Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, March 12
Starkville, Miss.
6 p.m. CT
Eastern Michigan University
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Mississippi State
Baseball Heads South to Take On Mississippi State
3/10/2021 1:00:00 PM | Baseball
The Bulldogs are ranked No. 3 in the country
| Baseball at Mississippi State | |
| Date | Friday-Sunday, March 12-14 |
| Venue | Dudy Noble Field | Starkville, Miss. |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes |
| Live Stream | SECN+ |
| Radio | HailState Network |
| Live Stats | StatBroadcast |
| @EMU_Baseball | @EMUAthletics | |
STARKVILLE, Miss. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University baseball team heads south once again, this time to Starkville, Miss. to take on No. 3-ranked Mississippi State. The series will run Friday-Sunday, March 12-14, with games at 6 p.m., 2 p.m., and 1 p.m., respectively. All game times are central time.
Fans can watch the action on SECN+, or listen along on the HailState Network. Live stats will also be available via StatBroadcast. Links to follow along can be found on the baseball schedule page of EMUEagles.com. In addition, updates will be posted on the team's Twitter account, @EMU_Baseball.
BEST START SINCE '74: After securing its best start to a season since 2005 with wins against Alabama State, Feb. 27-28, Eastern Michigan added two more "bests" at Bellarmine, March 5-6. With the Friday afternoon victory, March 5, the Eagles notched a 3-0 start to the season for the first time since 1989. In splitting the doubleheader games with the Knights, March 6, the Green and White recorded its best five-game start to a season (4-1) since 1974.
LAST TIME AGAINST A TOP-FIVE TEAM: EMU's matchup against No. 3 Mississippi State will mark the program's first meeting with a top-five ranked program in over five years. The last time the Eagles took on a top-ranked team was Feb. 23-24, 2016, against then-No. 1 Florida (L, 4-12, L, 7-8).
The last time EMU defeated a top-five ranked team was over a decade ago, Feb. 19, 2011, when it defeated then-No. 4 Clemson, 7-6. Eastern led 6-0 heading in to the seventh inning, but the Tigers managed to score six runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game. EMU scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch in the eighth inning.
DINGER DERBY: Freshman Mark Kattula's home run, March 6, was not only the first in his career, but the first for EMU this season. By doing so, the Sterling Heights, Mich. native became the first freshman to hit the team's first home run of the season since Ryan Goleski, March 2, 2001, at the University of San Diego (L, 3-22).
Launching a long ball in back-to-back games for the Green and White, senior Jeff Timko became the first Eagle to hit a home run in back-to-back games since Kolton Schenker did so at Dayton and at Oklahoma State, March 6-9, 2018.
With Timko and Kattula each notching a home run, March 6, and Timko and Gabe Denton going yard, March 7, EMU hit 2+ home runs in back-to-back games for the first time since March 13-14, 2017 at Northern Illinois.
DERBY DAY IN LOUISVILLE: Traditionally, the first Saturday in May in the City of Louisville is Derby Day. However, Eastern Michigan and Bellarmine decided to make the first Saturday in March a Derby Day of their own in the River City, combining for seven home runs over the two-game day. The Knights recorded five of those seven, while Eastern saw blasts from Mark Kattula and Jeff Timko.
ONE COOL KAT(TULA): Coming off his impressive debut weekend at Alabama State, Feb. 27-28, true freshman Mark Kattula continued his strong showing as the team's designated hitter in Eastern's series at Bellarmine, March 5-7.
Posting second-best marks on the team in batting average (.333) runs scored (4), and total bases (9), Kattula tied for the team lead in hits (5), which included a double and his first home run in the Green and White, for a .600 slugging percentage.
FELDMAN'S FIRING: On the hill for his second start of 2021, veteran Davis Feldman turned in yet another impressive performance for the Green and White in the team's series opener against Bellarmine, March 5. Feldman tossed 6.0 innings of no run baseball, striking out five in the process, to keep his season ERA at a perfect 0.00 and earn his second consecutive win.
Feldman's two wins already tie his career-high, set in 2017, and with the victory, he has notched wins in consecutive appearances for the first time during his collegiate career.
TON OF TIMKO: Helping to lead the offensive effort for Eastern in its series against Bellarmine, March 5-7, was senior captain Jeff Timko, who led the team in home runs (2), RBIs (6), total bases (10), slugging percentage (.667), and tied for the team lead in runs scored (4). To go along with his four hits on the weekend, Timko also went 3-for-3 on stolen base attempts.
WHERE THERE'S A WILL: EMU transfer Will Oberg posted a .333 batting average over four games, recording four hits in 12 at-bats. The Heartland C.C. transfer tied for the team lead in runs scored (4), adding a double and triple for seven total bases on the weekend. The junior tallied five RBIs and totaled a .583 slugging percentage, and was able to draw three walks and two HBPs for a team-leading .529 on-base percentage. The Wayzata, Minn. native also went 4-for-4 on stolen base attempts.
