Eagles Prepare for Long Week

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YPSILANTI, Mich. - After taking two of three games from the University of Akron over the past weekend, the Eastern Michigan University baseball team try to carry the momentum into this week as they play six games in seven days. EMU hosts the Cleveland State University Vikings April 7 and Saginaw Valley April 8. The Eagles then travel to Oakland April 9, before heading to Athens, Ohio, April 11-13, for a three-game series with the Bobcats.

CLIMBING THE STANDINGS: After taking two of three from Akron, Eastern Michigan University now stands in second place in the Mid-American Conference West Division with a 5-1 record, trailing Ball State by just one game. The Eagles and Cardinals will meet May 2-4 in Muncie, Ind.

HITTING CLINIC: Eight EMU players recorded a hit in the Eagles 12-6 win over Akron, April 7, including six players with mult-hit performances. Leading the way for the Eagles was senior first baseman Steve Bradshaw, going 3-for-5 with four RBI and a run scored.

ANOTHER SERIES WIN: After dropping the first game of the series 6-2 to Akron, the Eagles won two straight for the series win. EMU fought back in the ninth inning of game two to win 5-4 and then churned out 12 runs on 18 hits for a 12-6 win in game three.

TOUCHIN’ ‘EM ALL: Junior catcher Andrew Marshall belted two homeruns in the second game of the April 5 doubleheader against MAC rival Akron. Marshall’s second inning two-run shot put the Eagles up 2-0 while his ninth inning solo roundtripper knotted the game at 4-4.

MAJOR LEAGUE SCHEDULE: The Eagles will play six games in the next seven days, starting with a single game against Cleveland State today, April 7, at home. EMU hosts Saginaw Valley State, April 8, before traveling to Oakland, April 9, and MAC rival Ohio, April 11-13.

BIXLER GETS THE CALL: Former Eastern Michigan University All-American Brian Bixler has been called up to the active roster for the Pittsburgh Pirates. BIxler, a second-round selection in the 2004 MLB Draft, pinch hit in Pittsburgh’s 9-2 win over the Florida Marlins April 6.

CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT FINDS NEW HOME: For just the second time in league history, the baseball tournament will be held at a neutral site. This year’s venue is the VA Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe, Ohio. The 2008 MAC baseball tournament has also expanded from six to eight teams.

FAB FIVE: After starting the season 0-17 the Eagles rebounded, winning five straight, including a series sweep of MAC rival Miami in their home-opening weekend series, March 29-30.

PUTTING IN EXTRA INNINGS: Against the RedHawks, the Eagles need an additional two innings in games two and three for the win. A Mike Sacha walk-off homerun in the bottom of the 11th gave EMU the 2-1 win in game two while Jeff Davis’ RBI single in the bottom of the 11th in game three powered the Green and White to a 3-2 victory.

SPARTAN REMATCH: The Eagles and Spartans met for the second time in seven days April 2, with MSU recording the 5-3 win on its home turf. On March 26, the Eagles were 10-3 winners.

LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW: After playing 19 games on the road to open the year, snow storms delayed the first seven games at Oestrike Stadium for the Eagles.

HOME IS WHERE YOU MAKE IT: The Eagles hosted Miami in its Mid-American Conference and home opener, March 29-30. EMU swept the three-game series that included two extra-inning games won by the Green and White in the bottom of the 11th inning.

FIRST OF THE YEAR: After a rough start to the 2008 season, first-year head coach Jake Boss Jr. and the Eagles pulled out an 11-2 win over Wright State University, March 16, for their first win of the year.

WHATS REALLY GOOD: Steve Bradshaw wrapped up a steller weekend against Wright State, going 3-for-5 at the plate with four runs scored in the Eagles’ 11-2 win over WSU, March 16. For the series, Bradshaw was 9-for-13, batting .692 with two RBI and seven runs scored.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Senior first baseman Steve Bradshaw was selected as the Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week for the week ending March 14. Bradshaw was 6-for-11 from the plate in a three-game series against Tennessee with two RBI and a run scored.

OFF THE RESERVATION: The Eagles have 14 home runs through 18 games this season, the second most in the Mid-American Conference. Leading the pack for the Green and White are juniors Aaron Powell and Kyle Rhoad with three each. Senior Jeff Davis and "true" freshman Matt Skirving have hit two each.

SENIOR LEADERSHIP: Senior Steve Bradshaw led the way for the Green and White during its weekend series at the University of Tennessee, March 7-9. He went 6-for-8 at the plate in Sunday’s doubleheader, driving in two runs. For the season Bradshaw has a .462 batting average, ranking him first on the team.

GOTTA HOLD ON: Three times through the first 13 games of the 2008 season the Eagles held the lead heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, Feb. 23, against New Mexico, March 1, against Florida Atlantic, and against Tennessee on March 9. In all three games the opponent has rallied for the victory.

