Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, February 15
Hoover, Ala
2 p.m. CT
Eastern Michigan University
vs
NJIT
Baseball Opens 2019 Campaign with Four-Game Set Versus NJIT
2/13/2019 2:55:00 PM | Baseball
The Eagles kickoff the season Friday, Feb. 15, at 4 p.m.
| Baseball vs. NJIT | |
| Date | Friday-Sunday, Feb. 15-17 |
| Venue | Hoover, Ala. | Hoover Metropolitan Complex |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes |
| Live Stats | Fan Stats | Media Stats. |
| Watch | N/A |
| Listen | N/A |
| @EMU_Baseball | @EMUAthletics | |
HOOVER, Ala. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University baseball team opens its 2019 campaign in "The Heart of Dixie," when it travels to Hoover, Ala. to play a four-game series against the New Jersey Institute of Technology Friday-Sunday, Feb. 15-17, at the Hoover Metropolitan Complex. The season will commence at 2 p.m. Friday, with doubleheader action following suit on Saturday, Feb. 16. Game four will see the Eagles and Highlanders battle in a morning matinee when the first pitch is thrown at 9:30 a.m. For those that cannot make the trip to the Greater Birmingham region, the action can be followed on live stats or on Twitter by following @EMU_Baseball.
EMU IN SEASON OPENERS: Eastern Michigan is entering its 71st season as a varsity program, with its start dating back to 1949. In its 70 previous seasons, Eastern is 34-36 in season openers. The Eagles have won two out of their last three opening games, defeating Nebraska-Omaha in 2016, Missouri in 2017, and falling just short of Florida Gulf Coast in last year's opener.
ALL-TIME VS. NJIT: Although a one game clash is all that history has to offer between EMU and NJIT, it is history that bodes well for the Eastern. In 2016, the Eagles crossed the plate eight times in an early season game, on its way to an 8-0 rout of the Highlander's on Feb 20, 2016, in a neutral site game in Emerson, GA.
ALL-TIME VS. THE A-SUN: Eastern Michigan is 4-9 all-time against the Atlantic Sun Conference. While the record is below .500, it should be noted that four of the nine losses came in the 2018 season, at the hands of Florida Gulf Coast University. That series aside, the Eagles have fared well against teams for the Atlantic Sun Conference.
RACKING UP THE FLYER MILES: As with most northern based teams, EMU is tasked with the challenging of playing its early season games in warmer climates before it can play games at home. The Eagles will play its first 16 games away from Ypsilanti this season. At its longest, the Eagles will play nearly 1,500 miles from the comfort of home, as it travels to Corpus Christi, Texas for a series with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
CAMELLIA CONNECTION: The EMU baseball team will open its season in the same state where the football team ended its: Alabama. The EMU football Eagles finished their season in the 2018 Raycom Media Camellia Bowl, Dec. 15, in Montgomery. The baseball team will play just 80 miles north of Montgomery when it travels to Hoover, a popular suburb of Alabama's largest city- Birmingham.
OH NO OWINGS: Opposing teams will be saying "Oh no," when they see Zachary Owings in the lineup for the Eagles this season. Last season, Owings compiled a team leading batting average (.350) and slugging percentage (.530), while slapping multiple hits in 18 contests for the Green and White. Owings, a proven infielder, earned All-MAC defensive honors in 2018. Most notably, Owings was named a First Team All-MAC selection in 2018. In 2019, Owings will become the first Eagle since Lee Longo (2014) to return to the diamond for EMU the season after being named First Team-All MAC.
RAISE THE ROOF: This offseason, four year assistant coach, and one year interim head coach Eric Roof, saw that tag removed, as he officially took over as the head coach of the EMU baseball program. In his initial season as the EMU front man, Roof helped the Eagles capture 22 victories, and led his team to a 14-13 mark in the Mid-American Conference. Overall, he helped the squad reach its third straight MAC tournament. This season, the Eagles look to build on the foundation that has been set and aim to capture a Mid-American Conference crown.