MAKING A DENT(ON): Despite having just four at-bats in two games at Bellarmine, March 5-7, transfer Gabe Denton made the most of his opportunities, notching two hits, including his first home run in an EMU uniform, scoring two runs, and tallying two RBIs over the series. The junior finished the series with a 1.250 slugging percentage.
Stepping up to make an impact for Eastern Michigan in its sweep of Alabama State, Feb. 27-28, the Clare, Mich. native notched a hit and an RBI in each of the Eagles' first two games, including smacking the game-winner, Feb. 27.
MAKING IT REIN(KALL): In his first action of the 2021 season, March 5, senior Justin Reinkall kept Bellarmine hitless and scoreless over his 2.0 innings of work, striking out one and needing just 27 pitches (15 of which were strikes) to keep the Knights at bay. Reinkall also tossed a 1-2-3 inning in the seventh.
HOLT-ING IT DOWN: Taking the mound in relief, March 7, senior John Holt was impressive in his first innings for the Green and White in 2021. Throwing 2.0 innings, Holt allowed just one hit, striking out a career-high four batters in the process and keeping Bellarmine off the board.
McGUIRE'S FIRE: Making his first start of the 2021 season, senior Luke McGuire picked up his first win since Opening Day of the 2020 season (Feb. 15), tossing 4.2 innings and striking out two against Bellarmine, March 6. For the second time this season, McGuire recorded consecutive 1-2-3 innings, doing so in the second and third, March 6, after accomplishing the same feat in the seventh and eighth innings at Alabama State, Feb. 27.
PEGGED FOR MORE: EMU returner Drake Peggs had a great weekend for the Green and White at Bellarmine, March 5-7, finishing with a .286 batting average, .500 slugging percentage, four hits, two runs, three RBIs, and seven total bases. Two of those hits came in the form of a double and triple, marking the Knightstown, Ind. native's first extra-base hits since the 2018 season, and first triple since his freshman campaign (2017).
HOW ABOUT HOPKINS: At Bellarmine, March 5-7, junior Taylor Hopkins led all Eagles in batting average (.357) and hits (5), while adding three runs and drawing two walks in his four starts against the Knights.
ON THE HOUSE: Sophomore Trevor House recorded his first action of the young 2021 campaign, at Bellarmine, March 7. Coming in for the seventh and eighth, House twirled two perfect innings, sitting the Knights down in order both times, striking out two and allowing no hits or walks in his appearance.
YOU GET A RUN: Over the final two games of Eastern Michigan's series at Bellarmine, March 6-7, eight different players scored runs for EMU in each contest, the most in a game by EMU this season. The final two games were also the highest-scoring games Eastern has strung together this season, at 12 and 10 runs, respectively.
SAVING THE DAY: Each of Eastern Michigan's first two series have seen an Eagle record their first career save. Against Bellarmine, March 6, second-year righty Cameron Wagoner notched his first career save, striking out four over 2.1 innings pitched.
A week ago, Feb. 27, EMU newcomer Zach Fruit recorded his first career save in the Green & White in Eastern's 2-1 win over Alabama State. After walking the first batter he faced, the Dundee, Mich. native bounced back with back-to-back strikeouts, and forced the final Hornet hitter of the night into a 6-3 grounder to seal the win for EMU.
SERIES HISTORY: Eastern Michigan will face a brand new opponent for the third time in as many weeks when the Eagles and Mississippi State matchup for the first time, March 12-14.
WHAT'S MISSISSIPPI STATE BEEN UP TO?: The Bulldogs enter the weekend with a 9-3 record, capturing series wins over Tulane and Kent State, with wins additional wins over Texas, Texas Tech, Jackson State, Southern Miss, and Grambling. MSU and Louisiana will matchup Wednesday, March 10 before the Eagles come to town.
AGAINST THE SEC: Teams from the SEC hold the advantage in all-time matchups with Eastern Michigan, 90-22. The Eagles have squared off with Kentucky the most, 27 times (4-23), and hold a winning record against Georgia (2-1). Along with Mississippi State, Eastern has never faced Alabama, LSU, or Ole Miss.
CLOSE CONNECTIONS: Eastern Michigan Vice President/Director of Athletics Scott Wetherbee spent four years at Mississippi State prior to arriving at EMU, serving as the Senior Associate Athletic Director of External Affairs from 2013-17, while also having stints as the Interim Director of Athletics (Oct.-Nov. 2016) and Deputy Director of Athletics (May-June 2017). In addition, Wetherbee was the administrator for the Bulldogs' baseball and volleyball teams during his time in Starkville.
