Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
26-26, 0
Northern Illinois
10-42, 0
Schroedle Hits For the Cycle in Eastern Michigan's 10-9 Win Against Northern Illinois
5/19/2023 4:06:00 PM | Baseball
Russo records eight strikeouts; Now sits at third all-time in single-season strikeouts
Rewatch the Game
Schroedle Highlights | Russo Highlights.
Photo Gallery: Steve King. Jonathan Knight.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Graduate student Kyle Schroedle (Redding, Calif.-University Prep-Crown College) put together an outstanding showing at the plate Friday, hitting for the cycle to help lead the Eastern Michigan University baseball team over the Northern Illinois University Huskies, 10-9, inside Oestrike Stadium.
Senior Luke Russo (Howell, Mich.-Howell) (6-4) got the win for Eastern Michigan (26-26, 11-18 MAC). The right-hander went six innings, allowing just one walk and striking out 11.
Schroedle completed his cycle in four at-bats, driving in two runs along the way. Senior Blake McRae (Armada, Mich.-Romeo-Lansing C.C.) supplemented Schroedle's historic day by going 1-for-3 with a walk and three RBIs. McRae also helped out for the Eagles, going 1-for-3 for Eastern Michigan with a walk and three RBIs. Schroedle's cycle is believed to be the first in program history, and is the first by any Mid-American Conference player since the 2016 season.
How it Happened
The Eagles got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the bottom the first inning with the game still scoreless. Eastern Michigan's offense started clicking and put up five runs, including a one-run groundout off the bat of McRae.
The Huskies then gained ground, narrowing the lead to 5-2, until the Eagles expanded their advantage in the third. Eastern Michigan picked up a run on Schroedle's two-out solo home run off of junior Dominic Hann, which brought the score to 6-2, in favor of the Eagles.
Eastern Michigan held Northern Illinois without a run before building their lead to 7-2 the following inning. The Eagles recorded a run on senior Taylor Hopkins' (Mason, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller) two-out RBI double.
Eastern Michigan held the Huskies without a run before their offense got in gear the next inning. Schroedle crossed home plate with the lone run of the inning for the Eagles, bringing the score to 8-2, in favor of Eastern Michigan.
Northern Illinois got within 8-6 until the Eagles scored again in the seventh inning to stretch its lead to 10-6. Eastern Michigan picked up two runs when a single from McRae brought home sophomore Logan Hugo (Essexville, Mich.-Essexville Garber) and Schroedle. Northern Illinois put three runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Eagles still held on for the 10-9 win.
Game Notes
» Kirk smacked a double to right center field in the first inning, driving in an Eagles base runner for his 23rd two-bagger and 48th RBI of the season. The graduate student's first inning double puts him two away from tying his single-season record (25), set last year.
» Schroedle singled through the left side of the infield in the first, scoring Cory Taylor (Shelbyville, Ind.-Shelbyville) for the Redding, Calif native's 22nd RBI this season. The graduate student has now recorded an RBI in three consecutive games, marking his longest RBI streak as an Eagle. The 6-foot-3 right-handed batter followed his single up by crushing a homer to right field in the third. Schroedle now has a home run in three straight games, and seven overall this season. Next, the outfielder smoked a triple down the right field line in the fifth to lead off the Eagles half of the inning, this marks Schroedle's first triple of the year, and the eight three-baggers for the Green and White as a team this season. The former junior college All-American added a double in his next at-bat, securing his cycle-hitting performance. Lastly, Schroedle joins Kirk, McRae, and Josh Kross (Brunswick, Ohio-Brunswick-Toledo) as the only Eagle batters to register four hits in a single game this season.
» McRae grounded out to third in the EMU half of the first inning, scoring Aaron Dolney (Plymouth, Mich.-Detroit Country Day-Nebraska-Hillsborough C.C.) for his 11th run driven in of the regular season. The former Lansing C.C. standout drove in two more runs throughout the day, finishing the game with three RBIs, setting a career-high for the senior. McRae is now up to 13 runs driven in for the 2023 campaign.
» Hugo floated a soft single over the head of the second baseman in the first, sending Hopkins home for the sophomore's 26th RBI of the year. The center fielder ended his outing with two hits for the 10th time in the 2023 season.
» Hopkins roped a double to left center in the bottom of the fourth, scoring Kross. The double is the shortstops 12th of the season, along with his 50th RBI.
» Glenn Miller (Pentwater, Mich.-Pentwater-Spring Arbor) flew out to right field in the bottom of the fifth, scoring Schroedle for the sacrifice fly, marking the third baseman's 26th RBI this season.
