Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, February 25
Cookville, Tenn.
3 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
at
Tennessee Tech
Eagles Open Series with Tennessee Tech Today
2/25/2011 12:23:14 PM | Baseball
The EMU baseball team will play three games against the Golden Eagles beginning at 3 p.m. CT today.
Game Notes (.pdf)
Live Stats
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- It's going to be a battle of Eagles this weekend as the Eastern Michigan University Eagles get set to play a three-game set against the Tennessee Tech University Golden Eagles in Cookeville, Tenn. Feb. 25-27. Senior left-hander Robert Wendzicki (0-0, 3.86 ERA) will get the ball in game one, going up against TTU's Tristan Archer (0-1, 6.00 ERA). First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. CT at TTU's Bush Stadium.
Pitching Probables:
Game 1: EMU: Robert Wendzicki, LHP (0-0, 3.86 ERA)
TTU: Tristan Archer, RHP (0-1, 6.00 ERA)
Game 2: EMU: Steve Weber, RHP (0-1, 7.20 ERA)
TTU: Matt Shepherd, RHP (0-0, 3.86 ERA)
Game 3: EMU: Neil Butara, RHP (0-0, 10.80 ERA)
TTU: Nick Price, RHP (0-1, 3.86 ERA)
---
THE SERIES: The battle of Eagles is deadlocked at an all-time series mark of 1-1 with the EMU Eagles having won the last meeting that took place all the way back in 1971 by a score of 8-1. Prior to that, the Golden Eagles drew first blood with a 4-3 victory in 1968.
THE COACHES: EMU Head Coach Jay Alexander enters this weekend series with a 214-218 (.495) career record in nine seasons, including a 53-70 mark in three seasons at Eastern Michigan. TTU's Matt Bragga comes in with a 286-274-2 (.511) career mark in nine seasons. He is a two-time coach of the year in the Ohio Valley Conference and led the Golden Eagles to the 2010 Ohio Valley Conference title.
EAGLE RECAP: The Eagles continue its 13-day road trip this weekend after dropping their first game of the conquest to Kentucky, 5-2. Down 3-0 in the seventh, Ben Magsig came through with his first home run of the season, a two-run shot, to pull the Eagles to within a run. However, the Wildcats would get both runs back to push the lead back to three in what would amount to the final score.
In the season's opening series, the Eagles took a game from the then fourth-ranked Clemson Tigers in a three-game set in Clemson, S.C. Corey Chaffins picked up the win in game two thanks in large part to Daniel Russell's 4-for-4 day at the plate.
ON THE HORIZON: EMU will continue on its southern road trip with a return trip to South Carolina to take on Presbyterian College March 1-2, before heading back to Tennessee for a trio of games against Austin Peay and Alabama A&M, March 4-6.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES: Tennessee Tech of the Ohio Valley Conference is still seeking its first victory of the 2011 campaign after shouldering losses to Virginia Tech, Coastal Carolina, Boston College and Middle Tennessee to open the year. Zack Stephens currently leads TTU in hitting with a .538 (7-for-13) batting average while scoring two runs and knocking in six RBI.
On the mound, the staff has combined to allow opposing offenses to hit .297 at the plate. Matthew Shepherd has made two appearances on the hill (one start) and has struck out a team-high seven batters in seven innings pitched this season.
A HIGH-RANKING VICTORY: EMU's win over Clemson was the first over an opponent ranked as high as the #4 Tigers since 1976 when the then-Hurons defeated Arizona State twice, each time when they were ranked No. 1. It also marked the second straight year in which EMU has defeated a ranked team in the season's opening series, beating No. 25 Kansas in the season opener and front end of a doubleheader at the Metrodome, Feb. 22, 2010.
STREAKY PLAY: EMU starting second baseman Zack Leonard had his nine-game hitting streak, which dated back to last season, snapped in the loss to Kentucky Feb. 23. Leonard had hit successfully in the team's first three games before going 0-for-4 in the setback to the Wildcats. Meanwhile, junior Ben Magsig has hit safely in each of the team's first four games and extended his streak to six games.
CHAFFINS WINS WEEKLY HONOR: Senior right-hander Corey Chaffins made back-to-back appearances against fourth-ranked Clemson in the season's opening series, posting a 1-0 record and a 2.08 ERA as the Eagles took one of the three games in the from the Tigers. In his second appearance in his many days, Chaffins pitched the final 3.1 innings in relief to record the win as the Eagles went on to defeat the nationally-ranked Tigers, 7-6, on the road.
