Eastern Michigan Athletics
2023 Baseball Season in Review
5/25/2023 1:59:00 PM | Baseball
Final PDF
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The one guarentee for every baseball season is that the team will go thrrough it's ups and downs. This season's EMU baseball team was no exception, as the Eagles have their fair share of triumphs and tribulations throughout the 2023 campaign's 53 contests.
In between the everyday plays, pitches, and at-bats lie a multitude of terrific accolades and milestones achieved by remarkably talented student-athletes, on the field, in the classrom, and throughout the community.
Below, we highlight the best of the best from this year's rendition of Eastern Michigan baseball.
GOING OUT WINNERS: Eastern Michigan finished with a 27-26 overall record in the 2023 season, marking the program's first winning season since the 2011 squad went 37-22 with a 16-11 conference record. Moreover, by capturing a win over Northern Illinois in it's final game of the season, May 20, the Green and White ended its MAC season on a four-game win streak for the first time since the 2008 team swept the conference tournament facing Western Michigan, Bowling Green, Ohio, and Kent State en route to capturing the program's fourth MAC tournament title.
HE DID WHAT?!: Kyle Schroedle forever cemented himself in Eastern Michigan baseball history as the graduate student hit for the cycle versus Northern Illinois, May 19, 2023, marking the first recorded cycle by a batter in Eastern's 74 years of baseball, dating back to 1949. Additionally, this marks the first cycle in the MAC since Brain Siscler recorded one for NIU versus Belmont University, March 13, 2016. The Redding, Calif., native captured the cycle with a single in the first, a home run in the third, a triple in the fifth, and a double in the seventh.
RUSSO REACHES THIRD IN SINGLE SEASON Ks: With 11 strikeouts versus NIU, May 19, Luke Russo placed himself third in the all-time single season record books for strikeouts, as the Howell, Mich., product punched out 107 opposing batters this season. Additionally, the 6-foot-4 right-hander's 107 strikeouts cemented him as the 2023 regular season's MAC strikeout king, finishing with five more than the second place pitcher, Miami University's Connor Oliver (102).
KROSS CRACKS TOP FIVE: Sophomore Josh Kross drove in four runs versus NIU, May 20, notching his 22nd multi-RBI day and tying for second place in the EMU baseball single-season record books with former Eagle, Chris Hoiles, who also drove in 70 runs back in the 1986 campaign.
ALL-TIME STRIKEOUTS RECORD: Eagles pitching totaled to 451 punch outs in the 2023 season, vaulting the squad into first place all-time in single-season strikeouts as a team in EMU baseball history. The second place team in the ctegory is the 2022 squad, which struck out 416 batters that season, 35 less than the 2023 staff.
KROSS CRUSHES HIS WAY TO MAC FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Josh Kross was named the MAC's Freshman of the Year, May 23. The Brunswick, Ohio native became just the third EMU player to earn the award, joining Brian Bixler (2002) and Don DeDonatis (1994) as the only other players to collect the MAC's freshman award while donning the script E.
KIRK NAMED TO ALL-MAC FIRST TEAM FOR SECOND STRAIGHT SEASON: Matt Kirk was named First Team All-MAC, May 23. This marks Kirks second straight season garnering All-MAC First Team accolades. The Milford, Ohio native becomes the 11th player in EMU baseball history to earn multiple First-Team selections in the Green and White and the first to do so since the 2007 season when former Eagle, Jeff Fischer captured First Team honors in consecutive seasons.
KING KIRK DOUBLES DOWN: Matt Kirk's four double performance versus Niagara University, April 29, set a program record for Eastern Michigan since modern statistical data began being kept (1999-Pres.). The 2022 MAC Player of the Year's four doubles tied for the most in a single game by any player in the NCAA this season. Kirk was one of just seven players to reach the four double mark in a single game this season.
RUSSO NAMED MAC MEDAL OF EXCELLENCE RECIPIENT: The Medal of Excellence is presented annually to one male and one female student-athlete from the graduating class of each of the 12 Conference member institutions. "The individuals selected for the Medal of Excellence have distinguished themselves academically, athletically, and through demonstrated service and leadership," said MAC Commissioner, Jon A. Steinbrecher. "These men and women have earned this award by putting in long hours of dedication, perseverance and hard work. I congratulate those selected and thank them for their contributions to their institution and the Conference." Luke Russo became the first baseball player to win the award for the Green and White since former Eagle Mike Monahan earned the honor in the 2021 season. Chevonne Wheeler of the track and field team took home the award for the EMU female student-athletes.
HOUSE TIES FOR FIFTH IN CAREER Ks: With nine strikeouts in his final start for the Eagles, May 18, Thomas House tied for fifth in career strikeouts in EMU baseball history. The Ross, Ohio, native tied former Eagle Woody Mills (1970-73) with 225 career punch outs.
MCRAE SETS CAREER HIGH: Blake McRae grounded out to third in the EMU half of the first inning, scoring Aaron Dolney for his 11th run driven in of the regular season, versus Northern Illinois, May 19. 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.
HOPKINS REACHES 50: Taylor Hopkins recorded his 50th RBI of the season by sending a double to right field and scoring Josh Kross in the bottom of the fourth, May 19. Hopkins' 50 RBIs this season are 20 more than his previous career-high (30), set in the 2021 season.