BROTHERLY LOVE: Head coach Eric Roof is not the only member of the EMU coaching staff who holds that last name, nor is he the only member of the coaching staff who hails from Paducah, Ky. On July 2, 2018, Jonathan Roof, younger brother of head coach Eric Roof, was named and assistant coach for the Eastern Michigan baseball program. Roof joins the Eagles after spending the 2018 season as the volunteer assistant coach for the Missouri Tigers. The architect behind a top 10 defensive team at Mizzou, Roof brings six years of professional playing experience that is sure to make an impact on the Eagles' hitting and defensive efforts.
NEW YEAR NEW FACES: With every year, a crop of new talent arrives in Ypsilanti. This season, the Eagles will welcome a total of nine new players to campus, adding a slew of talent to an already promising roster. The incoming players are a well-rounded, balanced, group that will look to make an impact on the program moving forward. In all, the Eagles have added six new right handed pitcher's, one infielder, one outfielder, and a catcher. In terms of experience, "balanced," is a term that fits the group. With seven freshmen, one sophomore, and one junior, new talent will add a exceptional mix of young energy and experienced professionalism to the roster this spring. In all, 34 players will don the "Script E," in 2019, hoping to play however, as one.
LOOKING BACK: 2018 SEASON: Last season was one which tested the resolve of the Eagles. Just one year after falling just short in the Mid-American Conference Championship game, EMU found themselves with a new head coach, and a plethora of young talent learning to play at a new level. In all, EMU finished with 22 wins, and a 14-13 conference mark. The Eagles look to build on their conference success this year, and look to advance to the Mid-American Conference tournament for the third straight year.
THE SEASON AHEAD: 2019 OVERVIEW: The Eagles will play a full 56-game slate in 2019, including 19 contests at Oestrike Stadium. While not in the Mitten, the Eagles will do their fair share of sight-seeing, as they will travel to six different states for games. Alabama, Texas, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois will all host the Eagles in 2019.
COMING UP: TEXAS TAKEOVER: EMU heads to Texas for a weekend series, in which it will take on two different opponents. The Eagles will play Notre Dame and Incarnate Word in an alternating four game series, as part of the Alamo Irish Classic. Hosted by Notre Dame, the tournament will see EMU play a doubleheader, Feb. 21, with games against both ND and Incarnate Word. On Friday, Feb. 22, the Eagles will battle the Fighting Irish, before enjoying an off-day Saturday. Sunday, Feb. 24, will see EMU finish the weekend with a mid-day game against Incarnate Word. The four game weekend series is part of a seven game stretch the Eagles will play in the state of Texas, with games against Abilene Christian and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi coming in the following week. EMU will return to Texas once more during the season, as it will play at Texas Christian University, March 15-17, in a three game weekend series.
EMU IN SEASON OPENERS: Eastern Michigan is entering its 71st season as a varsity program, with its start dating back to 1949. In its 70 previous seasons, Eastern is 34-36 in season openers. The Eagles have won two out of their last three opening games, defeating Nebraska-Omaha in 2016, Missouri in 2017, and falling just short of Florida Gulf Coast in last year's opener.
ALL-TIME VS. NJIT: Although a one game clash is all that history has to offer between EMU and NJIT, it is history that bodes well for the Eastern. In 2016, the Eagles crossed the plate eight times in an early season game, on its way to an 8-0 rout of the Highlander's on Feb 20, 2016, in a neutral site game in Emerson, GA.
ALL-TIME VS. THE A-SUN: Eastern Michigan is 4-9 all-time against the Atlantic Sun Conference. While the record is below .500, it should be noted that four of the nine losses came in the 2018 season, at the hands of Florida Gulf Coast University. That series aside, the Eagles have fared well against teams for the Atlantic Sun Conference.
RACKING UP THE FLYER MILES: As with most northern based teams, EMU is tasked with the challenging of playing its early season games in warmer climates before it can play games at home. The Eagles will play its first 16 games away from Ypsilanti this season. At its longest, the Eagles will play nearly 1,500 miles from the comfort of home, as it travels to Corpus Christi, Texas for a series with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
CAMELLIA CONNECTION: The EMU baseball team will open its season in the same state where the football team ended its: Alabama. The EMU football Eagles finished their season in the 2018 Raycom Media Camellia Bowl, Dec. 15, in Montgomery. The baseball team will play just 80 miles north of Montgomery when it travels to Hoover, a popular suburb of Alabama's largest city- Birmingham.
