Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, April 6
Kalamazoo, Mich.
3 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
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Western Michigan
Photo by: EMU Athletics/Randy Mascharka
Eagles Head to Kalamazoo for Easter Weekend Matchup with WMU
4/5/2012 4:22:00 PM | Baseball
EMU in three-way tie for second place in MAC West Division
Complete Release (.pdf)
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com)– The Eastern Michigan University baseball team will play its first series with a MAC West Division opponent Friday-Sunday, April 6-8, against Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Mich.
EAGLES AND BRONCOS SQUARE OFF IN K-ZOO: The Eagles (10-18; 3-3 MAC) are looking to snap a three-game losing skid against the Broncos (14-11; 5-0 MAC), which own a 1.5-game lead for first place in the division. Friday's game is slated for a 3 p.m. start, while Saturday's and Sunday's contests will begin at 1 p.m.
THE SKINNY: The Eagles trail the all-time series with the Broncos, 74-79, but are riding a five-game winning streak against their cross-state rivals dating back to the 2010 season. Last year, the Green and White swept a three-game set from WMU in which EMU outscored the Broncos, 23-9.
This weekend, Eastern Michigan will pit its sixth-ranked offense (.284 batting average) against Western Michigan's third-ranked pitching staff (4.27 team ERA). EMU will face a pair of lefties, Casey Webber (2-1) and Steve Laudicina (3-1), on Friday and Saturday, before seeing right hander Will Nimke (1-0) on Easter Sunday. The Eagles enter the series batting .267 against southpaws compared to .291 against right handers.
Head Coach Jay Alexander will send Neil Butara (2-2) to the hill Friday, Steve Weber (2-3) Saturday and Ryan Lavoie (2-1) Sunday.
SPARTANS TOP EAGLES AT OESTRIKE: EMU dropped its third straight contest Wednesday evening, April 4, to Michigan State University, 6-1. The game was tied, 1-1, until the Spartans rattled off five runs sixth inning to put the game out of reach. The Eagles recorded just six hits on the evening, but worked seven walks and put at least one runner on base in seven innings and two-or-more runners four times. Despite the abundance of baserunners, EMU was just 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and went a hitless 0-for-8 in two-out situations.
STATE OF THE MAC: Following a 1-2 weekend in Athens, the Eagles own a 3-3 conference record and sit in a three-way tie for second place in the MAC West Division with Central Michigan and Toledo. EMU's next conference opponent, Western Michigan, has a 1.5 game lead for top spot in the West with a perfect 5-0 mark. The Broncos' series finale against Buffalo was rained out so they have only played five MAC games.
In the East Division, perennial powerhouse Kent State has survived several close contests to move to 6-0 in MAC play. Similar to the West, the East features a trio of teams (Akron, Miami and Akron) which share second place with 3-3 records.
PUMP IT UP: Since the beginning of their series at nationally-ranked Arizona, March 9-11, the Eagles have raised their batting average from .249 to a robust .284. During that 17-game span, Eastern Michigan has recorded 10-or-more hits on eight occasions including a trio of games in which they tallied more than 15 knocks.
OHRMAN NAMED MAC SCHOLAR ATHLETE: Brent Ohrman was named the MAC Male Scholar Athlete of the Week by the conference office, April 4. The senior garnered the honor for the first time in his career after a stretch of five games from March 27-April 1 in which he 8-for-19 (.421) with a .500 OBP and a .632 slugging percentage.
HOME IS WHERE THE WINS ARE: Oestrike Stadium has served as a safe haven of sorts for the Eagles this season, as they are 6-2 at their home ballpark this season. Conversely, the squad is 3-14 away from Ypsilanti. At home, the Green and White is batting .328 with 67 runs scored (8.4 runs per game), while averaging .270 with 83 runs tallied (4.9 runs per game) on the road. A 3-1 win over Miami Saturday, March 24, marked the 800th game played at the venue.
KINDER THE KID: Bo Kinder's hit in Sunday's 10-9 loss to Ohio ran his career-best hitting streak to 15 games. His previous high-water mark was seven games from April 9-18, 2010. Kinder's streak came to an end Wednesday against Michigan State, which put him just one game shy of former Eagle Kyle Rhoad, who recorded at least one hit in 16 consecutive games in 2009. Nobody has reached that plateau since.
The Wapella, Ill. native has also reached base safely in a team-high 22 consecutive contests. During that span, he has racked up a .298 batting average which includes 11 extra base hits for a .442 slugging percentage. Kinder still has another 20 games to go before he catches Jim Gulliver, who reached base in 42 straight games in 2009.
RENAISSANCE MAN: Since his move to first base for the MAC opener against Miami, Ben Magsig has shown a drastic resurgence on both sides of the ball. In the first 19 games of the season, the senior infielder committed 10 errors at third base. Since the move to the other side of the diamond, he has recorded only one miscue in eight games.
Offensively, Magsig has raised his batting average from .232 to .321 for an increase of .089 while maintaining a MAC-leading walk total of 25. In his last eight games, he has recorded multiple-hit performances on four occasions which included a 5-for-10 (.500) showing over three contests against Ohio. Magsig also slugged four doubles and tallied five RBI in the series against the Bobcats.
