Eagles Take on Bisons in Weekend Set in Nashville

Baseball at Lipscomb (10-7)
Date	Friday, March 17- Sunday, March 20
Location	Nashville, Tenn \| Ken Dugan Field
Game Notes	EMU Notes
Live Stats	lipscombsports.com
Live Stream	N/A
Twitter	@EMU_Baseball

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University baseball team makes its last non-conference weekend trip when it heads south to Tennessee for a three-game set versus Lipscomb University, March 18-20. The series at Ken Dugan Field starts with a night game at 6 p.m. CT on Friday. This is followed by back-to-back afternoon contests, beginning with a 2 p.m. CT game on Saturday, and the final leg of the series at 1 p.m. CT on Sunday.

    The games can be followed via live stats throughout the weekend. The links can be found on the EMUEagles.com baseball schedule page.

ALL-TIME SERIES: This will be the first time the two teams have met on the diamond in their respective histories. The Bisons reside in the Atlantic-Sun conference, which EMU is 2-1 all-time against. They are 1-1 versus Stetson University and are 1-0 against NJIT after defeating them earlier this season.

BREAKING DOWN THE BISONS: Lipscomb enters the weekend with a 10-7 record on the season. The Bisons are a staggering 10-1 at Dugan Field, while going 0-6 away from home. They have played a pair of MAC teams this season, defeating Miami 13-6 and Western Michigan 1-0.

    Offensively LU hits at a .284 clip and are outscoring opponents 114-98. However they are being out-hit 155-151. They are led by three starters who are all hitting above .320 on the season.

    Defensively the Bison staff holds a 4.93 team ERA while holding opponents to a .271 average. The team has a 155 strikeouts to just 60 walks.

RUN EAGLES RUN: EMU has been alert and impactful on the basepaths early in the season. They currently rank third in the country in steals (41). In addition, redshirt junior Marquise Gill is second in the nation in steals with 14 on the season, while three Eagles are in the top-five in the conference.

TAKING ONE FOR THE TEAM: Eastern has been able to get on base any way possible this season, especially by hit-by-pitch. EMU is 43rd in the nation, second in the MAC, being plunked 21 times. EMU was nailed a program record seven times against Arizona State, March 6. In addition, Jackson Martin got beamed three times in that game, tying the most in a single game since 1999.

GOING YARD AGAINST THE FLYERS: In the 7-6 victory over Dayton, March 16, EMU went deep for three home runs for the first time since hitting three versus Central Michigan, April 10 last season. In addition, Michael Mioduszewski hit two long balls in the game, the first time a player did that since Mitchell McGeein did so against Santa Clara last season, March 1.

WORKHORSE OUT OF THE PEN: Senior lefty Michael Marsinek has been the go-to guy in relief so far this season for the Eagles. The veteran leads EMU in appearances (7), and has the most innings pitched of any pitcher without a start this season (10.1). Against Dayton, March 16, Marsinek struck out a career-high five batters in three innings without allowing an earned run.

PUTTING ON THE HITS: Despite the team being out-scored this season 107-79, the Eagles are only being out-hit by two, 144-142. They have also hit more doubles than opponents, going for 30 two-baggers compared to 29 for the opposition.

TRACKING THE TATERS: Senior Mitchell McGeein entered his final season with 19 career homers, good for 20th on the all-time EMU list. He currently has one homerun this season, putting him in a tie for 18th place all-time.

NEW LOOK ROTATION: The biggest question mark for EMU headed into the season is who will lock down the weekend starting rotation slots. After graduating all three members of that rotation last season, EMU will use a mix of veterans and rookies to fill the void. After the first 16 games, two spots look to be locked down, with freshman righty Davis Feldman and senior Augie Gallardo occupying two spots. They have combined to make eight starts for the Eagles this season.

PITCHING IN A PINCH: Senior Austin Wilson, the usual starting centerfielder, has undertaken a new role for the Eagles in 2016. After pitching some in relief in 2015, Wilson has made two starts and three relief appearances for EMU this season. In 14 innings pitched, the righty has struck out 12 while putting up an ERA of 4.50.

RUBY ANNIVERSARY: The 2016 season sees a milestone anniversary for Eagle baseball, as it has been 40 years since the 1976 EMU squad finished the season as College World Series runners-up. The 2016 team will honor that team throughout the season by periodically wearing replica jerseys inspired by the ones they wore in '76. This includes the return of the "Scrpit E" to the uniform and official team gear throughout the season.

FALCONS ON THE HORIZON: Eastern Michigan opens the 2016 Mid-American Conference schedule next weekend in the 2016 home opener against the Bowling Green State University Falcons, March 25-27. The first game from Oestrike Stadium is set for 6 p.m., Friday March 25.

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Players Mentioned

Davis Feldman

Augie Gallardo

Marquise Gill

Michael Marsinek

Jackson Martin

Mitchell McGeein

Mike Mioduszewski

Austin Wilson

Eastern Michigan Athletics