OH NO OWINGS: Opposing teams will be saying "Oh no," when they see Zachary Owings in the lineup for the Eagles this season. Last season, Owings compiled a team leading batting average (.350) and slugging percentage (.530), while slapping multiple hits in 18 contests for the Green and White. Owings, a proven infielder, earned All-MAC defensive honors in 2018. Most notably, Owings was named a First Team All-MAC selection in 2018. In 2019, Owings will become the first Eagle since Lee Longo (2014) to return to the diamond for EMU the season after being named First Team-All MAC.
RAISE THE ROOF: This offseason, four year assistant coach, and one year interim head coach Eric Roof, saw that tag removed, as he officially took over as the head coach of the EMU baseball program. In his initial season as the EMU front man, Roof helped the Eagles capture 22 victories, and led his team to a 14-13 mark in the Mid-American Conference. Overall, he helped the squad reach its third straight MAC tournament. This season, the Eagles look to build on the foundation that has been set and aim to capture a Mid-American Conference crown.
BROTHERLY LOVE: Head coach Eric Roof is not the only member of the EMU coaching staff who holds that last name, nor is he the only member of the coaching staff who hails from Paducah, Ky. On July 2, 2018, Jonathan Roof, younger brother of head coach Eric Roof, was named and assistant coach for the Eastern Michigan baseball program. Roof joins the Eagles after spending the 2018 season as the volunteer assistant coach for the Missouri Tigers. The architect behind a top 10 defensive team at Mizzou, Roof brings six years of professional playing experience that is sure to make an impact on the Eagles' hitting and defensive efforts.
NEW YEAR NEW FACES: With every year, a crop of new talent arrives in Ypsilanti. This season, the Eagles will welcome a total of nine new players to campus, adding a slew of talent to an already promising roster. The incoming players are a well-rounded, balanced, group that will look to make an impact on the program moving forward. In all, the Eagles have added six new right handed pitcher's, one infielder, one outfielder, and a catcher. In terms of experience, "balanced," is a term that fits the group. With seven freshmen, one sophomore, and one junior, new talent will add a exceptional mix of young energy and experienced professionalism to the roster this spring. In all, 34 players will don the "Script E," in 2019, hoping to play however, as one.
LOOKING BACK: 2018 SEASON: Last season was one which tested the resolve of the Eagles. Just one year after falling just short in the Mid-American Conference Championship game, EMU found themselves with a new head coach, and a plethora of young talent learning to play at a new level. In all, EMU finished with 22 wins, and a 14-13 conference mark. The Eagles look to build on their conference success this year, and look to advance to the Mid-American Conference tournament for the third straight year.
THE SEASON AHEAD: 2019 OVERVIEW: The Eagles will play a full 56-game slate in 2019, including 19 contests at Oestrike Stadium. While not in the Mitten, the Eagles will do their fair share of sight-seeing, as they will travel to six different states for games. Alabama, Texas, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois will all host the Eagles in 2019.
COMING UP: TEXAS TAKEOVER: EMU heads to Texas for a weekend series, in which it will take on two different opponents. The Eagles will play Notre Dame and Incarnate Word in an alternating four game series, as part of the Alamo Irish Classic. Hosted by Notre Dame, the tournament will see EMU play a doubleheader, Feb. 21, with games against both ND and Incarnate Word. On Friday, Feb. 22, the Eagles will battle the Fighting Irish, before enjoying an off-day Saturday. Sunday, Feb. 24, will see EMU finish the weekend with a mid-day game against Incarnate Word. The four game weekend series is part of a seven game stretch the Eagles will play in the state of Texas, with games against Abilene Christian and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi coming in the following week. EMU will return to Texas once more during the season, as it will play at Texas Christian University, March 15-17, in a three game weekend series.
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IF
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