Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, March 16
Oestrike Stadium
3 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Niagara
Eagles Open Home Slate with Niagara Friday at 3 p.m.
3/15/2012 4:58:00 PM | Baseball
EMU 3-3 in home openers since 2006
Complete Release (.pdf)
Live Stats.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com)– At long last, the Eastern Michigan University baseball team will have a chance to play a series at Oestrike Stadium when it hosts Niagara University Friday-Sunday, March 16-18, in the second annual Oestrike Classic. The Eagles (3-12) are looking to get back on track after dropping their last seven games, while the Purple Eagles (7-7) have won four of their last six contests.
FIRST TIME AT OESTRIKE: Eastern Michigan and Niagara have never met on the diamond. Both teams enter the weekend trying to shore up their pitching staffs as EMU's collective ERA stands at 7.58, while Niagara's is a lofty 6.58. Offensively, the Eagles' bats woke up last weekend against No. 7 Arizona, where they scored 15 runs in the final two games against the Wildcats. The Purple Eagles' offense has been strong early this season, averaging .320 at the dish while recording 31 doubles and launching 16 homers.
On the mound, Steve Weber (1-2) will try for his second win Friday against Niagara's Drew Fittry (3-0). Saturday's game will pit Neil Butara (0-1) against Jordan Schwartz (1-0), and Sunday will feature Brian Valente (0-2) and lefty Jim Fort (1-0).
OPENING DAY HISTORY: Since 2006, the Eagles are an even 3-3 in the first game of the season at Oestrike Stadium. Last season, the Green and White won a 4-3 decision over Oakland University, March 18, to open the 2011 home slate. The Eagles finished the year with a 12-8 record in games played in Ypsilanti.
EMU had a hard time getting its opening game underway in 2008, as the first six home games of the season were forced to be postponed due to inclement weather. After having to cancel its entire opening series with Kent State, Eastern Michigan finally won both games of a double header against Miami, March 29.
2012 MAC HOME SCHEDULE: The Eagles will host 12 MAC home games this season with opponents including Miami (March 23-25), Central Michigan (April 13-15), Northern Illinois (April 27) and Bowling Green (May 4-6). The Eagles will also play single home games against Michigan (March 28), Michigan State (April 4) and Hillsdale (May 1).
BUTARA EARNS HIS SPOT: Pitcher Neil Butara has earned his way into Jay Alexander's starting weekend rotation for the first time this season after posting a stellar 1.74 ERA in five appearances. The 6-foot right hander has held opponents to a .225 batting average and has allowed just a pair of earned runs in 10.1 innings of work. He tossed one inning of scoreless baseball Wednesday, March 14, at WVU.
Butara starts in place of a struggling Joe Battistelli, who will have a chance to regroup after posting a 1-3 record with a 9.47 ERA in four starts.
THE HITT MAN: After a slow start offensively, Matt Hitt has rebounded with a five-game hitting streak including a 3-for-3 performance Saturday, March 10, at Arizona. Hitt is 7-for-14 (.500) with two doubles and a pair of RBI during that span and has launched his batting average and OPS to team highs of .375 and 1.142, respectively.
LEADING THE CHARGE: Bo Kinder has spent the last eight games as the Eagles' leadoff hitter and has not fallen short of expectations. The senior is hitting at a .286 clip and has eight extra-base hits (five doubles, three triples) to go along with a .375 OBP. Kinder has also driven in eight runs, which ties him with Lee Longo for the team lead.
The Wapella, Ill. native is fresh off a three-game span in which he recorded a triple. He now has seven three baggers for his career, having legged out four in the 2010 campaign. As a team, the Eagles ranked fifth in the country in triples with nine according to the NCAA rankings released March 12.
NEED A LITTLE GET-ME-OVER: The Eagles last enjoyed a victory, Feb. 29, against Marshall. Since then the Green and White has dropped seven straight decisions and has been unable to close out late-game leads on several occasions. Most recently, against nationally-ranked Arizona, the Eagles took an 8-7 lead into the bottom of the eighth inning, but the Wildcats made up the difference and won the game on a walk-off hit in the ninth.
