Baseball set for Midweek Game at Michigan

May 8 at Ray Fisher Stadium
Date	Wednesday, May 8
Venue	Ann Arbor, Mich. \| Ray Fisher Stadium
Preview Info	EMU Notes
Live Stats	Live Stats
Watch	N/A
Listen	EMU All Access
Twitter	@EMU_Baseball \| @EMUAthletics

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University baseball team is set to play a non-conference midweek game against the University of Michigan Wednesday, May 8, at Ray Fisher Stadium. First pitch in the Washtenaw County rivalry is slated for 6 p.m.
Make sure to follow the games via Twitter and live stats, at @EMU_Baseball, and EMUEagles.com. Radio coverage for individual games can be found in the official game notes and in the links provided above.

SPARKING THE STAFF: Senior Mitchell Sparks was outstanding for Eastern Michigan in two games against Western Michigan, May 3-5. Providing relief in both appearances, the veteran hurler tossed 4.2 innings of near-perfect baseball, allowing no runs and just one hit in his efforts. During the week, opponents hit just .067 against the southpaw as he compiled a WHIP of 0.238 and a 0.00 ERA. Dominant in his efforts, Sparks commanded the zone, striking out two while walking none en route to his one-hit week.

DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE JONES?: Junior captain Nick Jones led the Eastern Michigan offense in its four games against Youngstown State, May 1, and Western Michigan, May 3-5. Hitting in all four contests, Jones racked up six hits in 16 at-bats, good for a .375 batting average, and had multiple hits in two games. On top of his six hits, Jones tallied seven total bases, tied for the team lead on the week. Along with a .438 slugging percentage and .412 on-base percentage, Jones drove in two runs for the Eagles. A tremendously disciplined hitter, Jones tallied just two strikeouts on the week, and added one drawn walk. In his last 10 games, Jones is hitting .325 with 13 total hits, two extra-base hits, and four RBIs.

TOUCHING MOMENT: Redshirt sophomore Jeff Timko provided fireworks Sunday, May 5, when he smacked a solo shot in the top half of the fifth inning against Western Michigan. The knock, Timko's team-leading fifth home run of the season, cleared the 310 foot left field wall and gave Eastern its first run of the game. In addition to its in-game importance, the hit served as a memorable one for Timko, as it came with his father, former Western Michigan baseball standout John Timko, in the stands.

CRUZIN-AROUND THE BASES: Although the Eagles fell in the contest, Eastern's senior outfielder Cameron Cruz provided the hit of the game on Saturday, May 4, at Western Michigan. A line shot to left, Cruz knocked his first home run of the season, and the second of his EMU career. The home run was Cruz's 12th extra-base hit of the 2019 season.

JUST DOWN THE ROAD: With just 5.9 miles separating Eastern's Oestrike Stadium and Michigan's Ray Fisher Stadium, the Eagles will make their shortest trek of the season, May 8, to take on the Wolverines. Before its game in Ann Arbor, Eastern's shortest distance traveled to a road game this season came against Michigan State University, which is located 64 miles from Oestrike Stadium.

ALL-TIME VS MICHIGAN: When Eastern Michigan takes on the University of Michigan, Wednesday, May 8, it will mark the 188th all-time matchup between the inter-country rival. The series edge is held by Michigan, which has a 121-64-2 edge over the Eagles.
Most recently, Michigan topped Eastern, 12-5, in a midweek game played Wednesday, May 2, 2018, at Oestrike Stadium. EMU's last win in the series saw the Eagles best the Wolverines, 4-3, in a game played April 15, 2015. That game came as part of stretch between March 30, 2011, and April 15, 2015, when Eastern took 8-of-9 from Michigan.

ON THE HORIZON: Following its midweek game with Michigan, Eastern will host in-state rival Central Michigan University in a three-game weekend series at Oestrike Stadium. Game one is set for Friday, May 10, at 6 p.m. with games to follow Saturday, May 11, at 6 p.m. and Sunday, May 12, at 1 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

Cameron Cruz

Nick Jones

Mitchell Sparks

Jeff Timko

Eastern Michigan Athletics