TOUR DE FLORIDA: EMU finished the winter break portion of their schedule with a swing through the Sunshine State. The Eagles dropped a doubleheader to the University of Florida, 15-2 and 16-8, Feb. 27, before heading to Boca Raton, Fla. for a four-game series with the Florida Atlantic Owls Feb. 28-March 2. EMU was swept by the Owls, four games to none.

HOT START FOR ROOK: "True" freshman Matt Skirving made the most of his two starts in the New Mexico series, going 2-for-9 with two home runs and two walks. In his first collegiate at-bat, Skirving pinch hit in the top of the ninth, jacking a two-run homer. In game two of a doubleheader, he went yard again in the top of the seventh, launching one over the right field fence.

ROUGH START: The Eagles were swept in the opening series of the 2008 season by the University of New Mexico, Feb. 22-24. The Green and White offense averaged just over five runs a game for the series, but yielded 11 per contest.

A NEW BOSS IN TOWN: Jake Boss Jr. entered his first game as a head coach of the defending Mid-American Conference Champions, Feb. 22-24, in New Mexico. Boss, who spent the previous three seasons as an assistant with the University of Michigan, returns to EMU after being an assistant from 1997-2004. While an assistant with the Green and White, Boss Jr. helped lead the Eagles to two MAC West Division Championships, one MAC Tournament Championship, one NCAA Tournament berth and one MAC Tournament Runner-Up.

LEARNING TO FLY: Between Feb. 22 and March 2, the Eagles played 10 games in 10 days and logged nearly 5,000 miles of travel. After an opening weekend series in Albuquerque, N.M. against the Lobos, EMU headed east to the Sunshine State for a two-game series with the University of Florida Gators, Feb. 26-27, before making their way to Boca Raton for a four-game series with the Owls of Florida Atlantic University, Feb. 28-March 2.

STOPPER OF THE YEAR: After setting the single-season saves record in 2007 with 14, junior pitcher Matt Shoemaker has earned national attention, making the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award watch list. Shoemaker, who ranks second on the all-time career saves list, is the lone MAC representative on the 40-man list that features 19 different conferences.

WALLACE WATCH LIST FEATURES MULTIPLE EAGLES: Senior outfielder Jeff Davis and junior pitcher Matt Shoemaker were named to the 2008 Brooks Wallace Award Watch List. Davis batted .321 with 53 hits for the Eagles in 2007, helping them to the Mid-American Conference regular season championship and a runner-up finish in the season-ending MAC Tournament. He ranked second on the team in doubles with 10 and finished tied for second in stolen bases with nine on the year. Shoemaker ranks second on EMU’s all-time career saves list after posting 14 during the 2007 season. His 14 saves set an EMU single-season record. A second-team All-MAC selection and a 2007 Academic All-MAC pick, he posted a 3.97 earned run average in 34.0 innings pitched and tallied 23 strikeouts for the Green and White. He was also selected MAC Pitcher of the Week the for period ending May 19, 2007, when he picked up his 12th and 13th saves of the season in EMU’s series sweep of in-state rival Western Michigan.

PRESEASON POLL: The Eagles were picked to finish in fifth place in the West Division in the 2008 Mid-American Conference coaches preseason poll. EMU, which won the MAC last year with a 21-4 record, had two players depart in the 2007 MLB Draft and two additional players sign professional contracts. Central Michigan was tabbed to take home the West Division while Kent State, winner of the 2007 MAC Tournament was picked to win the East Division. Kent State was also selected to win the 2008 Tournament, receiving 10 of 12 votes while Miami and Western Michigan each received one vote.

West Division East Division

1. Central Michigan 1. Kent State

2. Northern Illinois 2. Miami

3. Western Michigan 3. Ohio

4. Toledo 4. Akron

5. Eastern Michigan 5. Buffalo

6. Ball State 6. Bowling Green

Tournament Champion: Kent State (10), Miami (1), Western Michigan (1)

KEY LOSSES: After a successful 2007 season, the Eagles had four players sign professional contracts. Junior pitcher Jeff Fischer and shortstop Jeff Hehr were drafted in the 10th and 20th rounds of the MLB draft by the Colorado Rockies and the Cleveland Indians respectively. Seniors George Biddle and catcher Derek Lehrman signed free-agent contracts with the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers, respectively.

2008 SCHEDULE: EMU again faces a daunting schedule in 2008. Following their season opening series at New Mexico, Feb. 22-24, the Eagles will fly back to the east for a six-game swing through the Sunshine State against Florida and Florida Atlantic. The Eagles and Gators will square off in Gainesville, Feb. 26 and 27. EMU will then travel to Boca Raton for a four-game series against the Owls, Feb. 28-March 2.