EAGLE PITCHERS STRONG AT WEST VIRGINIA: Five EMU pitchers combined to hold West Virginia to just five hits Wednesday, March 14, in a narrow 2-1 setback in Morgantown, W. Va. Neil Butara began the game pitching a scoreless inning, and was followed by Ryan Lavoie who did the same in two innings of work. Paul Schaak (1-0) pitched well in four and one-third innings, but made a costly throwing error and was charged with the loss after surrendering both runs.
CLOSE CALL: The Eagles are 1-4 this season in games decided by one run. EMU claimed a 6-5 win over Marshall, March 2, for its third win of the year.
TOO MANY MISCUES: Through 15 games, the Eagles have committed 31 errors for a .943 fielding percentage and an average of more than two errors per game. EMU ranked third in the MAC in fielding percentage last year, but sits near the bottom of the conference in 2012. The Eagles have made three-or-more mishaps in eight games this year including two of the last four contests.
EMU VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS: Since 2003, the Eagles have a 6-21 mark against teams ranked in the top-25 including No. 7 Arizona's sweep over the Green and White this season, March 9-11. EMU snapped a long skid against top-25 teams with its 3-1 victory over 25th-ranked Kansas in 2010. Prior to that win, their previous victory over a ranked opponent was Feb. 7, 2007, when the Eagles claimed a 6-3 win at No. 19 Tennessee. When the Eagles topped No. 4 Clemson last season, 7-6, it marked the highest ranked team the Eagles have beaten since 2003. Prior to that, EMU's top win was against Notre Dame, who was ranked No. 13 when it claimed a 5-3 win over the Fighting Irish, April 15, 2003.
FREELANCERS: Patience is a virtue, especially when that virtue puts you 90 feet closer to home. In 15 games, the Eagles have drawn 72 walks for an average of 4.8 free passes per contest. EMU's walk total ranks 50th among NCAA Division I teams. Ben Magsig leads the Eagles in walks and is ranked 54th nationally in total free passes (13).
Eastern Michigan walked a total of 234 times last season for second-most in the Mid-American Conference to trail only Central Michigan (235).
Live Stats.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com)– At long last, the Eastern Michigan University baseball team will have a chance to play a series at Oestrike Stadium when it hosts Niagara University Friday-Sunday, March 16-18, in the second annual Oestrike Classic. The Eagles (3-12) are looking to get back on track after dropping their last seven games, while the Purple Eagles (7-7) have won four of their last six contests.
FIRST TIME AT OESTRIKE: Eastern Michigan and Niagara have never met on the diamond. Both teams enter the weekend trying to shore up their pitching staffs as EMU's collective ERA stands at 7.58, while Niagara's is a lofty 6.58. Offensively, the Eagles' bats woke up last weekend against No. 7 Arizona, where they scored 15 runs in the final two games against the Wildcats. The Purple Eagles' offense has been strong early this season, averaging .320 at the dish while recording 31 doubles and launching 16 homers.
On the mound, Steve Weber (1-2) will try for his second win Friday against Niagara's Drew Fittry (3-0). Saturday's game will pit Neil Butara (0-1) against Jordan Schwartz (1-0), and Sunday will feature Brian Valente (0-2) and lefty Jim Fort (1-0).
OPENING DAY HISTORY: Since 2006, the Eagles are an even 3-3 in the first game of the season at Oestrike Stadium. Last season, the Green and White won a 4-3 decision over Oakland University, March 18, to open the 2011 home slate. The Eagles finished the year with a 12-8 record in games played in Ypsilanti.
EMU had a hard time getting its opening game underway in 2008, as the first six home games of the season were forced to be postponed due to inclement weather. After having to cancel its entire opening series with Kent State, Eastern Michigan finally won both games of a double header against Miami, March 29.
2012 MAC HOME SCHEDULE: The Eagles will host 12 MAC home games this season with opponents including Miami (March 23-25), Central Michigan (April 13-15), Northern Illinois (April 27) and Bowling Green (May 4-6). The Eagles will also play single home games against Michigan (March 28), Michigan State (April 4) and Hillsdale (May 1).
