Baseball Begins Final Series Thursday at Kent State

Baseball at Kent State
Date	Thursday-Saturday, May 19-21 \| Game 1 - 6 p.m.; Games 2/3 (DH) - 1 p.m.; Game 4 - 1 p.m.
Venue	Olga Mural Field \| Kent, Ohio
Preview Info	EMU Game Notes
Watch	BoxCast
Live Stats	EMUEagles.com
Twitter	@EMU_Baseball \| @EMUAthletics

KENT, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University baseball team will wrap up its final series of the 2022 campaign Thursday-Saturday, May 19-21, when the Eagles (21-31, 15-21 MAC) hit the road to battle Kent State University. Thursday's action is set to get underway at 6 p.m., with a Friday doubleheader and a Saturday series finale also on the docket at Olga Mural Field.

Eastern dropped four contests to the first-place Central Michigan Chippewas this past weekend, May 13-15. Meanwhile, Kent State took three-of-four games from Western Michigan University in the same weekend and is set to host Georgia Tech in a midweek matchup, May 17, before clashing with the Eagles. Catch this weekend's action via BoxCast. Fans can follow the action via live stats by visiting EMUEagles.com/livestats. The team's official Twitter account, @EMU_Baseball, will also provide in-game updates.

MATT'S BAT: Junior Matt Kirk is tied for first in the NCAA Division I ranks in total doubles (25). Additionally, Kirk has some of the best numbers in the Mid-American Conference this season. The Milford, Ohio native leads the league in hits (73), doubles (25), and home runs (15). Moreover, Kirk ranks top-10 in the MAC in slugging percentage (.681 - second), OBP + slugging (1.080 - sixth), runs scored (43 - ninth). Furthermore, Kirk's 25 two-baggers this season tie the EMU single-season program record (Greg Ryan - 25, 1997).
   A testament to his mastery at the plate, Kirk remains a part of the high ranks in the league in batting average (.348) while leading the MAC in at-bats (210).

DROPPIN' TANKS: EMU hit six more home runs in its weekend series against Central Michigan, May 13-15. Eastern Michigan has hit 76 home runs in 52 games this season. That number equates to a 1.46 home runs per game average. Eastern has not had a season with a home runs per game average better than 1.0 since 2009, when the Eagles belted 100 total homers, a 1.67 per game average.
   EMU leads the MAC in total home runs. Moreover, the Eagles rank 26th in the nation in dingers and 36th in home runs per game. Seniors Matt Kirk and Daniel Warkentin are both tied for the Mid-American Conference lead with 15 homers apiece this season. Additionally, senior Gabe Denton is tied for seventh in the MAC for homers (10).

HOPKINS STAYS HOT: Senior Taylor Hopkins finished the weekend series versus CMU 6-for-15 (.400) with a home run, an RBI, and two runs scored. Hopkins' home run on Sunday, May 15, marks the Mason, Ohio native's fifth consecutive game with a hit, a hitting streak that is the best current streak on the team.

DOLNEY HITS DINGERS: Dolney finished this past week 5-for-11 (.455) with four extra-base hits (two doubles, a home run, and a triple), an RBI, and three runs scored in a four-game series with CMU, May 13-15. Dolney's .455 batting average and 1.091 slugging percentage both led the Eagles this weekend.
   Dolney now has seven home runs on the season. The utility player now has 24 total RBIs on the season. The Nebraska transfer has now tallied a hit in six of his last seven games, racking up 10 hits and five RBIs in that seven-game span.

100-HIT CLUB: With a hit Sunday versus CMU, May 15, senior Jared Kauffman earned his 100th career hit. Kauffman joins teammates Shane Easter and Brady Huebbe as the only three active Eagles to reach the 100 career hit mark. Easter and Kauffman have recorded the feat solely at EMU.

GOOD EYE!: The Eagles have been disciplined at the plate as the Green and White are second in the Mid-American Conference in fewest strikeouts (348). Additionally, EMU owns the league lead in home runs (70), home runs per game (1.46), and total bases (823).

HAMMERIN' HUGO: Freshman Logan Hugo belted his fourth home run of the season in the series opener against Central Michigan, May 13. Hugo has rounded the pillows in three of EMU's last four series.
   Additionally, Hugo's home run and RBI (20) totals are the second-highest marks by any freshman on the team (Aaron Dolney - 7 HRs & 24 RBIs).

GILLIG PUTS YOU ON AN ISLAND: Junior Zach Gillig allowed just one run in his 5.0 innings of relief work against the Chippewas, May 14. He has now allowed just one run in his last 11.0 frames of baseball, his best stretch of one-run-or-less baseball this season.
   Additionally, he has thrown five-or-more innings in two consecutive appearances for just the second time this season. His first such outings came in a pair of games against Butler, March 20 (5.0) and Akron, March 25 (6.1), respectively.

ALL-TIME AGAINST KENT STATE: EMU and KSU will meet for the 123rd time on Thursday afternoon. The Golden Flashes hold a 76-46 record over the Eagles. EMU is 2-8 in the last 10 contests against KSU, dating back to 2018, and will look to snap a three-game losing skid to Kent State.
   EMU has not won a series over KSU since the 1988 season. Furthermore, Eastern has not defeated the Golden Flashes in consecutive games since the 2014 and 2015 seasons.

LAST TIME IN KENT: The last time the two programs met in Kent, Ohio came back in 2018. The Golden Flashes took the three-game series, winning two of the three contests, outscoring the Eagles 16-15.

For updates on all things Eastern Michigan baseball, continue to check EMUEagles.com and be sure to follow the team on Twitter and Instagram, @EMU_Baseball.

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Players Mentioned

Gabe Denton

Aaron Dolney

Shane Easter

Zach Gillig

Taylor Hopkins

Brady Huebbe

Logan Hugo

Jared Kauffman

Matt Kirk

Daniel Warkentin

Eastern Michigan Athletics