After returning home from Florida, EMU will remain on the road for the beginning of March with a three game series, March 7-9, at SEC power Tennessee. Two days later, the Eagles will make their way to Lexington, Ky., for a double-header against the Wildcats of Kentucky, March 11.

The Eagles will travel to Dayton, March 14, to take on the Flyers before heading to Wright State, March 15, for a double-dip against the Raiders. On March 16, EMU will square off against Valparaiso in Dayton, Ohio.

The Green and White return from Dayton for an eight-game home stand, starting with Grand Valley State in their home opener, March 18. The Eagles will host Saginaw Valley, March 19, before opening up Mid-American Conference action against Kent State, March 21-22, and Miami, March 28-30.

The Eagles will travel to Cleveland, Ohio, April 1, for a single game against Cleveland State University before making their way to East Lansing for a game against Big Ten Conference and in-state rival Michigan State, April 2. EMU will remain on the road, traveling to Akron for a weekend series, April 4-6. EMU will then head to Oakland, April 9, then travel to Athens, Ohio for a weekend series against the Bobcats, April 11-13.

On April 16, Boss will lead the Eagles against University of Michigan, where he served as an assistant the past three seasons. EMU will return home for a three-game series against Western Michigan, April 18-20, followed by a single game against Olivet College, April 23.

The Eagles will round out the month of April at Northern Illinois, April 25-27, home against Indiana Tech, April 29, then on the road at Columbus, Ohio against Ohio State, April 30.

EMU will open the month of May with a three-game series at Ball State, May 2-4. A home-and-home against Bowling Green will precede a three-game home series against Toledo, May 9-11. On May 13, the Green and White host Oakland before heading to Mount Pleasant for the season-ending series at Central Michigan, May 15-17.

SEASON OUTLOOK: The 2007 Eastern Michigan University baseball team set out with the goal of winning the Mid-American Conference West Division and advancing to the MAC Tournament. The Eagles posted a 32-24 record overall and a 21-4 mark in the conference, claiming the West Division title and in turn hosting the postseason tournament. The Green and White advanced to the championship game, defeating Toledo, 6-5, Central Michigan, 12-6, and Northern Illinois, 9-3, before falling to Kent State University, 3-2.

Calling the shots for EMU this year will be a new, yet familiar face. Former assistant Jake Boss Jr. took over the tradition rich program after 2007 MAC Coach of the Year Roger Coryell retired early in the fall. Boss, who served as an EMU assistant from 1997-2004, spent the previous three seasons as an assistant with the University of Michigan.

The Eagles face an uphill battle after seeing four players depart to the next level. Juniors Jeff Fischer and Jeff Hehr were selected in the 10th and 20th rounds of the MLB Draft by Colorado and Cleveland, respectively. Seniors Derek Lehrman and George Biddle signed professional contracts with the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals.

Junior Andrew Marshall and freshman Matt Skirving will battle for the starting nod behind the plate. Marshall started seven of 19 games played in last season, batting .286 and posting a team high .714 slugging percentage. Skirving, a three-year letter winner in high school, was selected to the MHSAA All-District and Region teams as a junior and senior.

Senior Steve Bradshaw will be the one to beat out at first base. He led the Eagles in batting average (.357), walks (23) and fielding percentage (1.000) in 2007. Bradshaw will provide valuable senior leadership after having started 35 of 42 games played in as a junior. Returning to the starting position at second base will be senior Josh Ivan. Ivan, who started 47 of 50 games played last season, recorded 42 hits, including seven doubles for the Green and White. Also returning to a starting position is third baseman Kyle Rhoad. As a sophomore, Rhoad started 33 of 40 games played, hitting .278 and tying for second on the team with four home runs.

The outfield will comprise of three upper classmen who combined for 110 starts last season. Mike Boyd, Jeff Davis and Aaron Powell return as the Eagles’ last line of defense this season. Boyd (.330) and Davis (.321) ranked second and third, respectively, in batting average for the Green and White a year ago.

The starting rotation receives an extreme makeover, diamond edition, with the departure of Fischer and Biddle, last year’s No. 1 and No. 2 starters. After posting a 7-2 record as a sophomore, Sean Hoffman will likely be the staff ace this season. Hoffman posted a 3.97 ERA in 12 starts, pitching 81.2 innings on the year, ranking him third on the team. Junior Matt Shoemaker will look to make the move from reliever to No. 2. As a reliever last season he collected an EMU single-season record 14 saves in 34.0 innings of work. Also looking to break into the starting rotation this year will be senior Dan Puls, sophomore Kevin Sikora and freshmen Jordan Goldschmidt and Collin Taylor.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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