Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, March 15
Highland Heights, KY
3:30 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
at
Northern Kentucky
EMU Baseball Hosts Oestrike Classic, March 15-17
3/13/2013 11:05:00 AM | Baseball
Eagles open 2013 home slate with games against Northern Kentucky and Butler
Complete Release (.pdf)
Live Stats for All Games
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team will host the third-annual 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 (6-9) will take on the Norse at 5 p.m. Friday and the Bulldogs at 1 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.
OESTRIKE STADIUM'S BRAND NEW LOOK: Now in its 42nd year of existence, Oestrike Stadium has received several critical upgrades including an all-new brick facade around the stadium, a new fence surrounding the outfield and a completely remodeled locker room with brand new locker stations for each player. In addition, former EMU baseball standout and current manager of the New York Mets, Terry Collins, has donated money for a new scoreboard to grace left-center field.
Since the stadium opened in 1971, EMU has tallied just six losing seasons, while compiling a staggering 485 victories (485-327-2) for a .597 winning percentage. The Eagles recorded 19 wins at Oestrike Stadium in 2006 –the most wins at home by EMU in school history.
OESTRIKE CLASSIC HISTORY: The Oestrike Classic originated in 2011, when the Eagles went 2-1 with victories against Alma and Oakland and a loss against Michigan. Last season, the Eagles emphatically swept a three-game set from Niagara, outscoring the Purple Eagles, 46-16, over those games.
THIS WEEKEND'S COMPETITION: Eastern Michigan will host Butler University and Northern Kentucky University in this weekend's Oestrike Classic. The Bulldogs are a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference and hold a 5-7 record. Butler is scheduled to play a pair of midweek games against Arizona before making the trip up to Ypsilanti.
The Norse, a team out of the Atlantic Sun Conference, have struggled out of the gate this season, posting a record of 2-12. NKU heads to Tennessee Tech for two midweek contests prior to traveling to the Oestrike Classic.
Interestingly, the Eagles have never played either opponent at this weekend's tournament.
MIDWEEK SERIES AT MOREHEAD STATE WASHED OUT: Rainy conditions and an unsuitable playing surface at Sonny Allen Field forced the cancelation of EMU's two-game midweek series with Morehead State University, March 12-13. No makeup dates have been announced. Morehead State had already been forced to relocate its first seven home games this season due to the same problems with its field.
HOME OPENER RECENT HISTORY: Since 2006, the Eagles are 4-3 in the first game of the season at Oestrike Stadium. Last season, the Green and White won a wild 19-10 slugfest over Niagara, March 16, to open the 2012 home slate. The Eagles finished the year with a 12-6 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 doubleheader against Miami, March 29.
SONABEND NAMED TO JOHNNY BENCH WATCH LIST: Junior catcher Adam Sonabend is one of 48 catchers named to the 2013 Johnny Bench Award Watch List as announced by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission Monday, March 11.
Sonabend has started all 15 games, including 13 from behind the plate, while amassing a team-high .364 batting average and 10 RBI to go along with a .444 on-base percentage, one home run and a pair of stolen bases. Defensively, the junior backstop carries a .981 fielding percentage and has gunned down seven potential base stealers.
EAGLES THRASH TOOTHLESS BEARCATS: The Eagles 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
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).
THE POWER OF NINE: Nine EMU players have posted at least one two-hit game this season and nine have notched a multiple RBI game at least once. Sam Ott, who also had a nine game hitting streak earlier this year, has the most multi-hit games (eight) and multi-RBI games (three) of any EMU player this year, while Lee Longo and Adam Sonabend have five games of two hits-or-more apiece.
Live Stats for All Games
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team will host the third-annual 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 (6-9) will take on the Norse at 5 p.m. Friday and the Bulldogs at 1 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.
OESTRIKE STADIUM'S BRAND NEW LOOK: Now in its 42nd year of existence, Oestrike Stadium has received several critical upgrades including an all-new brick facade around the stadium, a new fence surrounding the outfield and a completely remodeled locker room with brand new locker stations for each player. In addition, former EMU baseball standout and current manager of the New York Mets, Terry Collins, has donated money for a new scoreboard to grace left-center field.
Since the stadium opened in 1971, EMU has tallied just six losing seasons, while compiling a staggering 485 victories (485-327-2) for a .597 winning percentage. The Eagles recorded 19 wins at Oestrike Stadium in 2006 –the most wins at home by EMU in school history.
OESTRIKE CLASSIC HISTORY: The Oestrike Classic originated in 2011, when the Eagles went 2-1 with victories against Alma and Oakland and a loss against Michigan. Last season, the Eagles emphatically swept a three-game set from Niagara, outscoring the Purple Eagles, 46-16, over those games.
THIS WEEKEND'S COMPETITION: Eastern Michigan will host Butler University and Northern Kentucky University in this weekend's Oestrike Classic. The Bulldogs are a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference and hold a 5-7 record. Butler is scheduled to play a pair of midweek games against Arizona before making the trip up to Ypsilanti.
The Norse, a team out of the Atlantic Sun Conference, have struggled out of the gate this season, posting a record of 2-12. NKU heads to Tennessee Tech for two midweek contests prior to traveling to the Oestrike Classic.
Interestingly, the Eagles have never played either opponent at this weekend's tournament.
MIDWEEK SERIES AT MOREHEAD STATE WASHED OUT: Rainy conditions and an unsuitable playing surface at Sonny Allen Field forced the cancelation of EMU's two-game midweek series with Morehead State University, March 12-13. No makeup dates have been announced. Morehead State had already been forced to relocate its first seven home games this season due to the same problems with its field.
HOME OPENER RECENT HISTORY: Since 2006, the Eagles are 4-3 in the first game of the season at Oestrike Stadium. Last season, the Green and White won a wild 19-10 slugfest over Niagara, March 16, to open the 2012 home slate. The Eagles finished the year with a 12-6 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 doubleheader against Miami, March 29.
SONABEND NAMED TO JOHNNY BENCH WATCH LIST: Junior catcher Adam Sonabend is one of 48 catchers named to the 2013 Johnny Bench Award Watch List as announced by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission Monday, March 11.
Sonabend has started all 15 games, including 13 from behind the plate, while amassing a team-high .364 batting average and 10 RBI to go along with a .444 on-base percentage, one home run and a pair of stolen bases. Defensively, the junior backstop carries a .981 fielding percentage and has gunned down seven potential base stealers.
EAGLES THRASH TOOTHLESS BEARCATS: The Eagles 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
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).
THE POWER OF NINE: Nine EMU players have posted at least one two-hit game this season and nine have notched a multiple RBI game at least once. Sam Ott, who also had a nine game hitting streak earlier this year, has the most multi-hit games (eight) and multi-RBI games (three) of any EMU player this year, while Lee Longo and Adam Sonabend have five games of two hits-or-more apiece.
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