All this offensive production has translated to a team-leading 1.019 OBP including a .513 on base percentage which ranks in the top-25 among all NCAA Division I players.
MR. CONSISTENCY: Now in his second year as a collegiate athlete, Lee Longo has proven to be the mark of consistency in the middle of the EMU batting order. The sophomore from Mayfield, Ohio has 79 hits in 246 career at-bats for a lifetime average of .321. After hitting a solid .312 in 2011, Longo leads all EMU hitters this season with a .333 average and is 10th in the MAC in hits (36).
FREELANCERS: Patience is a virtue, especially when that virtue puts you 90 feet closer to home. In 28 games, the Eagles have drawn a MAC-best 140 walks for an average of five free passes per contest. The closest challenger to the Eagles' walk total in the conference is Central Michigan (116). Ben Magsig leads the Eagles and the MAC in free passes (25) and was ranked 20th in the latest NCAA Division I rankings. As a team, EMU is 25th nationally in walks.
Eastern Michigan walked a total of 234 times last season for second-most in the Mid-American Conference to trail only CMU (235).
LEGGING IT OUT: According to the latest NCAA composite statistics released April 2, the Eagles' 15 triples are good for fourth place nationally. Bo Kinder and Brent Ohrman have legged out a MAC-best four triples so far this season.
EMU has already eclipsed its triples total of 12 for the entire 2011 season. The team's slugging percentage is currently .405 with a .386 OBP.
RECORD WATCH: Outfielder Brent Ohrman has recorded 12 stolen bases this season to run his career total to 44, good for a 12th place tie all-time among EMU players. With a swiped bag Wednesday, April 4, against MSU, the senior moved into a tie with former Eagle speedster Scott Willis (1984-87). Ohrman has 12 stolen bases to go before catching Whitford Boyd's (1976-79) career mark of 56 for 11th spot.
Ben Magsig's team-best 25 walks this season have increased his career total to 92 and have earned him soul possession of 10th place on the EMU all-time list in that category. He is now just one walk behind current major leaguer Brian Bixler (2002-04), who racked up 93 free passes. The record for walks in a career is held by EMU great Glenn Gulliver, who received 140 free passes from 1973-76.
GET AHEAD, STAY AHEAD: The Eagles are 10-3 this season when entering the seventh inning with the lead. That mark shifts to 10-2 after seven innings and 10-1 after eight. Conversely, the Green and White is winless (0-14) when trailing after six innings.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com)– The Eastern Michigan University baseball team will play its first series with a MAC West Division opponent Friday-Sunday, April 6-8, against Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Mich.
EAGLES AND BRONCOS SQUARE OFF IN K-ZOO: The Eagles (10-18; 3-3 MAC) are looking to snap a three-game losing skid against the Broncos (14-11; 5-0 MAC), which own a 1.5-game lead for first place in the division. Friday's game is slated for a 3 p.m. start, while Saturday's and Sunday's contests will begin at 1 p.m.
THE SKINNY: The Eagles trail the all-time series with the Broncos, 74-79, but are riding a five-game winning streak against their cross-state rivals dating back to the 2010 season. Last year, the Green and White swept a three-game set from WMU in which EMU outscored the Broncos, 23-9.
This weekend, Eastern Michigan will pit its sixth-ranked offense (.284 batting average) against Western Michigan's third-ranked pitching staff (4.27 team ERA). EMU will face a pair of lefties, Casey Webber (2-1) and Steve Laudicina (3-1), on Friday and Saturday, before seeing right hander Will Nimke (1-0) on Easter Sunday. The Eagles enter the series batting .267 against southpaws compared to .291 against right handers.
Head Coach Jay Alexander will send Neil Butara (2-2) to the hill Friday, Steve Weber (2-3) Saturday and Ryan Lavoie (2-1) Sunday.
SPARTANS TOP EAGLES AT OESTRIKE: EMU dropped its third straight contest Wednesday evening, April 4, to Michigan State University, 6-1. The game was tied, 1-1, until the Spartans rattled off five runs sixth inning to put the game out of reach. The Eagles recorded just six hits on the evening, but worked seven walks and put at least one runner on base in seven innings and two-or-more runners four times. Despite the abundance of baserunners, EMU was just 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and went a hitless 0-for-8 in two-out situations.
STATE OF THE MAC: Following a 1-2 weekend in Athens, the Eagles own a 3-3 conference record and sit in a three-way tie for second place in the MAC West Division with Central Michigan and Toledo. EMU's next conference opponent, Western Michigan, has a 1.5 game lead for top spot in the West with a perfect 5-0 mark. The Broncos' series finale against Buffalo was rained out so they have only played five MAC games.
In the East Division, perennial powerhouse Kent State has survived several close contests to move to 6-0 in MAC play. Similar to the West, the East features a trio of teams (Akron, Miami and Akron) which share second place with 3-3 records.
