Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Akron
Eagles Head to Akron For Three-Game Set With Zips
4/15/2010 10:10:25 AM | Baseball
EMU and Akron meet for three-games this weekend, April 16-18
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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team jumps back into Mid-American Conference play Friday, April 16, when the Eagles head to Akron, Ohio for a three-game set with the University of Akron Zips, April 16-18, at Lee Jackson Field. Friday's game is scheduled for 3 p.m., with Saturday and Sunday's game slated for 2 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.
EMU VERSUS AKRON: The Eagles hold an all-time series record of 25-14 over the Zips, as EMU took two out of three against Akron last season at Oestrike Stadium. This weekend will be EMU's first trip to Akron since the 2008 season when the Eagles claimed two out of three games. The last time the Eagles dropped a season series to the Zips was the 2000 season, as Akron went 2-0 versus EMU. The last time EMU swept the series was 1997 when the Eagles went 3-0 against the Zips, March 29-30.
THE COACHES: EMU Head Coach Jay Alexander comes into Friday's contest with a 201-201 career record in eight seasons, including a 40-53 mark in his second season with the Eagles. Akron's Pat Bangston enters Friday's game with a 97-133 record in four seasons with the Zips.
LOOKING AHEAD: Following a three-game set at Akron, the Eagles return to the friendly confines of Oestrike Stadium for a five-game home stand, beginning with a non-conference tilt versus Cleveland State, April 20. Next weekend, the Eagles play host to the Western Michigan Broncos, April 23-25, before wrapping up the home stand against instate rival Michigan State, April 27.
REACHING A MILESTONE: EMU Head Coach Jay Alexander picked up his 200th career victory in the Eagles' 8-6 win over Kent State, April 10, at Oestrike Stadium. A day prior to Alexander winning No. 200, Kent State Head Coach Scott Strikclin picked up his 200th career victory versus the Eagles.
STREAK SNAPPED: The Eagles will be looking to get back to their winning ways within MAC play this weekend at Akron, as the team dropped its first MAC three-game set after a string of winning seven in-a-row. Prior to dropping two out of three to the Golden Flashes last weekend at Oestrike Stadium, the last time EMU lost two or more game in a MAC series was at home versus Ohio University, April 10-12, last season.
WALK THIS WAY: Redshirt sophomore Ben Magsig went into this week with a MAC-best 28 walks so far this season. The Okemos, Mich. native and transfer from Lansing C.C. walked once last game versus Oakland, April 14, putting his season total at 29. Magsig leads the Eagles with a .490 on-base percentage.
GRAVE DIGGER: Senior Todd Graves leads the Eagles with a .336 batting average this season. Graves had EMU's longest hitting streak of the season earlier this season (11 games) and has hit safely in the Eagles' last two games.
GONE LIKE A FREIGHT TRAIN: The Eagles tallied four home runs in their 11-1 victory over Oakland, April 14, as juniors Bo Kinder, Matt Skirving and Zack Leonard and senior Andrew Marshall all used the long-ball to help the Eagles win the non-conference affair against their in-state rivals.
MULTITASKING: Senior Andrew Marshall and junior Zack Leonard have both registered 11 multiple hit games this season. Marshall has tallied 10 games with two hits and one three-hit game, while Leonard has tallied seven games with two hits, three games with three hits, and one game with four hits.
THE BIG UNIT: Freshman right hander Steve Weber has led the Eagles to a pair of non-conference wins with solid efforts on the mound. The six-foot-six North Royalton, Ohio native pitched seven and two-thirds and tallied 10 strikeouts at Cleveland State, March 24, en route to MAC West Pitcher of the Week accolades. In his last start at Oakland, April 14, Weber went five innings and gave up just one run on four hits and one walk, while fanning five batters to earn the win.
