Softball Opens Seven-Game Road Trip Versus Michigan State

Softball at Michigan State
Date	Wednesday, April 27 \| 4 p.m.
Location	East Lansing, Mich. \| Spartan Stadium
Game Notes	EMU Notes
Live Stats	M SUSpartans.com
Live Audio	SpartanSportsNetwork.com
Live Stream	MSUSpartans.com (Subscription required)
Twitter	@EMUSoftball \| @EMUAthletics

EAST LANSING, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - A seven-game road trip begins Wednesday, April 27, when the Eastern Michigan University softball team tangles with in-state foe Michigan State University in East Lansing. The single game marks the final non-conference game on the slate for the Eagles and is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.
   The Eagles (18-26, 8-9 MAC) look to get back on track Wednesday after being swept by Mid-American Conference West Division leader, Northern Illinois University, April 22-23. Like EMU, Michigan State (22-25, 4-13 B1G) hopes to bounce back and snap a five-game losing skid. Most recently, the Spartans were swept on the road at the hands of Northwestern.
   Fans can follow both games via Twitter (@EMUSoftball), audio, and live stats while, a webstream is available through MSUSpartans.com for a small fee.

TALE OF THE TAPE: The Eagles and Spartans have squared off 42 times in the program's histories with Michigan State holding a 28-14 edge all-time. Eastern Michigan came away victorious in last season's showdown, topping MSU, 6-5, in nine innings. Locked at four entering the ninth, the Eagles plated two in the top half of the frame to take a 6-4 lead with MSU coming to the plate. The Spartans used a leadoff single to pull within one before Abbie Minsker entered in relief. Inheriting two on with two out, Minsker induced an game-ending fly out to secure the 6-5 win. Offensively, Michelle Kriegshauser and Taylor Wagner picked up multi-hit games in the win. Kriegshauser went 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored, while Wagner went 3-for-5 at the dish.

LAYING IT DOWN FOR THE TEAM: The Eagles have shown the ability to sacrifice themselves in conference play this season. In fact, the Eagles rank second in the conference in sacrifice bunts with 16. Olivia Logan has four sacrifice bunts to her credit while, Taylor Wagner and Abby Davidson have three each, making the Eagles the one of two teams in the conference with more than two ranked inside the top-10.

NOBODY DOES IT BETTER: The Eagles lead the conference in runners caught stealing thanks to the quick cannons of Aoife Duffy and Taylor Wagner behind the plate. The backstop duo has gunned down eight runners in conference play, one more than Western Michigan and Buffalo. Additionally, the Eagles have caught more runners attempting to steal than Miami (2), Central Michigan (2), and Northern Illinois (2) combined.

ROAD WARRIORS: The Eagles will close out the season away from home, with a seven-game road trip getting underway Wednesday, April 27. Looking to snap a three-game losing skid, EMU hopes to continue its success on the road. Eastern sits at 5-8 in true road games this season, including a 5-4 mark since March 18.

TAKING ON THE MITTEN: The Eagles have squared off against schools hailing from the state of Michigan 394 times in EMU's history. The Green and White have been most successful against Detroit, holding a 47-8 lead in the all-time series while clashing with Western Michigan most often. In 106 all-time meetings, the Broncos hold a 42-63-1 edge over the Eagles. EMU owns winning records against Grand Valley (2-0) and Oakland (17-6-1), but trail in the all-time series with Michigan (8-57), Michigan State (14-28), and Central Michigan (30-70-1).
   In her two seasons in charge of the Eagles, Head Coach Melissa Gentile has compiled a 5-16 record against in-state competition, highlighted by a win over Michigan State last year. This season's slate includes 12 games against teams that also call Michigan home - Michigan (L, 1-14), Michigan State, Detroit (L, 4-5 & W, 4-3), Central Michigan, Oakland (L, 5-6), and Western Michigan.

OFFENSE CONTINUES TO IMPROVE: Under the tutelage of head coach Melissa Gentile, the Eagles have seen their offensive numbers improve in each of her three season's at the helm. This season, the Eagles are hitting at a .280 clip, the best since 2011. Additionally, EMU has registered 10 or more hits on 13 occasions, also the most since 2011. That season, Eastern Michigan recorded double-digit hits 15 times.

SCOUTING SPARTY: Michigan State opens a four-game home stand Wednesday, April 27, when it plays host to the Eagles. With home field advantage, the Spartans look to snap a five-game losing skid and improve upon their 22-25 overall record.
   Hitting has been a bright spot for MSU this season, as the Spartans hit at a .293 clip as a squad. Additionally, four players are hitting above .350 at the plate. Sarah Gutknecht holds a team-best .369 batting average, followed closely by Lea Foerester (.368) and Caleleste Wood (.365). Foerester leads the team in hits (56), doubles (11), and total bases (88), while Wood has driven in a team-high 37 to go along with a club-leading six homers.
   In the circle, MSU owns a team earned run average of 4.41 with 261 strikeouts to 150 walks. Kristina Zalewski is the squad's ace, holding a 10-14 record and a 3.73 ERA. In 167.0 innings, Zalewski has surrendered 114 runs on 192 hits with only 89 runs being earned. Zalewski has also fanned a team-best 178 this season while issuing just 65 walks as opponents hit .281 against her. Despite Zalewski's talent in the circle, control has been a struggle as she has totaled 12 wild pitches and 18 plunked batters. As a staff, MSU has recorded 21 wild pitches and 40 hit batters, while the defense has committed 64 errors.

USING HER WHEELS TO RACK UP THE STEALS: With a stolen base against Northern Illinois, April 23, Elaine Whitbeck recorded her team-leading 10th theft of the season, marking the first time in her career she has reached double digits in steals.

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Players Mentioned

Abby Davidson

Aoife Duffy

Michelle Kriegshauser

Olivia Logan

Abbie Minsker

Taylor Wagner

Elaine Whitbeck

Eastern Michigan Athletics