Baseball Treks to Alabama for Coca-Cola Classic

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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Coming off a split doubleheader against the No. 25 Kansas University Jayhawks, Feb. 22, in the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minn., the Eastern Michigan University baseball team now treks south for the Coca-Cola Classic in Mobile, Ala., Feb. 26-28.

The Eagles open up against tournament host South Alabama Friday, Feb. 26, at 6 p.m. before taking on Wichita State University Saturday, Feb. 27, and closing out the tournament with a doubleheader on Sunday, Feb. 28, against the University of North Florida and South Alabama.

EMU VERSUS THE FIELD: EMU has never faced the North Florida Ospreys, but the team has an all-time mark of 1-2 against tournament host South Alabama and a 0-1 record against the Shockers from Wichita State. The last time EMU and South Alabama met was Feb. 29, 1992, when the Jaguars topped the Eagles, 13-3. The only meeting between EMU and Wichita State was March 4, 1991, and the Shockers came away with a 6-1 win.

THE COACHES: Eastern Michigan Head Coach Jay Alexander enters the Coca-Cola Classic with career record of 187-184 (.504) and a 26-36 mark as the Eagles' head coach. Wichita State's Gene Stephenson comes into the tournament with a 1,683-577-3 record in 32 seasons as the Shockers' head coach. North Florida's Dusty Rhodes enters his final season at UNF with a career record of 1,131-481 in 28 seasons (20 at UNF), while South Alabama's Steve Kittrell enters the tournament with a 1,024-608-1 mark in 28 seasons (27 with USA). Coaches in the Coca-Cola Classic have a combined record of 4,025-1,850-4 (.685).

DOME DANCE: Originally scheduled to be a three-game series in Lawrence, Kan., the Eagles opened the 2010 season at the Metrodome in Minneapolis against the No. 25 ranked Kansas Jayhawks for a doubleheader, Feb. 22. EMU claimed a 3-1 victory in game one behind a stellar performance from junior ace Corey Chaffins, but dropped game two, 9-5, after costly walks late in the game proved to be too much to overcome.

SEASON OPENERS: With a 3-1 win over Kansas in its season opener, EMU improves to 32-30 in lid-lifters dating back to the 1949 season. Head Coach Jay Alexander improves to 2-0 in season openers, as the Eagles claimed a 5-4 win over George Washington in the team's 2009 season opener.

STARTING OFF STRONG: Junior captain Matt Skirving picked up right where he left off last season, as the 2009 first-team All-Region selection went 3-for-6 with two runs scored and two RBI, while belting his first home run of the season into the right field upper deck inside the Metrodome in game one.

BACK TO FORM: After missing all of last season with a torn ACL, junior Ken Battiston started the 2010 on a positive note, as he went 3-for-7 at the dish with an RBI and stolen base in two games against the No. 25 Kansas Jayhawks.

SAVING GRACE: True freshman Brett Cisper had a solid performance out of the bullpen in game one against Kansas, Feb. 22, as the first-year pitcher retired six out of seven batters he faced, giving no hits over two innings of work to earn the first save of his career.

MARSHALL LAW: Senior Andrew Marshall recorded EMU's first hit of the 2010 season in game one against Kansas and finished the doubleheader 3-for-8 at the plate with two doubles, one run scored and one RBI.

GOING STREAKING: Senior Todd Graves came into the 2010 season carrying a four-game hitting streak and managed to extend it to six games after picking up a pair of hits in EMU's doubleheader against Kansas, Feb. 22. Graves picked up a double in game one and a single in the ninth inning of game two.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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