THE SEASON AHEAD: The Eagles are scheduled to play 54 contests in 2021, with 21 games at Oestrike Stadium. EMU begins the season with a 10-game non-conference slate, visiting Alabama State, Bellarmine, and Mississippi State, before beginning Mid-American Conference play at Akron, March 19.
ON THE HORIZON: The Eagles will begin Mid-American Conference play next weekend, March 19-21, at Akron. The four-game series will feature a Friday matchup at 3 p.m., a Saturday doubleheader set for 12 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., and Sunday affair at 12 p.m.
Fans can watch the action on SECN+, or listen along on the HailState Network. Live stats will also be available via StatBroadcast. Links to follow along can be found on the baseball schedule page of EMUEagles.com. In addition, updates will be posted on the team's Twitter account, @EMU_Baseball.
BEST START SINCE '74: After securing its best start to a season since 2005 with wins against Alabama State, Feb. 27-28, Eastern Michigan added two more "bests" at Bellarmine, March 5-6. With the Friday afternoon victory, March 5, the Eagles notched a 3-0 start to the season for the first time since 1989. In splitting the doubleheader games with the Knights, March 6, the Green and White recorded its best five-game start to a season (4-1) since 1974.
LAST TIME AGAINST A TOP-FIVE TEAM: EMU's matchup against No. 3 Mississippi State will mark the program's first meeting with a top-five ranked program in over five years. The last time the Eagles took on a top-ranked team was Feb. 23-24, 2016, against then-No. 1 Florida (L, 4-12, L, 7-8).
The last time EMU defeated a top-five ranked team was over a decade ago, Feb. 19, 2011, when it defeated then-No. 4 Clemson, 7-6. Eastern led 6-0 heading in to the seventh inning, but the Tigers managed to score six runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game. EMU scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch in the eighth inning.
DINGER DERBY: Freshman Mark Kattula's home run, March 6, was not only the first in his career, but the first for EMU this season. By doing so, the Sterling Heights, Mich. native became the first freshman to hit the team's first home run of the season since Ryan Goleski, March 2, 2001, at the University of San Diego (L, 3-22).
Launching a long ball in back-to-back games for the Green and White, senior Jeff Timko became the first Eagle to hit a home run in back-to-back games since Kolton Schenker did so at Dayton and at Oklahoma State, March 6-9, 2018.
With Timko and Kattula each notching a home run, March 6, and Timko and Gabe Denton going yard, March 7, EMU hit 2+ home runs in back-to-back games for the first time since March 13-14, 2017 at Northern Illinois.
DERBY DAY IN LOUISVILLE: Traditionally, the first Saturday in May in the City of Louisville is Derby Day. However, Eastern Michigan and Bellarmine decided to make the first Saturday in March a Derby Day of their own in the River City, combining for seven home runs over the two-game day. The Knights recorded five of those seven, while Eastern saw blasts from Mark Kattula and Jeff Timko.
ONE COOL KAT(TULA): Coming off his impressive debut weekend at Alabama State, Feb. 27-28, true freshman Mark Kattula continued his strong showing as the team's designated hitter in Eastern's series at Bellarmine, March 5-7.
Posting second-best marks on the team in batting average (.333) runs scored (4), and total bases (9), Kattula tied for the team lead in hits (5), which included a double and his first home run in the Green and White, for a .600 slugging percentage.
FELDMAN'S FIRING: On the hill for his second start of 2021, veteran Davis Feldman turned in yet another impressive performance for the Green and White in the team's series opener against Bellarmine, March 5. Feldman tossed 6.0 innings of no run baseball, striking out five in the process, to keep his season ERA at a perfect 0.00 and earn his second consecutive win.
Feldman's two wins already tie his career-high, set in 2017, and with the victory, he has notched wins in consecutive appearances for the first time during his collegiate career.
TON OF TIMKO: Helping to lead the offensive effort for Eastern in its series against Bellarmine, March 5-7, was senior captain Jeff Timko, who led the team in home runs (2), RBIs (6), total bases (10), slugging percentage (.667), and tied for the team lead in runs scored (4). To go along with his four hits on the weekend, Timko also went 3-for-3 on stolen base attempts.
WHERE THERE'S A WILL: EMU transfer Will Oberg posted a .333 batting average over four games, recording four hits in 12 at-bats. The Heartland C.C. transfer tied for the team lead in runs scored (4), adding a double and triple for seven total bases on the weekend. The junior tallied five RBIs and totaled a .583 slugging percentage, and was able to draw three walks and two HBPs for a team-leading .529 on-base percentage. The Wayzata, Minn. native also went 4-for-4 on stolen base attempts.
MAKING A DENT(ON): Despite having just four at-bats in two games at Bellarmine, March 5-7, transfer Gabe Denton made the most of his opportunities, notching two hits, including his first home run in an EMU uniform, scoring two runs, and tallying two RBIs over the series. The junior finished the series with a 1.250 slugging percentage.