RUSSELL'S BIG DAY: Sophomore Daniel Russell was recognized by CollegeBaseball360 for his 4-for-4 effort with two doubles and game-winning score in EMU's 7-6 win over #4 Clemson Feb. 20. He batted .455 for the series with three extra-base hits against the Tigers. Russell was named to the weekly honor roll for CB360 along with 11 other worthy candidates across the nation.
CONFERENCE TOUR: The Eagles take on opponents from 12 different conferences this season. The conferences include: the Mid-American Conference (nine teams), Atlantic Coast (Clemson), Southeast (Kentucky), Ohio Valley (Tennessee Tech and Austin Peay State), Big South (Presbyterian College), Southwest Athletic (Alabama A&M), Big 12 (Kansas), Horizon League (Cleveland State), Summit League (Oakland), Big Ten (Michigan and Michigan State), Big East (West Virginia and Louisville) and Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (Alma).
ROAD WARRIORS: The Eagles will start the season playing their first 15 games on the road before finally hosting the Oestrike Classic March 18-20, to open the home slate. They will face Clemson, Kentucky, Tennessee Tech, Presbyterian College, Austin Peay State, Alabama A&M and Kansas, all of them away from the friendly confines of Oestrike Stadium, to start the year.
PINGING IN THE NEW YEAR: The 2011 season marks the third for EMU Head Coach Jay Alexander. Alexander accumulated a career 213-215 record through six season and a 52-67 mark through two seasons at the helm of the Eagles. EMU returns seven starters from a year ago, as well as 11 pitchers. The team also welcomes 12 newcomers to the squad.
NCAA INSTITUTES NEW BATS: This season, the NCAA has instituted new standards for the type of bats used during the 2011 season and beyond. They are measuring this new standard by a formula called the Ball-Bat Coefficient of Restitution (BBCOR).
According to the NCAA rule, “The new BBCOR formula provides a better measure of the bat's performance and therefore allows the rules committee and bat-testing laboratories to better predict field performance based on lab tests. The goal is that non-wood bats that meet this new standard will perform similarly to wood bats.”
It is expected that scores will be lower and an emphasis will be placed on speed and hitting into the gaps.
Live Stats
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- It's going to be a battle of Eagles this weekend as the Eastern Michigan University Eagles get set to play a three-game set against the Tennessee Tech University Golden Eagles in Cookeville, Tenn. Feb. 25-27. Senior left-hander Robert Wendzicki (0-0, 3.86 ERA) will get the ball in game one, going up against TTU's Tristan Archer (0-1, 6.00 ERA). First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. CT at TTU's Bush Stadium.
Pitching Probables:
Game 1: EMU: Robert Wendzicki, LHP (0-0, 3.86 ERA)
TTU: Tristan Archer, RHP (0-1, 6.00 ERA)
Game 2: EMU: Steve Weber, RHP (0-1, 7.20 ERA)
TTU: Matt Shepherd, RHP (0-0, 3.86 ERA)
Game 3: EMU: Neil Butara, RHP (0-0, 10.80 ERA)
TTU: Nick Price, RHP (0-1, 3.86 ERA)
---
THE SERIES: The battle of Eagles is deadlocked at an all-time series mark of 1-1 with the EMU Eagles having won the last meeting that took place all the way back in 1971 by a score of 8-1. Prior to that, the Golden Eagles drew first blood with a 4-3 victory in 1968.
THE COACHES: EMU Head Coach Jay Alexander enters this weekend series with a 214-218 (.495) career record in nine seasons, including a 53-70 mark in three seasons at Eastern Michigan. TTU's Matt Bragga comes in with a 286-274-2 (.511) career mark in nine seasons. He is a two-time coach of the year in the Ohio Valley Conference and led the Golden Eagles to the 2010 Ohio Valley Conference title.
EAGLE RECAP: The Eagles continue its 13-day road trip this weekend after dropping their first game of the conquest to Kentucky, 5-2. Down 3-0 in the seventh, Ben Magsig came through with his first home run of the season, a two-run shot, to pull the Eagles to within a run. However, the Wildcats would get both runs back to push the lead back to three in what would amount to the final score.
