Eagles Conclude Non-Conference Schedule Versus Butler

Baseball vs. Butler (31-16, 8-6 Big East)
Date	Tuesday, May 15 \| 6 p.m.
Location	Ypsilanti, Mich. \| Oestrike Stadium
Game Notes	EMU Notes
Live Stats	Sidearm
Radio	Eagle All-Access
Twitter	@EMUBaseball

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University baseball team wraps up the non-conference portion of its schedule when it plays host to Butler University in midweek action, Tuesday, May 15. First pitch against the Bulldogs is set for 6 p.m. at Oestrike Stadium.
   The action can be tracked live on Twitter by following @EMU_Baseball. Fans can also follow the game through live stats, as well as on Eagle All-Access radio with Greg Steiner and Chad Bush on the call. As always admission into Oestrike Stadium is free of charge.

ALL-TIME VS. THE BULLDOGS: EMU and Butler have met four times in their respective histories, and the series is tied at 2-2. The two squads met last season in two neutral site contests at Chicago State University, April 1-2, with BU taking the first game, 6-2. EMU bounced back with a 4-0 victory the next day. Prior to that, the Eagles and Bulldogs squared off in another neutral site event, playing twice at Northern Kentucky University in 2013. Butler won game one, 9-2, March 16, with EMU taking game two, 10-9, March 17.

TRIPLE THE FUN: In the fourth inning of the game at Kent State, May 11, KSU was in prime scoring position with runners on first and third with no one out. On a fly out to center, KSU attempted to tag and score, but Nate Jones in CF gunned out the runner at the plate. The runner on first then attempted to take second, but Nick Jones was not having it as he threw down to Devin Hager at second to complete the triple play. It was EMU's first triple play turned since doing so at Michigan, April 18, 2012. Eastern also became just the 15th team in Division-I baseball this season to turn one.

FLUMMOXING THE FLASHES: In the 8-4 win over MAC-leading Kent State, May 11, EMU accomplished some feats that KSU had not faced all season. First, the eight runs were the most given up by Kent State in conference play this season in 21 prior games. Secondly, KSU starting pitcher and All-American hopeful Joey Murray, who came into the game with a 1.02 ERA, allowed four earned runs, the most runs he has given up in a single game in any of his 13 starts this year. Finally, the win represented EMU's first regular season victory over the Golden Flashes since 2015, as they were swept in each of the last two seasons.

ALL GOOD THINGS...: Freshman Nate Jones had his 21-game hitting streak broken in the series opener at Kent State, May 11. It was the longest this season for the Eagles and the longest for an EMU player since Brent Ohrman had a 23-game run in 2012. In addition, it is the longest hitting streak for an EMU true freshman in the modern statistical era (since 2000). Furthermore, Jones is one of just 22 players in the nation to record a 20-plus game hitting streak this season, and he is the only true freshman on that list.

OWINGS OWNING THE DISH: Sophomore Zachary Owings has been one of Eastern's top bats so far this season, as he leads the team with a .358 batting average, .442 on-base percentage, and a .543 slugging percentage. He has two separate 10-game hitting streaks this year, and has also recorded a hit in 34-of-42 games played. His batting average ranks fourth in the MAC, and 101st in the nation, while his slugging is seventh, and his hits, on-base, and total bases rank ninth in the conference. He has also reached base in 27-straight games, the longest streak for an Eagle this season.

PEEKING AT THE POST SEASON: Going into the final week of the regular season, EMU currently sits in sixth place in the MAC with a 12-12 record. Based on how the final weekend of MAC play shakes out, EMU can finish anywhere from fourth place to seventh place.
   EMU's final conference series will come against the current ninth place team, Northern Illinois (8-16). The top-six teams will qualify for the 2018 MAC Tournament held at Sprenger Stadium in Avon, Ohio, May 23-27.

DEVENNEY DOMINATING ON THE HILL: Despite being a senior, Luke DeVenney is in just his second season as a pitcher at EMU. After being a primary bullpen/midweek pitcher in 2017, DeVenney found his way into the weekend rotation in 2018. He has been fantastic this season, leading the team in ERA (2.51), IPs (79.0), strikeouts (50), and wins (6). His ERA ranks third in the conference, while his IPs are fifth. He has also not allowed more than three earned runs in any of his 13 starts.

EAGLES HEATING UP ON THE MOUND: Since entering conference play, EMU's pitching staff has been lights out against its competition. As a staff, EMU holds a 3.85 ERA in MAC-only games, which is second in the league. In addition, EMU starting pitcher Luke DeVenney has an ERA of 1.63 in his eight MAC starts, which ranks second in the conference.

MR. DO IT ALL: Junior Max Schuemann has been a five-tool threat for the Eagles this season, showing production in all aspects of the game. He has started all 50 games for the Eagles, 49 at shortstop, and leads EMU in hits, runs, doubles, total bases, and steals. He is also second in batting average, slugging, OBP, RBIs, and home runs. His steals are second in the MAC, while doubles are fourth, hits fifth, runs seventh, and total bases eighth.. He is also the third-toughest player to strike out in the MAC.
   In the field, Schuemann has 156 assists, good for first in the MAC, while he has helped turn 27 double plays, placing him seventh in the conference.

YOUTH MOVEMENT: Going into the season, EMU already knew it would have to rely on a bevy of young talent to play a lot of crucial innings, as they started the year with more newcomers (15) than returners (13). The freshmen have shown out as Eastern is in the top ten in the country in starts by freshmen (true and redshirt) with 175 combined between eight players in both the field and on the mound.

FOR THE GREATER GOOD: When EMU gets runners on base, almost no other team is more unselfish when it comes to advancing them an extra base. Thus far this season, EMU is 15th in the nation and fourth in the MAC with 44 sacrifice bunts. In addition, sophomore Devin Hager is fourth in the country with 14 sac bunts.

ZOOM ZOOM: In each of the last three seasons, EMU has finished in the top-60 nationally in stolen bases, including third in the NCAA in 2016 and 11th in 2015. This season, Eastern is near the top once again, as it has swiped 85 bags, good for 18th in the country and first in the MAC.

ALL-TIME AT OESTRIKE: 2018 marks the 48th season at the friendly confines of Oestrike Stadium since its opening in 1971. In its long-standing history, EMU holds a 530-379-2 record at the stadium. Of the 47 previous seasons, 34 have resulted in winning home records for Eastern. This year, EMU holds a 6-9 home record with four games left to play.

ON THE HORIZON: EMU concludes the regular season with a home series against MAC foe Northern Illinois University, Thursday-Saturday, May 17-19. Game one against the Huskies is set for a 6 p.m. first pitch on Thursday night.

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Players Mentioned

Luke DeVenney

Devin Hager

Nate Jones

Nick Jones

Zachary Owings

Max Schuemann

Eastern Michigan Athletics