Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, April 27
Oestrike Stadium
6 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Northern Illinois
Photo by: EMU Athletics/Randy Mascharka
Baseball Starts Seven-Game Homestand with NIU
4/26/2012 3:07:00 PM | Baseball
Eagles enter the weekend tied for first place in MAC West with Toledo
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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com)– The Eastern Michigan University baseball team kicks off its seven-game homestand Friday-Sunday, April 27-29, when the squad hosts Mid-American Conference West Division foe Northern Illinois University at Oestrike Stadium. Friday's game is slated for a 6 p.m. start, while Saturday's contest gets underway at 3 p.m. and Sunday's tilt begins at 1 p.m.
Following this series, the Eagles will entertain Hillsdale College, May 1, before wrapping up the 2012 home slate against Bowling Green State University, May 4-6. The team will celebrate its graduating seniors prior to the final game against the Falcons.
LISTEN ONLINE FOR FREE!: All three games of the EMU vs. NIU series will be broadcast (audio only), free of charge, on EMUEagles.com/showcase. Tune in to hear Chad Bush call all of the action as Greg Steiner provides color commentary.
THE SETUP: Eastern Michigan enters the weekend with an overall record of 18-21 and a 9-6 mark in the MAC. The Eagles are tied with Toledo for first place in the West Division. EMU lost two-of-three to Ball State last weekend in Muncie, Ind.
Northern Illinois occupies last place in the West Division with an 11-29 overall record and 5-10 ledger in the MAC. The Huskies were surpassed by BSU last weekend after being swept by Toledo.
LEST WE FORGET: The all-time series between EMU and NIU has been a fairly lopsided affair over its 100-game history. The Eagles are 63-37 against the Huskies, and accounted for both of NIU's losses in last season's MAC Tournament. After winning a 4-2 decision in the first round, EMU overcame a four-run deficit in the ninth and scored one in the 10th to eliminate the Huskies, 12-11, in 10 innings.
EMU is 7-4 against NIU since Jay Alexander took over as head coach in 2009. The Huskies won the regular-season series over the Eagles, 2-1, in 2011.
DRAWING A BLANK: Junior right hander Steve Weber (4-3) earned his first-career complete game in a three-hit, 4-0, shutout of Ball State University Saturday afternoon, April 21, at the Ball Diamond. Weber's nine-inning gem marked the first complete game for an EMU pitcher this season. Ball State's offense was smothered by Weber's dominant performance, putting only five runners on base during the contest.
Weber struck out six batters and walked two in his third quality start of the season. He became the first EMU pitcher to notch a complete-game shutout since Joe Battistelli blanked NIU, 1-0, May 7, 2011.
OTHER THAN THAT...: Aside from Steve Weber's terrific outing Saturday, the Eagles did not come away with much in terms positive news from a 1-2 weekend at Ball State. The Eagles notched just 13 hits over the entire three-game set and dropped their first extra-innings game, 5-4, in 10 innings Sunday on a wild pitch on what should have been the first pitch of an intentional walk.
NATIONAL RANKINGS: According to the latest NCAA composite statistics released April 24, the Eagles rank in the top-50 in five offensive categories: walks (fifth, 206), triples (eighth, 19), triples-per-game (ninth, 0.49), sacrifice flies (10th, 26) and on-base percentage (38th, .388).
Additionally, EMU players own nine top-50 rankings in six different categories. Ben Magsig is ninth nationally in on-base percentage (.526) and 15th in walks with 35. The senior infielder is also 18th in walks-per-game (0.92).
Daniel Russell is 21st (0.88) in walks per game. His fifth triple of the year on Sunday gave him five three-baggers, which is good for 20th in the nation. He is also 17th in triples per game (0.16). Brent Ohrman and Bo Kinder also have a 49th-best four triples apiece. On the mound, Steve Weber is tied for the 31st-most games started (10).
