Eagles Travel To Columbus for Midweek Clash with Ohio State

Baseball vs Ohio State (20-30, 13-8 B1G)
Date	Tuesday, May 17
Location	Columbus, Ohio \| Bill Davis Stadium
Game Notes	EMU Notes
Live Stats	ohiostatebuckeyes.com
Live Audio	Eagle All-Access
Twitter	@EMU_Baseball

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University baseball team completes its 2016 non-conference schedule when it travels down to Columbus, Ohio for a midweek game against Ohio State University, Tuesday, May 17. First pitch from Bill Davis Stadium is set for 6:35 p.m.

    The action can be followed via live stats or live audio on EMU All-Access with Greg Steiner and Chad Bush on the call. Play by play is also available by following our Twitter account, @EMU_Baseball.

ALL-TIME SERIES VS OHIO STATE: Eastern and OSU have combined to meet 14 times on the diamond in their respective histories. The two teams first met in 1992, and the Buckeyes lead the all-time series 11-3. The two clubs last met in 2014, where OSU came away victorious 8-1. EMU last claimed victory in 2009 with a 9-5 win.

BATTLING THE BUCKEYES: OSU enters the week with a 35-16-1 overall record, as well as a stellar 22-4 mark at home. They are also in the top-five of the Big Ten with a 13-8 record. The team is coming off a weekend sweep of the University of Michigan.

    The Buckeye offense holds a .264 overall batting average and are outhitting opponents 462-443, while outscoring them 305-192. They are led by Nick Sergakis, who hits for a .362 mark with team-highs in hits (67) and RBI's (44).

    Defensively, OSU has a staff ERA of 3.03. They have racked up 410 strikeouts compared to just 134 walks. OSU is holding opponents to a .247 batting average, and five of their pitchers have ERA's below 3.00.

SENDING THE SENIORS OFF IN STYLE: In the final home game of 2016, redshirt junior Michael Mioduszewski sent the senior class off with a bang, clubbing a solo home run in the ninth for a walk-off win over NIU, 3-2. It was Mioduszewski's second home run of the game, marking the second time he has had two-home runs in a game this season. It was also the first walk-off home run for EMU since 2012.

DAZZLING ROOKIE: Freshman Tyler Butzin has been the brightest star of a talented class of newcomers for the Eagles this season. The 'true' freshman ranks ninth in the conference in ERA with a 3.09 mark, which is also the top ERA for any freshman starting pitcher in the MAC. He leads the team with 70.0 innings pitched, including nine starts, and also has a save to his credit this season. He struck out a career-best nine batters against Ball State, May 8.

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 leads the team with 11 home runs this season, putting him in a tie for fifth-place all-time with 30.

SENIORS STEPPING UP: In the final weeks of the season, a pair of seniors are stepping up to lead the team as their careers come to a close. First, Austin Wilson has started the last 17 games for EMU, collecting a hit in 16 of the 17. In that span he leads the team in batting average (.358) and hits (24), while stealing a team-high eight bases. He has also not committed an error in 50 putouts.

    Meanwhile, Tony DiLeo is currently on a seven game hitting streak, and is hitting .391 in that span. He has raised his average from .148 to .260.

RUN EAGLES RUN: EMU has been alert and impactful on the base paths this season, as the team currently ranks third in the country in steals (116). In addition, redshirt junior Marquise Gill is sixth in the nation with 33 steals on the season. The 116 steals this season are the sixth most in program history. The program record was set in 1981, and tied in 2004, with 147.

EAGLES DIG THE LONG BALL: EMU currently ranks 66th in the nation, and fourth in the MAC, in home runs with 40 as a team this season. Individually, senior Mitchell McGeein has hit a team-high 11 so far, which is sixth in the MAC and 60th in the country. The Eagles hit a season-high four home runs in the win over BGSU, March 27.

MOVING UP THE RECORD BOOK: A trio of Eagles are rewriting the record books in 2016 with their season and career performances. In addition to being on the career home runs list, senior Mitchell McGeein is on the career list for walks with 87 (T-13th), doubles with 37 (16th), RBI's with 108 (T-17th), and at-bats with 628 (17th). Junior closer Sam Delaplane is tied for fifth on the career saves list with 10 in his three years, as well as the all-time wins list, ranking T-23rd with 11. Redshirt junior Marquise Gill is second in single-season stolen bases with 33, with his career total of 43 ranking 15th all-time. Senior Austin Wilson is also on the all-time steals list, currently ranking 16th all-time with 39 swipes.

ROCKETS ON THE HORIZON: EMU completes its 2016 regular season schedule when it travels to Toledo for a three-game set against the Rockets. The first game of series is set to begin at 3 p.m., Thursday, May 19.

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Players Mentioned

Tyler Butzin

Sam Delaplane

Tony DiLeo

Marquise Gill

Mitchell McGeein

Mike Mioduszewski

Austin Wilson

Eastern Michigan Athletics