In the season's opening series, the Eagles took a game from the then fourth-ranked Clemson Tigers in a three-game set in Clemson, S.C. Corey Chaffins picked up the win in game two thanks in large part to Daniel Russell's 4-for-4 day at the plate.
ON THE HORIZON: EMU will continue on its southern road trip with a return trip to South Carolina to take on Presbyterian College March 1-2, before heading back to Tennessee for a trio of games against Austin Peay and Alabama A&M, March 4-6.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES: Tennessee Tech of the Ohio Valley Conference is still seeking its first victory of the 2011 campaign after shouldering losses to Virginia Tech, Coastal Carolina, Boston College and Middle Tennessee to open the year. Zack Stephens currently leads TTU in hitting with a .538 (7-for-13) batting average while scoring two runs and knocking in six RBI.
On the mound, the staff has combined to allow opposing offenses to hit .297 at the plate. Matthew Shepherd has made two appearances on the hill (one start) and has struck out a team-high seven batters in seven innings pitched this season.
A HIGH-RANKING VICTORY: EMU's win over Clemson was the first over an opponent ranked as high as the #4 Tigers since 1976 when the then-Hurons defeated Arizona State twice, each time when they were ranked No. 1. It also marked the second straight year in which EMU has defeated a ranked team in the season's opening series, beating No. 25 Kansas in the season opener and front end of a doubleheader at the Metrodome, Feb. 22, 2010.
STREAKY PLAY: EMU starting second baseman Zack Leonard had his nine-game hitting streak, which dated back to last season, snapped in the loss to Kentucky Feb. 23. Leonard had hit successfully in the team's first three games before going 0-for-4 in the setback to the Wildcats. Meanwhile, junior Ben Magsig has hit safely in each of the team's first four games and extended his streak to six games.
CHAFFINS WINS WEEKLY HONOR: Senior right-hander Corey Chaffins made back-to-back appearances against fourth-ranked Clemson in the season's opening series, posting a 1-0 record and a 2.08 ERA as the Eagles took one of the three games in the from the Tigers. In his second appearance in his many days, Chaffins pitched the final 3.1 innings in relief to record the win as the Eagles went on to defeat the nationally-ranked Tigers, 7-6, on the road.
RUSSELL'S BIG DAY: Sophomore Daniel Russell was recognized by CollegeBaseball360 for his 4-for-4 effort with two doubles and game-winning score in EMU's 7-6 win over #4 Clemson Feb. 20. He batted .455 for the series with three extra-base hits against the Tigers. Russell was named to the weekly honor roll for CB360 along with 11 other worthy candidates across the nation.
CONFERENCE TOUR: The Eagles take on opponents from 12 different conferences this season. The conferences include: the Mid-American Conference (nine teams), Atlantic Coast (Clemson), Southeast (Kentucky), Ohio Valley (Tennessee Tech and Austin Peay State), Big South (Presbyterian College), Southwest Athletic (Alabama A&M), Big 12 (Kansas), Horizon League (Cleveland State), Summit League (Oakland), Big Ten (Michigan and Michigan State), Big East (West Virginia and Louisville) and Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (Alma).
ROAD WARRIORS: The Eagles will start the season playing their first 15 games on the road before finally hosting the Oestrike Classic March 18-20, to open the home slate. They will face Clemson, Kentucky, Tennessee Tech, Presbyterian College, Austin Peay State, Alabama A&M and Kansas, all of them away from the friendly confines of Oestrike Stadium, to start the year.
PINGING IN THE NEW YEAR: The 2011 season marks the third for EMU Head Coach Jay Alexander. Alexander accumulated a career 213-215 record through six season and a 52-67 mark through two seasons at the helm of the Eagles. EMU returns seven starters from a year ago, as well as 11 pitchers. The team also welcomes 12 newcomers to the squad.
NCAA INSTITUTES NEW BATS: This season, the NCAA has instituted new standards for the type of bats used during the 2011 season and beyond. They are measuring this new standard by a formula called the Ball-Bat Coefficient of Restitution (BBCOR).
According to the NCAA rule, “The new BBCOR formula provides a better measure of the bat's performance and therefore allows the rules committee and bat-testing laboratories to better predict field performance based on lab tests. The goal is that non-wood bats that meet this new standard will perform similarly to wood bats.”
It is expected that scores will be lower and an emphasis will be placed on speed and hitting into the gaps.
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