Softball Wraps Up Non-Conference Play Against Oakland

Softball at Oakland
Date	Wednesday, May 3 \| 1 p.m.
Venue	Rochester, Mich. \| Oakland Softball Field
Game Notes	EMU Notes
Live Stream	ESPN3
Live Stats	GoldenGrizzlies.com
Twitter	@EMUSoftball \| @EMUAthletics

ROCHESTER, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University softball team finishes up a six-game road trip with a short jaunt to Rochester, Mich. for a midweek doubleheader against Oakland University, Wednesday, May 3. The twin bill between the Eagles and Golden Grizzlies is scheduled to begin with a 1 p.m. first pitch.
   Live stats will be available for the game between the Eagles and Golden Grizzlies, while the game will also be streamed on ESPN3. Additionally, fans can follow the action through Twitter by following @EMUSoftball.

HAPPY TO SEE APRIL COME TO AN END: Not many were happier to see the turning of the calendar from April to May than the Eagles. The Green and White played a total of 18 games in the month of April, posting just three wins in the 30-day span after a strong start to the season.

TALE OF THE TAPE: Eastern Michigan and Oakland have met just 24 times in their respective histories, with the Eagles leading the all-time tally by a 17-6-1 count.
   The Golden Grizzlies took the last meeting between the two squads, 6-5, April 12, 2016, in Ypsilanti. OU used a three-run first to take a 5-1 lead into the sixth inning, where EMU mounted a comeback. The Green and White plated three runs in the sixth on RBI knocks by Haley Hostetler, Myranda Barnes, and Olivia Logan to cut Oakland's lead to one, 5-4, into the final inning. OU tacked on a much needed insurance run in its final turn at bat, before Brandice Olmos' RBI single pulled EMU within a run. With the tying run on third and the winning run on second, a strikeout ended Eastern's rally, allowing Oakland to escape with a win.

WELCOME TO THE 100 CLUB, WAGNER!: With a double in her first at bat of the weekend, senior Taylor Wagner became the latest Eagle to join the 100 hit club.

KRIEGSHAUSER REACHES RARE AIR: It is no secret that senior Michelle Kriegshauser is one of the best offensive players to sport the Green and White. The New Lenox, Ill. native continued to solidify that legacy over the weekend, launching the 28th home run of her career for the 200th hit of her EMU tenure, becoming just the fifth player in Eastern Michigan history to accomplish the feat. She is the only player in EMU laurels to register 200 hits, 100 RBI's, and 100 runs over the course of their career.

GETTING TO KNOW THE GOLDEN GRIZZLIES: Oakland plays host to Eastern Michigan with hopes of improving upon its 20-19 overall record. The Golden Grizzlies are winners of their past three games, after sweeping Valparaiso in Horizon League action over the weekend.
   The OU offense hits at a .263 clip, with three players hitting .300-or-better. Jamie Squires paces the Golden Grizzlies with a team-best .343 batting average, including a team-high six home runs. As a team, Oakland has outhit opponents 271-262, while also outscoring the opposition 146-138.
   Oakland's strength this season has been in the circle, where the Golden Grizzlies boast a team ERA of 2.77, while striking out 177 compared to 50 walks as a staff. OU's ace is Erin Kownacki, who holds a 13-7 record with a 1.62 earned run average. Kownacki has tossed three shutouts, while striking out a team-high 85 over 129.2 innings of work.

OLD FACES IN NEW PLACES: When the Eagles take on the Golden Grizzlies, May 3, the Green and White will square off against a pair of former EMU Head Coaches in Connie Miner and Karen Baird.
   Miner, Oakland's Head Coach, led the Eagles from 1987-96 and is the all-time leader in wins with a 269-254-2 record over nine seasons. A 2016 E-Club Hall of Fame inductee, Miner led EMU to a pair of runner-up finishes in the MAC, while also coaching 18 All-MAC selections and 22 Academic All-MAC selections, in addition to coaching seven players that went on to be E-Club Hall of Famers.
   OU assistant coach, Baird, will return to Varsity Field for the first time since departing from EMU in 2013. Baird served as the head coach of the Eagles from 2003-2013 and led the Green and White to the program's first ever MAC Tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth in 2007.

TAKING ON THE MITTEN: The Eagles have squared off against schools hailing from the state of Michigan 406 times ahead of a midweek clash with the Golden Grizzlies. The Eagles have been most successful against Detroit, holding a 48-8 lead in the all-time series while clashing with Western Michigan most often. In 109 all-time meetings, the Broncos hold a 69-42-1 edge over the Eagles. EMU owns winning records against Grand Valley State (2-0) and Oakland (17-6-1), but trail in the all-time series with Michigan (8-56), Michigan State (14-30), and Central Michigan (31-72-1).

INSIDE WAGNER'S CAREER YEAR: Senior catcher Taylor Wagner is coming down the final stretch of the best season of her career. The Marshalltown, Iowa native has been an absolute terror this year, and currently leads the Eagles with a .362 batting average. Not only does Wagner lead the team in the category, but she's hitting more than 65 points higher than her previous season-best. Additionally, Wagner has cranked out a career-high 47 hits, while also posting career-bests in doubles (7), triples (1), and walks (9).

LOOKING TO PLAY SPOILER: With a 3-18 record in Mid-American Conference play, the Eagles have been mathematically eliminated from the MAC Tournament. EMU looks to shake up the seeding in its final league games, as the Green and White face MAC West-leading Central Michigan this weekend, May 5-6, to close out the 2017 season.

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Players Mentioned

Myranda Barnes

Haley Hostetler

Michelle Kriegshauser

Olivia Logan

Brandice Olmos

Taylor Wagner

Eastern Michigan Athletics