Softball Hosts Ohio For Home Opener

Softball vs. Ohio
Date	Friday-Saturday, March 30-31
Venue	Ypsilanti, Mich. \| Varsity Field
Game Notes	EMU Notes
Live Stats	EMUEagles.com
Twitter	@EMUSoftball \| @EMUAthletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - Returning back to Mid-American Conference play, the Eastern Michigan University softball team opens the home portion of the slate when it hosts Ohio University this weekend, Friday-Saturday, March 30-31. Action at Varsity Field begins with a Friday afternoon bout at 3 p.m., before the series concludes with a Saturday doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
   Live stats will be available for EMU's games against Ohio, and can be found on EMUEagles.com. Additionally, fans can follow the action through Twitter by following @EMUSoftball.

TALE OF THE TAPE: Eastern Michigan holds the 50-34 all-time advantage over the Bobcats of Ohio University, but it is Ohio who has had the upper hand as of late, winning six of the last eight games. The two squads have not met since the 2015 season when the Bobcats swept the Eagles in Athens, Ohio, April 4-5. In the first game, Ohio overpowered Eastern 12-2 in five innings, before upending EMU 7-2 in the final game.
   The Eagles last beat the Bobcats in the 2013 season in Athens when the two teams split the weekend series, May 3. After EMU fell 6-5, the Eagles won the nightcap with a dominating, 6-1, victory.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME: Like most northern-based programs, Eastern Michigan was forced to head towards warmer weather for the early portion of the season, resulting in a 26-game road swing to begin the 2018 campaign. This weekend's meeting marks the first time the Eagles will play at Varsity Field this season. Since the 1998 season, the Green and White have compiled a 130-147-2 record on its home field.

EMU VERSUS THE MAC: Since joining the Mid-American Conference in 1982, the Eagles have compiled a 394-512-2 all-time record against MAC opponents. The Green and White has been the most successful against Ohio, Miami, Toledo, and Buffalo. EMU currently leads the series with the Rockets (57-52) and the Bulls (13-11), while holding a 50-34 and 44-39 edge against Ohio and Miami, respectively. Meanwhile, Eastern trails in the all-time series with Akron (21-32), Ball State (36-61), Bowling Green (39-57), Kent State (33-51), Northern Illinois (25-41), and Western Michigan (42-69-1).

HEY, HAVEN'T SEEN YA IN A WHILE: This weekend's meeting between the Eagles and the Bobcats is the first time the two squads have seen each other in nearly three years. Seniors Brandice Olmos, Trisha Trujillo, Angel Schilke, and Haley Hostetler, are the only Eagles on the current roster to have faced Ohio, as they were just freshmen when EMU took on Ohio in Athens, Ohio, April 4-5, 2015.

ERRORS ADD UP: Through 26 games, Eastern Michigan has committed a total of 53 errors. The errors have given EMU fits, as the opposition has scored 51 runs off of the defensive miscues. Against Notre Dame, March 27, the Eagles' two errors allowed the Fighting Irish to score all six of their runs, as EMU fell 6-1 at Melissa Cook Stadium.

THOSE JUNIORS THOUGH: Juniors Amanda Akles and Olivia Logan have had their share of weight at the dish for the Green and White. The pair paces Eastern Michigan in several offensive categories: batting average, hits, doubles, RBIs, total bases, and slugging percentage. Akles leads in every category while Logan follows close behind for the second-most. Furthermore, they are both the only two Eagles who have earned the starting nod in all 26 games at the hot corners.

THE LONE EAGLE: Amanda Akles has positioned herself near the top in several categories in the Mid-American Conference standings. The La Habra, Calif. native is the only Eagle represented in the top-15 in the MAC for batting average (.361 - 12th), slugging percentage (.554 - 12th), doubles (10 - 1st), and total bases (46 - 12th).

THE 100 CLUB: Junior Olivia Logan is eying membership into the 100-hit club. Logan, who has produced 21 hits so far this season, is just seven away from cracking the 100-career hit milestone. If the junior surpasses the mark, she will become the fourth Eagle to do so this season, joining Amanda Akles, Brandice Olmos, and Haley Hostetler.

SOMETHING ABOUT CONFERENCE PLAY: Lauren Holdsworth entered Mid-American Conference play with a batting average hovering at .189. After just one series of league play, Holdsworth is now hitting .400 at the plate with a pair of hits, one homer, and two RBIs. The Howell, Mich. native is one of three Eagles to hit a home run this season.

ON DECK: The Eagles open a three-game roadtrip when they travel to the Glass City to take on MAC-foe Toledo, Tuesday, April 3. The midweek doubleheader is slated for 1 p.m. at Scott Park Softball Complex.

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Players Mentioned

Amanda Akles

Lauren Holdsworth

Haley Hostetler

Olivia Logan

Brandice Olmos

Angel Schilke

Trisha Trujillo

Eastern Michigan Athletics