Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
No. 12 Florida
Eagles Set for Showdown With No. 12 Florida
2/23/2009 2:17:52 PM | Baseball
The Eagles face the Gators, Feb. 24 and 25, in Gainesville, Fla.
YPSILANTI, Mich. – After winning two out of four games in the Johnny Gill Memorial Tournament in Rock Hill, S.C. on the campus of Winthrop University, the Eastern Michigan University baseball team continues its trek south, as the Eagles head to Gainesville, Fla. for back-to-back games against the No. 12 University of Florida Gators, Feb. 24 and 25.
EMU looks to reverse its fortunes after last year's trip to
WINTHROP TOURNAMENT RECAP: The EMU baseball team finished the Johnny Gill Memorial Tournament in Rock Hill, S.C. with a 2-2 mark. The Eagles registered a 5-4 victory in 13 innings over George Washington University, Feb. 20, and a 10-5 win over GWU, Feb. 22. Tournament host Winthrop handed EMU a 17-9 loss, Feb. 20, and an 8-1 loss, Feb. 21.
A SEASON OF FIRSTS: The 2009 season marks a season of first times for the Eastern Michigan University baseball team, as Jay Alexander enters his first year at the helm of the historically successful program. A Detroit, Mich. native, Alexander spent the previous six seasons as the head coach at Wayne State University where he compiled a 161-148 record. As a team, the Eagles have three first-time opponents slated for 2009, including Winthrop, George Washington and Georgia State. The team also welcomes seven first-year players.
LOOKING AHEAD: For the second year in a row, the Eagles head to Gainesville, Fla. for two games against the University of Florida Gators. Last year, Florida outscored EMU, 31-10, in two games to sweep the doubleheader. After back-to-back tilts against the Gators, the Eagles head to Atlanta, Ga. for a weekend series with the Georgia State University Panthers. It marks the first time the two teams have faced each other.
THREE OUT OF FOUR AIN'T BAD: Junior shortstop Jim Gulliver had an impressive first weekend of the 2009 season, as the Allen Park, Mich. native went 9-for-17 (.529) in the Johnny Gill Memorial Tournament, recording multi-hit games in three of EMU's four games. Gulliver tallied two triples, one double, three RBI, two stolen bases and scored six runs in the tournament, recording a .824 slugging percentage.
STOP, THIEF!: Senior center fielder Kyle Rhoad was named the Mid-American Conference's best base runner by the league's coaches in College Baseball Insider, a year after he pilfered 19 stolen bases last season (4th in MAC). In three seasons, Rhoad has tallied 34 stolen bases (13th all-time). In four games so far this season, Rhoad has tallied two stolen bases in two attempts.
MARSHALL LAW: EMU junior catcher Andrew Marshall started his season on a high note, recording the game-winning hit in EMU's 5-4 extra inning victory over George Washington, Feb. 20. With the Eagles down one run in the bottom of the 13th inning, Marshall belted a two-run walk-off double down the right field line against the Colonials to score two Eagles, giving EMU the win. In four games this season, Marshall is batting .333 with one homer and a team-best five RBI this season.
BUCKEYE STATE MAJORITY: The EMU baseball team features 17 players from Ohio, including Wally Gerbus, Kyle Rhoad, Corey Chaffins, Aaron Crooks, Jordan Goldschmidt, Kevin Wammes, Kevin Battiston, Robert Wendzicki, Johnny Crooks, Zack Leonard, Todd Graves, Kendall Lewis, Tim Combs, Kevin Sikora, Collin Taylor, Chris Pfund and Jake Stapf.
CONFERENCE TOUR: The Eagles will face opponents from nine different conferences during the regular season, including the Atlantic 10 (George Washington, Dayton), Big South (Winthrop), Summit League (Oakland), Southeastern Conference (Florida), Big Ten (Indiana, Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State), Horizon League (Cleveland State, Wright State), Colonial Athletic Association (Georgia State), Western Athletic Conference (Louisiana Tech) and several Mid-American Conference opponents.
FIRST CAREER WIN: Freshman pitcher Kendall Lewis picked up his first career collegiate win over the weekend against George Washington. Lewis went six innings, yielding four runs on eight hits, fanning three Colonials.
SAVE THE DATE: Originally scheduled for March 24 against the University of Michigan, the EMU baseball team will play its home opener March 18 against the Spartans of Michigan State University. The Spartans are under the tutledge of head coach Jake Boss Jr., who coached EMU to a MAC West Division and MAC Tournament title last season.
IN-STATE COMPETITION: The Eagles face a total of five opponents from the state of Michigan this season, including Oakland (Rochester, Mich.), Michigan State (East Lansing, Mich.), Michigan (Ann Arbor, Mich.), Central Michigan (Mount Pleasant, Mich.) and Western Michigan (Kalamazoo, Mich.). The Eagles have 12 total games against in-state opponents this season.
SEASON OPENERS: EMU's 5-4 season opener victory over George Washington marks the team's first win in its first game of the season since 2006. The Eagles registered a 9-6 victory over East Tennessee State, Feb. 3, 2006, in Johnsonville, Tenn.
2009 NEWCOMERS: The Eagles welcome seven newcomers this season, including Kyle Klein, Austin Grate, Johnny Crooks, Jordan Glover, Kendall Lewis, Brent Ohrman and Steven Young.
OESTRIKE HONORED: Legendary EMU head baseball coach and EMU Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Ron Oestrike was honored at the Class of 2008 Hall of Fame ceremony, Feb. 21. The E-Club honored Oestrike with a Distinguished Service Award for his contributions to the University and the letterwinners club. A special presentation was made to Oestrike, a 1979 EMU Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, during the Hall of Fame ceremony.
DEFENDING HOME FIELD: Since Oestrike Stadium opened in 1971, the EMU baseball team has compiled a 443-295-2 (.599) overall mark at home. The EMU Hurons did not disappoint in the first-ever game at Oestrike Stadium, as the team scored seven runs in the first inning and never looked back, claiming a 9-7 victory of the University of Detroit.
NO SOPHOMORE SLUMP: After having one of the most successful freshman campaigns in EMU baseball history, sophomore Zack Leonard is looking for similar success in 2009. Leonard belted a team-best nine home runs last season and was named the Mid-American Conference Tournament MVP after tallying 11 RBI in EMU's four-game run to the tournament title. Leonard was also named to the Ping! College Baseball All Freshman team last season. In four games this season, Leonard is off to a solid start, batting .474 (9-for-19) with two doubles and four RBI.