Stepping up to make an impact for Eastern Michigan in its sweep of Alabama State, Feb. 27-28, the Clare, Mich. native notched a hit and an RBI in each of the Eagles' first two games, including smacking the game-winner, Feb. 27.
MAKING IT REIN(KALL): In his first action of the 2021 season, March 5, senior Justin Reinkall kept Bellarmine hitless and scoreless over his 2.0 innings of work, striking out one and needing just 27 pitches (15 of which were strikes) to keep the Knights at bay. Reinkall also tossed a 1-2-3 inning in the seventh.
HOLT-ING IT DOWN: Taking the mound in relief, March 7, senior John Holt was impressive in his first innings for the Green and White in 2021. Throwing 2.0 innings, Holt allowed just one hit, striking out a career-high four batters in the process and keeping Bellarmine off the board.
McGUIRE'S FIRE: Making his first start of the 2021 season, senior Luke McGuire picked up his first win since Opening Day of the 2020 season (Feb. 15), tossing 4.2 innings and striking out two against Bellarmine, March 6. For the second time this season, McGuire recorded consecutive 1-2-3 innings, doing so in the second and third, March 6, after accomplishing the same feat in the seventh and eighth innings at Alabama State, Feb. 27.
PEGGED FOR MORE: EMU returner Drake Peggs had a great weekend for the Green and White at Bellarmine, March 5-7, finishing with a .286 batting average, .500 slugging percentage, four hits, two runs, three RBIs, and seven total bases. Two of those hits came in the form of a double and triple, marking the Knightstown, Ind. native's first extra-base hits since the 2018 season, and first triple since his freshman campaign (2017).
HOW ABOUT HOPKINS: At Bellarmine, March 5-7, junior Taylor Hopkins led all Eagles in batting average (.357) and hits (5), while adding three runs and drawing two walks in his four starts against the Knights.
ON THE HOUSE: Sophomore Trevor House recorded his first action of the young 2021 campaign, at Bellarmine, March 7. Coming in for the seventh and eighth, House twirled two perfect innings, sitting the Knights down in order both times, striking out two and allowing no hits or walks in his appearance.
YOU GET A RUN: Over the final two games of Eastern Michigan's series at Bellarmine, March 6-7, eight different players scored runs for EMU in each contest, the most in a game by EMU this season. The final two games were also the highest-scoring games Eastern has strung together this season, at 12 and 10 runs, respectively.
SAVING THE DAY: Each of Eastern Michigan's first two series have seen an Eagle record their first career save. Against Bellarmine, March 6, second-year righty Cameron Wagoner notched his first career save, striking out four over 2.1 innings pitched.
A week ago, Feb. 27, EMU newcomer Zach Fruit recorded his first career save in the Green & White in Eastern's 2-1 win over Alabama State. After walking the first batter he faced, the Dundee, Mich. native bounced back with back-to-back strikeouts, and forced the final Hornet hitter of the night into a 6-3 grounder to seal the win for EMU.
SERIES HISTORY: Eastern Michigan will face a brand new opponent for the third time in as many weeks when the Eagles and Mississippi State matchup for the first time, March 12-14.
WHAT'S MISSISSIPPI STATE BEEN UP TO?: The Bulldogs enter the weekend with a 9-3 record, capturing series wins over Tulane and Kent State, with wins additional wins over Texas, Texas Tech, Jackson State, Southern Miss, and Grambling. MSU and Louisiana will matchup Wednesday, March 10 before the Eagles come to town.
AGAINST THE SEC: Teams from the SEC hold the advantage in all-time matchups with Eastern Michigan, 90-22. The Eagles have squared off with Kentucky the most, 27 times (4-23), and hold a winning record against Georgia (2-1). Along with Mississippi State, Eastern has never faced Alabama, LSU, or Ole Miss.
CLOSE CONNECTIONS: Eastern Michigan Vice President/Director of Athletics Scott Wetherbee spent four years at Mississippi State prior to arriving at EMU, serving as the Senior Associate Athletic Director of External Affairs from 2013-17, while also having stints as the Interim Director of Athletics (Oct.-Nov. 2016) and Deputy Director of Athletics (May-June 2017). In addition, Wetherbee was the administrator for the Bulldogs' baseball and volleyball teams during his time in Starkville.
THE SEASON AHEAD: The Eagles are scheduled to play 54 contests in 2021, with 21 games at Oestrike Stadium. EMU begins the season with a 10-game non-conference slate, visiting Alabama State, Bellarmine, and Mississippi State, before beginning Mid-American Conference play at Akron, March 19.
ON THE HORIZON: The Eagles will begin Mid-American Conference play next weekend, March 19-21, at Akron. The four-game series will feature a Friday matchup at 3 p.m., a Saturday doubleheader set for 12 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., and Sunday affair at 12 p.m.
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Players Mentioned
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