KROSS ENDS REGULAR SEASON ON TOP: Josh Kross recorded four RBIs versus NIU, May 20. This marked Kross' fourth four-RBI outing of the season, and put him on top of the MAC with 70 RBIs during the 2023 regular season.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The one guarentee for every baseball season is that the team will go thrrough it's ups and downs. This season's EMU baseball team was no exception, as the Eagles have their fair share of triumphs and tribulations throughout the 2023 campaign's 53 contests.
In between the everyday plays, pitches, and at-bats lie a multitude of terrific accolades and milestones achieved by remarkably talented student-athletes, on the field, in the classrom, and throughout the community.
Below, we highlight the best of the best from this year's rendition of Eastern Michigan baseball.
GOING OUT WINNERS: Eastern Michigan finished with a 27-26 overall record in the 2023 season, marking the program's first winning season since the 2011 squad went 37-22 with a 16-11 conference record. Moreover, by capturing a win over Northern Illinois in it's final game of the season, May 20, the Green and White ended its MAC season on a four-game win streak for the first time since the 2008 team swept the conference tournament facing Western Michigan, Bowling Green, Ohio, and Kent State en route to capturing the program's fourth MAC tournament title.
HE DID WHAT?!: Kyle Schroedle forever cemented himself in Eastern Michigan baseball history as the graduate student hit for the cycle versus Northern Illinois, May 19, 2023, marking the first recorded cycle by a batter in Eastern's 74 years of baseball, dating back to 1949. Additionally, this marks the first cycle in the MAC since Brain Siscler recorded one for NIU versus Belmont University, March 13, 2016. The Redding, Calif., native captured the cycle with a single in the first, a home run in the third, a triple in the fifth, and a double in the seventh.
RUSSO REACHES THIRD IN SINGLE SEASON Ks: With 11 strikeouts versus NIU, May 19, Luke Russo placed himself third in the all-time single season record books for strikeouts, as the Howell, Mich., product punched out 107 opposing batters this season. Additionally, the 6-foot-4 right-hander's 107 strikeouts cemented him as the 2023 regular season's MAC strikeout king, finishing with five more than the second place pitcher, Miami University's Connor Oliver (102).
KROSS CRACKS TOP FIVE: Sophomore Josh Kross drove in four runs versus NIU, May 20, notching his 22nd multi-RBI day and tying for second place in the EMU baseball single-season record books with former Eagle, Chris Hoiles, who also drove in 70 runs back in the 1986 campaign.
ALL-TIME STRIKEOUTS RECORD: Eagles pitching totaled to 451 punch outs in the 2023 season, vaulting the squad into first place all-time in single-season strikeouts as a team in EMU baseball history. The second place team in the ctegory is the 2022 squad, which struck out 416 batters that season, 35 less than the 2023 staff.
KROSS CRUSHES HIS WAY TO MAC FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Josh Kross was named the MAC's Freshman of the Year, May 23. The Brunswick, Ohio native became just the third EMU player to earn the award, joining Brian Bixler (2002) and Don DeDonatis (1994) as the only other players to collect the MAC's freshman award while donning the script E.
KIRK NAMED TO ALL-MAC FIRST TEAM FOR SECOND STRAIGHT SEASON: Matt Kirk was named First Team All-MAC, May 23. This marks Kirks second straight season garnering All-MAC First Team accolades. The Milford, Ohio native becomes the 11th player in EMU baseball history to earn multiple First-Team selections in the Green and White and the first to do so since the 2007 season when former Eagle, Jeff Fischer captured First Team honors in consecutive seasons.
KING KIRK DOUBLES DOWN: Matt Kirk's four double performance versus Niagara University, April 29, set a program record for Eastern Michigan since modern statistical data began being kept (1999-Pres.). The 2022 MAC Player of the Year's four doubles tied for the most in a single game by any player in the NCAA this season. Kirk was one of just seven players to reach the four double mark in a single game this season.
RUSSO NAMED MAC MEDAL OF EXCELLENCE RECIPIENT: The Medal of Excellence is presented annually to one male and one female student-athlete from the graduating class of each of the 12 Conference member institutions. "The individuals selected for the Medal of Excellence have distinguished themselves academically, athletically, and through demonstrated service and leadership," said MAC Commissioner, Jon A. Steinbrecher. "These men and women have earned this award by putting in long hours of dedication, perseverance and hard work. I congratulate those selected and thank them for their contributions to their institution and the Conference." Luke Russo became the first baseball player to win the award for the Green and White since former Eagle Mike Monahan earned the honor in the 2021 season. Chevonne Wheeler of the track and field team took home the award for the EMU female student-athletes.
HOUSE TIES FOR FIFTH IN CAREER Ks: With nine strikeouts in his final start for the Eagles, May 18, Thomas House tied for fifth in career strikeouts in EMU baseball history. The Ross, Ohio, native tied former Eagle Woody Mills (1970-73) with 225 career punch outs.
MCRAE SETS CAREER HIGH: Blake McRae grounded out to third in the EMU half of the first inning, scoring Aaron Dolney for his 11th run driven in of the regular season, versus Northern Illinois, May 19. 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.
HOPKINS REACHES 50: Taylor Hopkins recorded his 50th RBI of the season by sending a double to right field and scoring Josh Kross in the bottom of the fourth, May 19. Hopkins' 50 RBIs this season are 20 more than his previous career-high (30), set in the 2021 season.
KROSS ENDS REGULAR SEASON ON TOP: Josh Kross recorded four RBIs versus NIU, May 20. This marked Kross' fourth four-RBI outing of the season, and put him on top of the MAC with 70 RBIs during the 2023 regular season.
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