 2-2 against the Wolverines last season. EMU will play back-to-back games against former head coach Jake Boss Jr. when they take on Michigan State University, April 27-28. The first contest, April 27, is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Oestrike Stadium, while the second game is slated for 3:05 p.m. in East Lansing.
A three-game set with the University of Toledo Rockets, May 14-16, closes out the baseball season at Oestrike Stadium. The Eagles went 2-1 against UT during the regular season in 2009, but dropped a pair of contests against the Rockets in the MAC Tournament at the end of the season to end their year.