DEFENSE AT LAST: After sitting near the bottom of the MAC in fielding percentage for most of the non-conference season, the Eagles' commitment to defensive improvement has been well documented since the beginning of conference play. The Eagles boast a MAC-best .972 fielding percentage over 15 MAC games. Overall, the Green and White converts .957 of its defensive attempts which is sixth in the conference.
THE GREAT TWO-EIGHT: Three more hits against Ball State pushed senior Brent Ohrman's career-best 23-game hitting spree vaulted him past Josh Ivan's mark of 22 in 2006. Ivan was the last Eagle until Ohrman to rack up 20-or-more straight contests with a hit. Current Major Leaguer Brian Bixler amassed a 32-game hitting streak in 2004.
Ohrman is second on the team in batting average (.351) and leads the Eagles with 29 RBI, 39 runs scored and 16 stolen bases. In the MAC, the Adrian, Mich. native is ninth in batting average and tied for second with four triples.
MAC HITTING STREAKS: Although Brent Ohrman's 23-game hitting streak is undoubtedly impressive, he owns only the second longest hitting streak in the MAC this season. Western Michigan's Ryan McMillin hit in 25 consecutive games earlier in the year. Ohio's Jensen Painter also hit in 21 straight contests in 2012.
FOLLOW THE LEADER: The Eagles' .388 on-base percentage is tops in the MAC, while Ben Magsig's .526 OBP is the best individual mark in the conference. Magsig also holds the honor as the MAC's top walks-getter with 35 and is tied with Bryce Redeker of Miami for the leader in the hit-by-pitch category (12). He is one free pass away from tying his previous season high of 36 in 2010, which stands as the 15th best single-season output by an EMU player.
BASE-IC THEORIES: Brent Ohrman has reached base safely in his last 26 games. Ben Magsig is right behind Ohrman at 23. Bo Kinder still owns the season's highest on-base streak of 28 games which extended from Feb. 26-April 18. In 2009, former Eagle Jim Gulliver's reached safely in 42 consecutive tilts.
NO DISCONNECT HERE: With just 11 strikeouts against him in 130 at bats this season, Tucker Rubino strikes out less than eight percent of the time and has become one of the toughest hitters in the nation to fan. In the latest NCAA Rankings released April 24, Rubino is the 137th hardest hitter to fan in the country.
RUSSELL AND FLOW: Daniel Russell legged out his fifth triple of the season against Ball State for the 11th of his career. He moved into a tie with Nick Soliz (1998-2001) for eighth all-time on the EMU career triples list and is now four three-baggers behind Pete Casteel's single-season record of nine in 1967.
TAKE YOUR BASE: EMU is on pace to walk 280 times this season, which would fall just shy of the school's single-season record of 286 set in 1982. In 39 games, the Eagles have drawn a MAC-best 206 walks for an average of 5.3 free passes per contest. The closest challenger to the Eagles' walk total in the conference is Central Michigan (175) as of April 24.
Eastern Michigan walked a total of 234 times last season for second-most in the Mid-American Conference to trail only CMU (235).
PATIENCE PAYS OFF: Ben Magsig's team-best 35 walks this season have increased his career total to 102 and have earned him soul possession of eighth place on the EMU all-time list in that category. He is now just four walks behind Tony Palazzolo (2000-03), who racked up 106 free passes. The record for walks in a career is held by EMU great Glenn Gulliver, who received 140 free passes from 1973-76.
THE OLD RUN-AROUND: As of April 24, the Eagles had scored a total of 248 runs for a per-game clip of 6.4. That figure is tied for second in the MAC. Brent Ohrman leads the Eagles with 39 runs scored and is tied for second in the conference.
STOLEN GOODS: Outfielder Brent Ohrman has recorded 16 stolen bases this season to run his career total to 48, good for 12th place all-time among EMU players. With a swiped bag Friday, April 6, against WMU, the senior surpassed former Eagle speedster Scott Willis (1984-87). Ohrman has eight stolen bases to go before catching Whitford Boyd's (1976-79) career mark of 56 for 11th spot.