» Taylor and Dolney were issued two base-on-balls each Friday afternoon, this marks Taylor's fourth multi-walk day of the season and Dolney's third, respectively.
» EMU recorded 10 runs in Friday afternoon's win, marking the 16th time they have scored double-digit runs this season. The Eagles also recorded the 12th double-digit RBI performance, and 32nd double-digit outing in hits. Furthermore, today's game marks the 12th time this season the Green and White have notched double digits in runs, hits, and RBIs in a single game. Last season, the Eagles accomplished this feat nine times.
» Russo and Nick Chittum (Grosse Ile, Mich.-Grosse Ile) combined for 15 total strikeouts today, tying an EMU pitching season-high as Eagles pitching also sat down 15 in a 12-2 victory versus Niagara University, April 29. Green and White pitching has now tabbed 19 double-digit strikeout performances.
Historical Notes
» Friday afternoon's contest marks the 136th all-time meeting between Eastern Michigan and Northern Illinois. After today's victory, the Eagles hold an 82-54 record when facing the Huskies.
» With 11 strikeouts today, Russo placed himself fourth in the all-time single season record books for strikeouts, as the Howell, Mich. product has punched out 107 opposing batters this season. Additionally, the 6-foot-4 right-hander's 11 strikeouts places him as at the top of the Mid-American Conference rankings in total punchouts this season.
» With four at-bats Friday afternoon, Hopkins now has 802 at-bats in his Eastern Michigan career (2019-Pres.) ranking the Mason, Ohio native third all-time and putting him just four at-bats away from tying former Eagle Derrick Peterson (2001-04) for second all-time in career at-bats.
» EMU earned its 26th victory of the season today, marking the most wins under Head Coach Eric Roof (2018-Pres.). With just one game remaining, the Green and White could reach 27 wins this season, meaning the Eagles would post their first winning season since 2011, when Eastern went 37-22 with a 16-11 conference record.
» Schroedle's cycle goes down as what is believed to be the first in Eastern Michigan baseball history, and the first in the MAC since Brian Sisler recorded one for NIU versus Belmont University, March 13, 2016.
Most Recent MAC Players to Hit for the Cycle
Kyle Schroedle, EMU - May 19, 2023 vs. NIU
Brian Sisler, NIU - March 13, 2016 at Belmont
Tyler Hall, CMU - May 27, 2011 vs. Toledo
Anthony Gallas, KSU - March 20, 2010 vs. Winthrop
Sean Dobson, Toledo - April 28, 2004 at Oakland
John Vanden Berg, NIU - March 18, 2000 vs. Fordham
WMU - None on record
Ball State - None on record
Up Next
The Eagles and Huskies will play the series finale tomorrow, Sunday, May 20, at 1 p.m. Fans can catch the senior-day contest live on EMUEagles.com/watch and follow @EMU_Baseball on Twitter for live in-game updates.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Russo, Luke (6-4)
L: HANN, Dominic (0-8)
S: Chittum, Nick (1)
Batting:
2B: ERATO, Eric 1 ; HARPER, Aaron 1 ; SUMMERHILL, Colin 1 ; THIERRY, Tyler 1
HR: SHUPE, Parker 1
RBI: HARPER, Aaron 2 ; SUMMERHILL, Colin 2 ; SMART, Andrew 2 ; SHUPE, Parker 2 ; THIERRY, Tyler 1
SF: SUMMERHILL, Colin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: ERATO, Eric 2 ; DEMETRAL, Andre 2 ; SUMMERHILL, Colin 1 ; SMART, Andrew 2 ; SHUPE, Parker 1 ; NELSON, Jake 1
SB: SUMMERHILL, Colin 1 ; THIERRY, Tyler 1
HBP: DEMETRAL, Andre 1 ; SUMMERHILL, Colin 1 ; SMART, Andrew 1 ; THIERRY, Tyler 1
Batting:
2B: Kirk, Matt 1 ; Hopkins, Taylor 1 ; Schroedle, Kyle 1
3B: Schroedle, Kyle 1
HR: Schroedle, Kyle 1
RBI: Miller, Glenn 1 ; Kirk, Matt 1 ; Hopkins, Taylor 1 ; Dolney, Aaron 1 ; Hugo, Logan 1 ; Schroedle, Kyle 2 ; McRae, Blake 3
SF: Miller, Glenn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Miller, Glenn 1 ; Kirk, Matt 1 ; Kross, Josh 1 ; Hopkins, Taylor 1 ; Taylor, Cory 1 ; Dolney, Aaron 1 ; Hugo, Logan 1 ; Schroedle, Kyle 3
SB: Taylor, Cory 1
CS: McRae, Blake 1
HBP: Miller, Glenn 1
