Eastern Michigan Athletics
Tuesday, March 12
Morehead, Ky.
3 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
at
Morehead State
Photo by: EMU Athletics/Randy Mascharka
Baseball Heads to Morehead State Wednesday, Tuesday's Game Canceled
3/11/2013 5:10:00 PM | Baseball
Tuesday's series opener canceled due to rain
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team wraps up its 16-game non-conference road trip with a game against Morehead State University Wednesday, March 13, at 3 p.m. There will only be one game played against Morehead State as Tuesday's opener was washed out by rain. EMU (6-9) is flying high after a three-game road sweep over the University of Cincinnati, while Morehead State (7-9) is on a two-game winning streak of its own.
FIELD CONDITIONS A CONCERN AT MOREHEAD: Unplayable field conditions at Sonny Allen Field have already forced Morehead State to relocate its first seven home games this season. Most recently, MSU had to move its series against Murray State to Mason, Ohio, due to the soggy conditions. For Eastern Michigan, Tuesday will mark the fifth occasion on which a game has been postponed or canceled this season.
THE EAGLES VS... THE EAGLES: Eastern Michigan and Morehead State have faced off nine times prior to Wednesday's meeting, although the two squads have not met since March 9, 1997, when EMU posted a 10-8 victory to win the finale of a three-game series. Morehead State leads the all-time series, 6-3, since the teams first met in 1977.
MSU is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference and posted a record of 28-27 in 2012 along with a 13-14 mark in OVC play.
EAGLES THRASH TOOTHLESS BEARCATS: The Eaagles capped-off a three-game sweep of the University of Cincinnati, 3-0, in front of 1,140 fans at Marge Schott Stadium Sunday, March 10. Paul Schaak (1-0) and Ryan Lavoie combined to earn the Eagles (6-9) their first shutout of the season.
The Green and White swept a three-game set for the first time since April 6-8, 2012, against Western Michigan University. The three victories also marked the first sweep of a non-conference foe since last season's home-opening weekend, March 16-18, versus Niagara University.
PITCHING GLISTENS IN CINCY: EMU's pitching staff pitched lights-out in the sweep over Cincinnati, posting a 2.33 ERA over three games while earning a shutout in Sunday's finale. The Green and White gave up just seven earned runs and held opponents to a .255 batting average. Neil Butara (2-2) won his second straight game on the bump Friday, while Joe Battistelli (1-0) took the victory as a reliever in game two and Paul Schaak (1-0) won game three with a five-inning shutout performance.
YOUNGSTERS FINDING THEIR GROOVE: Newcomers Mitchell McGeein and Nick Rotola turned in their first-career multi-hit games in Friday's 10-4 drubbing of the Bearcats. McGeein had another two-hit outing Saturday and finished the weekend 5-for-12 (.417), while Rotola went 3-for-9 (.333).
OESTRIKE CLASSIC KICKS OFF HOME SLATE: EMU baseball will once again host the Oestrike Classic, March 15-17, to kick off an action-packed 22-game home slate. Butler and Northern Kentucky will also participate in this year's weekend-long tournament. The Eagles will take on the Norse at 1 p.m. Friday and the Bulldogs at 5 p.m. Saturday. On Sunday, EMU will face both squads at noon and 4 p.m.
In 2012, the Eagles went 12-6 at Oestrike Stadium and look to dominate once again in their home ballpark, where they have recorded a winning record in 35-of-41 years.
FIELD CONDITIONS A CONCERN AT MOREHEAD: Unplayable field conditions at Sonny Allen Field have already forced Morehead State to relocate its first seven home games this season. Most recently, MSU had to move its series against Murray State to Mason, Ohio, due to the soggy conditions. For Eastern Michigan, Tuesday will mark the fifth occasion on which a game has been postponed or canceled this season.
THE EAGLES VS... THE EAGLES: Eastern Michigan and Morehead State have faced off nine times prior to Wednesday's meeting, although the two squads have not met since March 9, 1997, when EMU posted a 10-8 victory to win the finale of a three-game series. Morehead State leads the all-time series, 6-3, since the teams first met in 1977.
MSU is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference and posted a record of 28-27 in 2012 along with a 13-14 mark in OVC play.
EAGLES THRASH TOOTHLESS BEARCATS: The Eaagles capped-off a three-game sweep of the University of Cincinnati, 3-0, in front of 1,140 fans at Marge Schott Stadium Sunday, March 10. Paul Schaak (1-0) and Ryan Lavoie combined to earn the Eagles (6-9) their first shutout of the season.
The Green and White swept a three-game set for the first time since April 6-8, 2012, against Western Michigan University. The three victories also marked the first sweep of a non-conference foe since last season's home-opening weekend, March 16-18, versus Niagara University.
PITCHING GLISTENS IN CINCY: EMU's pitching staff pitched lights-out in the sweep over Cincinnati, posting a 2.33 ERA over three games while earning a shutout in Sunday's finale. The Green and White gave up just seven earned runs and held opponents to a .255 batting average. Neil Butara (2-2) won his second straight game on the bump Friday, while Joe Battistelli (1-0) took the victory as a reliever in game two and Paul Schaak (1-0) won game three with a five-inning shutout performance.
YOUNGSTERS FINDING THEIR GROOVE: Newcomers Mitchell McGeein and Nick Rotola turned in their first-career multi-hit games in Friday's 10-4 drubbing of the Bearcats. McGeein had another two-hit outing Saturday and finished the weekend 5-for-12 (.417), while Rotola went 3-for-9 (.333).
OESTRIKE CLASSIC KICKS OFF HOME SLATE: EMU baseball will once again host the Oestrike Classic, March 15-17, to kick off an action-packed 22-game home slate. Butler and Northern Kentucky will also participate in this year's weekend-long tournament. The Eagles will take on the Norse at 1 p.m. Friday and the Bulldogs at 5 p.m. Saturday. On Sunday, EMU will face both squads at noon and 4 p.m.
In 2012, the Eagles went 12-6 at Oestrike Stadium and look to dominate once again in their home ballpark, where they have recorded a winning record in 35-of-41 years.
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