A LITTLE MAC HISTORY: Eastern Michigan finished the 2011 campaign one game behind Central Michigan for the MAC West title at 16-11. The last time the Eagles won their division was in 2008, when they also claimed the MAC Tournament championship for the first time since 2003.
FREE Audio Broadcast
Live Stats
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com)– The Eastern Michigan University baseball team kicks off its seven-game homestand Friday-Sunday, April 27-29, when the squad hosts Mid-American Conference West Division foe Northern Illinois University at Oestrike Stadium. Friday's game is slated for a 6 p.m. start, while Saturday's contest gets underway at 3 p.m. and Sunday's tilt begins at 1 p.m.
Following this series, the Eagles will entertain Hillsdale College, May 1, before wrapping up the 2012 home slate against Bowling Green State University, May 4-6. The team will celebrate its graduating seniors prior to the final game against the Falcons.
LISTEN ONLINE FOR FREE!: All three games of the EMU vs. NIU series will be broadcast (audio only), free of charge, on EMUEagles.com/showcase. Tune in to hear Chad Bush call all of the action as Greg Steiner provides color commentary.
THE SETUP: Eastern Michigan enters the weekend with an overall record of 18-21 and a 9-6 mark in the MAC. The Eagles are tied with Toledo for first place in the West Division. EMU lost two-of-three to Ball State last weekend in Muncie, Ind.
Northern Illinois occupies last place in the West Division with an 11-29 overall record and 5-10 ledger in the MAC. The Huskies were surpassed by BSU last weekend after being swept by Toledo.
LEST WE FORGET: The all-time series between EMU and NIU has been a fairly lopsided affair over its 100-game history. The Eagles are 63-37 against the Huskies, and accounted for both of NIU's losses in last season's MAC Tournament. After winning a 4-2 decision in the first round, EMU overcame a four-run deficit in the ninth and scored one in the 10th to eliminate the Huskies, 12-11, in 10 innings.
EMU is 7-4 against NIU since Jay Alexander took over as head coach in 2009. The Huskies won the regular-season series over the Eagles, 2-1, in 2011.
DRAWING A BLANK: Junior right hander Steve Weber (4-3) earned his first-career complete game in a three-hit, 4-0, shutout of Ball State University Saturday afternoon, April 21, at the Ball Diamond. Weber's nine-inning gem marked the first complete game for an EMU pitcher this season. Ball State's offense was smothered by Weber's dominant performance, putting only five runners on base during the contest.
Weber struck out six batters and walked two in his third quality start of the season. He became the first EMU pitcher to notch a complete-game shutout since Joe Battistelli blanked NIU, 1-0, May 7, 2011.
OTHER THAN THAT...: Aside from Steve Weber's terrific outing Saturday, the Eagles did not come away with much in terms positive news from a 1-2 weekend at Ball State. The Eagles notched just 13 hits over the entire three-game set and dropped their first extra-innings game, 5-4, in 10 innings Sunday on a wild pitch on what should have been the first pitch of an intentional walk.
NATIONAL RANKINGS: According to the latest NCAA composite statistics released April 24, the Eagles rank in the top-50 in five offensive categories: walks (fifth, 206), triples (eighth, 19), triples-per-game (ninth, 0.49), sacrifice flies (10th, 26) and on-base percentage (38th, .388).
Additionally, EMU players own nine top-50 rankings in six different categories. Ben Magsig is ninth nationally in on-base percentage (.526) and 15th in walks with 35. The senior infielder is also 18th in walks-per-game (0.92).
Daniel Russell is 21st (0.88) in walks per game. His fifth triple of the year on Sunday gave him five three-baggers, which is good for 20th in the nation. He is also 17th in triples per game (0.16). Brent Ohrman and Bo Kinder also have a 49th-best four triples apiece. On the mound, Steve Weber is tied for the 31st-most games started (10).
DEFENSE AT LAST: After sitting near the bottom of the MAC in fielding percentage for most of the non-conference season, the Eagles' commitment to defensive improvement has been well documented since the beginning of conference play. The Eagles boast a MAC-best .972 fielding percentage over 15 MAC games. Overall, the Green and White converts .957 of its defensive attempts which is sixth in the conference.