BUTARA EARNS HIS SPOT: Pitcher Neil Butara has earned his way into Jay Alexander's starting weekend rotation for the first time this season after posting a stellar 1.74 ERA in five appearances. The 6-foot right hander has held opponents to a .225 batting average and has allowed just a pair of earned runs in 10.1 innings of work. He tossed one inning of scoreless baseball Wednesday, March 14, at WVU.
Butara starts in place of a struggling Joe Battistelli, who will have a chance to regroup after posting a 1-3 record with a 9.47 ERA in four starts.
THE HITT MAN: After a slow start offensively, Matt Hitt has rebounded with a five-game hitting streak including a 3-for-3 performance Saturday, March 10, at Arizona. Hitt is 7-for-14 (.500) with two doubles and a pair of RBI during that span and has launched his batting average and OPS to team highs of .375 and 1.142, respectively.
LEADING THE CHARGE: Bo Kinder has spent the last eight games as the Eagles' leadoff hitter and has not fallen short of expectations. The senior is hitting at a .286 clip and has eight extra-base hits (five doubles, three triples) to go along with a .375 OBP. Kinder has also driven in eight runs, which ties him with Lee Longo for the team lead.
The Wapella, Ill. native is fresh off a three-game span in which he recorded a triple. He now has seven three baggers for his career, having legged out four in the 2010 campaign. As a team, the Eagles ranked fifth in the country in triples with nine according to the NCAA rankings released March 12.
NEED A LITTLE GET-ME-OVER: The Eagles last enjoyed a victory, Feb. 29, against Marshall. Since then the Green and White has dropped seven straight decisions and has been unable to close out late-game leads on several occasions. Most recently, against nationally-ranked Arizona, the Eagles took an 8-7 lead into the bottom of the eighth inning, but the Wildcats made up the difference and won the game on a walk-off hit in the ninth.
EAGLE PITCHERS STRONG AT WEST VIRGINIA: Five EMU pitchers combined to hold West Virginia to just five hits Wednesday, March 14, in a narrow 2-1 setback in Morgantown, W. Va. Neil Butara began the game pitching a scoreless inning, and was followed by Ryan Lavoie who did the same in two innings of work. Paul Schaak (1-0) pitched well in four and one-third innings, but made a costly throwing error and was charged with the loss after surrendering both runs.
CLOSE CALL: The Eagles are 1-4 this season in games decided by one run. EMU claimed a 6-5 win over Marshall, March 2, for its third win of the year.
TOO MANY MISCUES: Through 15 games, the Eagles have committed 31 errors for a .943 fielding percentage and an average of more than two errors per game. EMU ranked third in the MAC in fielding percentage last year, but sits near the bottom of the conference in 2012. The Eagles have made three-or-more mishaps in eight games this year including two of the last four contests.
EMU VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS: Since 2003, the Eagles have a 6-21 mark against teams ranked in the top-25 including No. 7 Arizona's sweep over the Green and White this season, March 9-11. EMU snapped a long skid against top-25 teams with its 3-1 victory over 25th-ranked Kansas in 2010. Prior to that win, their previous victory over a ranked opponent was Feb. 7, 2007, when the Eagles claimed a 6-3 win at No. 19 Tennessee. When the Eagles topped No. 4 Clemson last season, 7-6, it marked the highest ranked team the Eagles have beaten since 2003. Prior to that, EMU's top win was against Notre Dame, who was ranked No. 13 when it claimed a 5-3 win over the Fighting Irish, April 15, 2003.
FREELANCERS: Patience is a virtue, especially when that virtue puts you 90 feet closer to home. In 15 games, the Eagles have drawn 72 walks for an average of 4.8 free passes per contest. EMU's walk total ranks 50th among NCAA Division I teams. Ben Magsig leads the Eagles in walks and is ranked 54th nationally in total free passes (13).
Eastern Michigan walked a total of 234 times last season for second-most in the Mid-American Conference to trail only Central Michigan (235).
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