Baseball Heads to Kent State for Final MAC Road Series

Baseball at Kent State (32-13, 16-5 MAC)
Date	Friday-Sunday, May 11-13
Location	Kent, Ohio \| Schoonover Stadium
Game Notes	EMU Notes
Live Stats	Sidearm
Radio	Golden Flashes Radio
Twitter	@EMUBaseball

KENT, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University baseball team looks to remain in the top half of the Mid-American Conference standings as it travels to Ohio for a weekend series with MAC-leading Kent State University, Friday-Sunday, May 11-13. The threegame set begins with 4 p.m. start times on both Friday and Saturday, and concludes with a 1 p.m. first pitch on Sunday.
The action can be tracked live on Twitter by following @EMU_Baseball. Fans can also follow the game through live stats, as well as on Golden Flashes Radio.

ALL-TIME VS. THE GOLDEN FLASHES: The Eagles and Golden Flashes have met 112 times in their respective histories, with KSU holding the all-time advantage, 68-44. Last season, KSU swept the regular season series at Oestrike Stadium. In fact, EMU has not won a regular season game against Golden Flashes since 2015, a 4-3 win in Kent, March 28. EMU did pick up a win over Kent State in the 2016 MAC Tournament, a 10-5 triumph in the semifinals, May 28.

GETTING THE OFFENSE GOING: In the 11-8 win over Oakland this past Tuesday, May 8, EMU scored double-digit runs for just the fourth time this season, and the first time since an 11-5 win over Nicholls State, March 3. That game took 10 innings, however, and EMU had just five runs in the first nine frames. Eastern's last time putting up double-digit runs in nine innings was at Lynn University, a 17-13 defeat. The 13 runs is the most in a single game this season for EMU.

GOING STREAKING!: Entering the weekend, freshman Nate Jones is on a 21-game hitting streak, the longest this season for the Eagles. The streak is the longest for an EMU player since Brent Ohrman had a 23 game run in 2012. The next longest EMU streak came from E-Club Hall of Famer Brian Bixler in 2004, a 32-gamer. In addition, it's the longest hitting streak for an EMU true freshman in the modern statistical era (since 2000). Furthermore, Jones is one of just 22 players in the nation to record a 20-plus game hitting streak this season, and he is the only true freshman on that list. His 21-gamer is the eighth-longest active streak.

YOUTH MOVEMENT: Going into the season, EMU already knew it would have to rely on a bevy of young talent to play a lot of crucial innings, as they started the year with more newcomers (15) than returners (13). The freshmen have shown out as Eastern is in the top ten in the country in starts by freshmen (true and redshirt) with 166 combined between eight players in both the field and on the mound.

PEEKING AT THE POST SEASON: With just two weekends left in the Mid-American Conference regular season, EMU currently sits in fifth place in the MAC with an 11-10 record. The standings are tight, however, as the Eagles sit five games out of first place, but are only a game above the sixth place teams, as well as just five games out last place. EMU's final two conference series will come against the top team in the MAC, Kent State (16-5), as well as the current ninth place team, Northern Illinois (6-15). The top-six teams will qualify for the 2018 MAC Tournament held at Sprenger Stadium in Avon, Ohio, May 23-27.

MR. DO IT ALL: Junior Max Schuemann has been a five-tool threat for the Eagles this season, showing production in all aspects of the game. He has started all 47 games for the Eagles, 46 at shortstop, and leads EMU in hits, runs, doubles, total bases, and steals. He is also second in batting average, slugging, OBP, RBIs, and home runs. His steals are second in the MAC, while his hits and doubles are fourth, total bases are sixth, runs eighth, and batting average 11th. He is also the third-toughest player to strike out in the MAC. In the field, Schuemann has 147 assists, good for first in the MAC, while he has helped turn 26 double plays, placing him sixth in the conference.

EAGLES HEATING UP ON THE MOUND: Since entering conference play, EMU's pitching staff has been lights out against its competition. As a staff, EMU holds a 3.74 ERA in MAC-only games, which is second in the league. In addition, EMU starting pitcher Luke DeVenney has an ERA of 1.67 in his seven MAC starts, which ranks second in the conference.

DEVENNEY DOMINATING ON THE HILL: Despite being a senior, Luke DeVenney is in just his second season as a pitcher at EMU. After being a primary bullpen/midweek pitcher in 2017, DeVenney found his way into the weekend rotation in 2018. He has been fantastic this season, leading the team in ERA (2.61), IPs (72.1), strikeouts (46), and wins (6). His ERA ranks third in the conference, while his IPs are fourth. He has also not allowed more than three earned runs in any of his 12 starts.

OWINGS OWNING THE DISH: Sophomore Zachary Owings has been one of Eastern's top bats so far this season, as he leads the team with a .353 batting average, .441 on-base percentage, and a .533 slugging percentage. He has two separate 10-game hitting streaks this year, and has also recorded a hit in 31-of-39 games played. His batting average ranks third in the MAC, while his slugging is eighth. He has also reached base in 24-straight games, the longest streak for an Eagle this season.

FOR THE GREATER GOOD: When EMU gets runners on base, almost no other team is more unselfish when it comes to advancing them an extra base. Thus far this season, EMU is 22nd in the nation and fourth in the MAC with 39 sacrifice bunts. In addition, sophomore Devin Hager is seventh in the country with 12 sac bunts.

ZOOM ZOOM: In each of the last three seasons, EMU has finished in the top-60 nationally in stolen bases, including third in the NCAA in 2016 and 11th in 2015. This season, Eastern is near the top once again, as it has swiped 83 bags, good for 18th in the country and first in the MAC.

ON THE HORIZON: EMU has its final midweek game next Tuesday, May 15, when they host the Butler University Bulldogs. First pitch from Oestrike Stadium is set for 6 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

Luke DeVenney

Devin Hager

Nate Jones

Zachary Owings

Max Schuemann

Eastern Michigan Athletics