THE GREAT TWO-EIGHT: Three more hits against Ball State pushed senior Brent Ohrman's career-best 23-game hitting spree vaulted him past Josh Ivan's mark of 22 in 2006. Ivan was the last Eagle until Ohrman to rack up 20-or-more straight contests with a hit. Current Major Leaguer Brian Bixler amassed a 32-game hitting streak in 2004.
Ohrman is second on the team in batting average (.351) and leads the Eagles with 29 RBI, 39 runs scored and 16 stolen bases. In the MAC, the Adrian, Mich. native is ninth in batting average and tied for second with four triples.
MAC HITTING STREAKS: Although Brent Ohrman's 23-game hitting streak is undoubtedly impressive, he owns only the second longest hitting streak in the MAC this season. Western Michigan's Ryan McMillin hit in 25 consecutive games earlier in the year. Ohio's Jensen Painter also hit in 21 straight contests in 2012.
FOLLOW THE LEADER: The Eagles' .388 on-base percentage is tops in the MAC, while Ben Magsig's .526 OBP is the best individual mark in the conference. Magsig also holds the honor as the MAC's top walks-getter with 35 and is tied with Bryce Redeker of Miami for the leader in the hit-by-pitch category (12). He is one free pass away from tying his previous season high of 36 in 2010, which stands as the 15th best single-season output by an EMU player.
BASE-IC THEORIES: Brent Ohrman has reached base safely in his last 26 games. Ben Magsig is right behind Ohrman at 23. Bo Kinder still owns the season's highest on-base streak of 28 games which extended from Feb. 26-April 18. In 2009, former Eagle Jim Gulliver's reached safely in 42 consecutive tilts.
NO DISCONNECT HERE: With just 11 strikeouts against him in 130 at bats this season, Tucker Rubino strikes out less than eight percent of the time and has become one of the toughest hitters in the nation to fan. In the latest NCAA Rankings released April 24, Rubino is the 137th hardest hitter to fan in the country.
RUSSELL AND FLOW: Daniel Russell legged out his fifth triple of the season against Ball State for the 11th of his career. He moved into a tie with Nick Soliz (1998-2001) for eighth all-time on the EMU career triples list and is now four three-baggers behind Pete Casteel's single-season record of nine in 1967.
TAKE YOUR BASE: EMU is on pace to walk 280 times this season, which would fall just shy of the school's single-season record of 286 set in 1982. In 39 games, the Eagles have drawn a MAC-best 206 walks for an average of 5.3 free passes per contest. The closest challenger to the Eagles' walk total in the conference is Central Michigan (175) as of April 24.
Eastern Michigan walked a total of 234 times last season for second-most in the Mid-American Conference to trail only CMU (235).
PATIENCE PAYS OFF: Ben Magsig's team-best 35 walks this season have increased his career total to 102 and have earned him soul possession of eighth place on the EMU all-time list in that category. He is now just four walks behind Tony Palazzolo (2000-03), who racked up 106 free passes. The record for walks in a career is held by EMU great Glenn Gulliver, who received 140 free passes from 1973-76.
THE OLD RUN-AROUND: As of April 24, the Eagles had scored a total of 248 runs for a per-game clip of 6.4. That figure is tied for second in the MAC. Brent Ohrman leads the Eagles with 39 runs scored and is tied for second in the conference.
STOLEN GOODS: Outfielder Brent Ohrman has recorded 16 stolen bases this season to run his career total to 48, good for 12th place all-time among EMU players. With a swiped bag Friday, April 6, against WMU, the senior surpassed former Eagle speedster Scott Willis (1984-87). Ohrman has eight stolen bases to go before catching Whitford Boyd's (1976-79) career mark of 56 for 11th spot.
A LITTLE MAC HISTORY: Eastern Michigan finished the 2011 campaign one game behind Central Michigan for the MAC West title at 16-11. The last time the Eagles won their division was in 2008, when they also claimed the MAC Tournament championship for the first time since 2003.
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