Baseball Treks Up to Mt. Pleasant for Weekend Series at CMU

Baseball at Central Michigan (19-23-1, 11-7 MAC)
Date	Friday-Sunday, May 4-6
Venue	Mt. Pleasant, Mich. \| Theunissen Stadium
Game Notes	EMU Notes
Live Stats	CMUChippewas.com (FRI) (SAT) (SUN)
Stream	CSN Digital Network ($)
Radio	Eagle All-Access
Twitter	@EMUBaseball

MT. PLEASANT, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University baseball team remains in the state of Michigan as they return to conference play at Central Michigan University, Friday-Sunday, May 4-6. The weekend in Mt. Pleasant begins with a 3:05 p.m. first pitch Friday, followed by a 2:05 p.m. start time on Saturday, and concluding with a 1:05 beginning 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 through the airwaves of Eagle All-Access with Chad Bush on the call. Links can be found on the schedule page of EMUEagles.com.

ALL-TIME VS. THE CHIPPEWAS: EMU and CMU have met 162 times in their histories, with EMU holding a decisive 93-69 advantage all-time. The two schools did not meet in the 2017 regular season, but did play twice in the MAC Tournament as EMU swept a doubleheader in the semifinals, 9-1 and 4-2, May 27. The two last played a weekend set back in 2016, a 2-1 series win for EMU at Oestrike Stadium. EMU's last trip north to Mt. Pleasant came in 2015, a sweep for the Chippewas, April 10-12. Eastern's last win at CMU came April 26, 2013.

GOING STREAKING!: Entering the weekend, freshman Nate Jones is on a 16-game hitting streak, the longest this season for the Eagles. The 16-game streak is the longest for an EMU player since Mike Mioduszewski had a 16-gamer last year. In addition, it's the longest hitting streak for an EMU true freshman in the modern statistical era (since 2000). Should Jones extend his streak this weekend, it would be the longest hitting streak for an EMU player since Brent Ohrman had 23 games in a row with a hit in 2012.
   Another freshman has an impressive streak going as well, as Scott Granzotto has not allowed a run over his last 14 innings pitched, totaling eight appearances. Over the streak, he has lowered his ERA from 7.27 to 2.78, good for second-best on EMU and first among relievers.

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 148 combined between eight players in both the field and on the mound.

PEEKING AT THE POST SEASON: With six of the nine weekend series of the Mid-American Conference season in the rear-view mirror, EMU currently sits in a tie for fifth place in the MAC with a 9-9 record. The standings are tight, however, as the Eagles only sit four games out of first place, as well as just four games out last place.
   EMU's final three conference series will come against the top two teams in the MAC, Kent State (13-5), and Central Michigan (11-7), as well as the current last place team, Northern Illinois (5-13). 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 42 games for the Eagles, 41 at shortstop, and leads EMU in batting average, hits, runs, RBIs, doubles, total bases, and steals. He is also second in slugging, OBP, and home runs. His steals are second in the MAC, while his hits and doubles are fourth, total bases are fifth, batting average seventh, runs eighth, and slugging tenth. He is also the second toughest player to strike out in the MAC.
   In the field, Schuemann has 123 assists, good for second in the MAC, while he has helped turn 21 double plays, placing him ninth 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 3.47 ERA in MAC-only games, which is third in the league. In addition, EMU starting pitchers Luke DeVenney and Justin McMurtrey have ERAs of 1.53 and 2.70, respectively, in their first six MAC starts, which ranks second and 12th in the league.

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 has found his way into the weekend rotation in 2018. He has been fantastic this season, leading the team in ERA (2.64), IPs (64.2), and strikeouts (46). His ERA ranks fifth in the conference, while his IPs are ninth. He has also not allowed more than three earned runs in any of his 11 starts.

OWINGS OWNING THE DISH: Sophomore Zachary Owings has been one of Eastern's top bats so far this season, as he is second on the team with a .331 batting average. He has two separate 10-game hitting streaks this year, and has also recorded a hit in 26-of-34 games played. He is also on a 19-game reached base streak.

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 19th in the nation and third in the MAC with 37 sacrifice bunts. In addition, sophomore Devin Hager is sixth 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 71 bags, good for 27th in the country and first in the MAC.

ON THE HORIZON: The Eagles have another five-game week on the horizon, beginning with a midweek game at Oakland University, Tuesday, May 8, and a home contest versus the University of Dayton, Wednesday, May 9. First pitch against the Golden Grizzlies is set for 3 p.m., while the contest at Oestrike Stadium against the Flyers will begin at 6 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

Luke DeVenney

Scott Granzotto

Devin Hager

Nate Jones

Justin McMurtrey

Zachary Owings

Max Schuemann

Eastern Michigan Athletics