PUMP IT UP: Since the beginning of their series at nationally-ranked Arizona, March 9-11, the Eagles have raised their batting average from .249 to a robust .284. During that 17-game span, Eastern Michigan has recorded 10-or-more hits on eight occasions including a trio of games in which they tallied more than 15 knocks.
OHRMAN NAMED MAC SCHOLAR ATHLETE: Brent Ohrman was named the MAC Male Scholar Athlete of the Week by the conference office, April 4. The senior garnered the honor for the first time in his career after a stretch of five games from March 27-April 1 in which he 8-for-19 (.421) with a .500 OBP and a .632 slugging percentage.
HOME IS WHERE THE WINS ARE: Oestrike Stadium has served as a safe haven of sorts for the Eagles this season, as they are 6-2 at their home ballpark this season. Conversely, the squad is 3-14 away from Ypsilanti. At home, the Green and White is batting .328 with 67 runs scored (8.4 runs per game), while averaging .270 with 83 runs tallied (4.9 runs per game) on the road. A 3-1 win over Miami Saturday, March 24, marked the 800th game played at the venue.
KINDER THE KID: Bo Kinder's hit in Sunday's 10-9 loss to Ohio ran his career-best hitting streak to 15 games. His previous high-water mark was seven games from April 9-18, 2010. Kinder's streak came to an end Wednesday against Michigan State, which put him just one game shy of former Eagle Kyle Rhoad, who recorded at least one hit in 16 consecutive games in 2009. Nobody has reached that plateau since.
The Wapella, Ill. native has also reached base safely in a team-high 22 consecutive contests. During that span, he has racked up a .298 batting average which includes 11 extra base hits for a .442 slugging percentage. Kinder still has another 20 games to go before he catches Jim Gulliver, who reached base in 42 straight games in 2009.
RENAISSANCE MAN: Since his move to first base for the MAC opener against Miami, Ben Magsig has shown a drastic resurgence on both sides of the ball. In the first 19 games of the season, the senior infielder committed 10 errors at third base. Since the move to the other side of the diamond, he has recorded only one miscue in eight games.
Offensively, Magsig has raised his batting average from .232 to .321 for an increase of .089 while maintaining a MAC-leading walk total of 25. In his last eight games, he has recorded multiple-hit performances on four occasions which included a 5-for-10 (.500) showing over three contests against Ohio. Magsig also slugged four doubles and tallied five RBI in the series against the Bobcats.
All this offensive production has translated to a team-leading 1.019 OBP including a .513 on base percentage which ranks in the top-25 among all NCAA Division I players.
MR. CONSISTENCY: Now in his second year as a collegiate athlete, Lee Longo has proven to be the mark of consistency in the middle of the EMU batting order. The sophomore from Mayfield, Ohio has 79 hits in 246 career at-bats for a lifetime average of .321. After hitting a solid .312 in 2011, Longo leads all EMU hitters this season with a .333 average and is 10th in the MAC in hits (36).
FREELANCERS: Patience is a virtue, especially when that virtue puts you 90 feet closer to home. In 28 games, the Eagles have drawn a MAC-best 140 walks for an average of five free passes per contest. The closest challenger to the Eagles' walk total in the conference is Central Michigan (116). Ben Magsig leads the Eagles and the MAC in free passes (25) and was ranked 20th in the latest NCAA Division I rankings. As a team, EMU is 25th nationally in walks.
Eastern Michigan walked a total of 234 times last season for second-most in the Mid-American Conference to trail only CMU (235).
LEGGING IT OUT: According to the latest NCAA composite statistics released April 2, the Eagles' 15 triples are good for fourth place nationally. Bo Kinder and Brent Ohrman have legged out a MAC-best four triples so far this season.
EMU has already eclipsed its triples total of 12 for the entire 2011 season. The team's slugging percentage is currently .405 with a .386 OBP.
RECORD WATCH: Outfielder Brent Ohrman has recorded 12 stolen bases this season to run his career total to 44, good for a 12th place tie all-time among EMU players. With a swiped bag Wednesday, April 4, against MSU, the senior moved into a tie with former Eagle speedster Scott Willis (1984-87). Ohrman has 12 stolen bases to go before catching Whitford Boyd's (1976-79) career mark of 56 for 11th spot.
Ben Magsig's team-best 25 walks this season have increased his career total to 92 and have earned him soul possession of 10th place on the EMU all-time list in that category. He is now just one walk behind current major leaguer Brian Bixler (2002-04), who racked up 93 free passes. The record for walks in a career is held by EMU great Glenn Gulliver, who received 140 free passes from 1973-76.
GET AHEAD, STAY AHEAD: The Eagles are 10-3 this season when entering the seventh inning with the lead. That mark shifts to 10-2 after seven innings and 10-1 after eight. Conversely, the Green and White is winless (0-14) when trailing after six innings.
Oestrike Stadium Turf Replacement Time lapse
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Oestrike Stadium Upgrades Reveal
Thursday, October 02
Alumni Achievement Award - Anthony Tomey
Friday, September 26
Scout day✅
Monday, September 22