Baseball Slated to Face Michigan for Second Time in 2024 Campaign

Baseball at Michigan
Date	Tuesday, April 2
Venue	Ann Arbor, Mich. \| Ray Fisher Stadium
Preview Info	EMU Notes (PDF) \| Media Guide (PDF)
Live Audio	Listen Live
Live Stats	Follow Along with Live Stats
Social Media	@EMU _Baseball \| @EMUAthletics

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – After capturing its third consecutive Mid-American Conference (MAC) series win, the Eastern Michigan University Eagles hit the road yet again to take on the University of Michigan Tuesday, April 2, at Ray Fisher Stadium, first pitch is slated for 4 p.m.
Fans can follow along with the game via a live stream and live stats link, both of which can be accessed on the EMU baseball schedule page at EMUEagles.com/baseball/schedule. Also stay tuned to EMU baseball socials including EMU_Baseball on X (formerly Twitter), and emu.baseball on Instagram for live in-game updates.
After the battle with the Wolverines, the Eagles will resume MAC play with a three-game road series against Kent State University Friday-Saturday, April 5-7.

MICHIGAN MAC CHAMPS
With series wins over rivals Western Michigan University (2-1), March 23-24, and Central Michigan University (2-1), March 28-30, the Eagles have beaten both the Broncos and Chippewas in a series in the same season for the first time since the 2012 campaign. That year, EMU swept the Broncos in a three-game set, April 6-8, and took two-of-three from Central, April 13-15.

WINNERS IN THREE STRAIGHT MAC SERIES
EMU has opened conference play strong, as they stand second in the MAC with a 6-3 conference record, winning each of its first three conference series (at Ball State, March 8-10, vs Western Michigan, March 23-24, vs Central Michigan, March 28-30). This marks the first time an Eagles' team has come out on top of its first three conference series since the 2008 season. That year, the Eagles opened MAC play with a sweep at Miami, March 29-30, and two 2-1 series wins against Akron, April 5-6, and Ohio, April 11-13.

IN RARE COMPANY
With a series win over both the Broncos and Chippewas, first-year Head Coach Robbie Britt became the first EMU skipper to beat both Michigan MAC opponents in a series in their first season at Eastern since former Head Coach Jay Alexander did so in his first season (2009) leading the Eastern Green and White. That season, Alexander's Eagles took two-of-three games from Western, April 17-18, and Central, May 14-16.

POTENTIALLY MULTIPLE "POWER 5" WINS
A victory against Michigan on Tuesday would mark the first time the Eagles have tallied multiple "Power 5" wins in the same season since 2018. That season, Eastern Michigan topped Ohio State University, 6-1, March 4, before besting Oklahoma State in a three-game set, 2-1, March 9-11.

TOUGH TO SHAKE
Eastern showed its resilience in its last series against Central Michigan, March 28-30. In both of EMU's wins in the three-game set, the Eagles walked-off the Chippewas in the ninth inning, coming back from down four runs in the first game (March 28), and three runs in the series finale (March 30). In total, EMU scored 10 runs in the final two innings in both of its walk-off triumphs over the Chippewas. Furthermore, the wins marked the Eagles first time coming back from down three runs or more to win a game this season.

COMPLETE GAMES NATIONWIDE
Senior Nick Chittum is one of eight players in the nation to record two complete games this season, doing so against the University of Southern Indiana, Feb. 25, and most recently against Western Michigan University, March 24. One of 82 Division I pitchers to go the distance this season, Chittum held the Broncos scoreless in his most recent CG, the senior became the first EMU pitcher to toss a nine-inning shutout since former Eagle Brad Allen notched a 3-0 complete-game triumph over Bowling Green, March 25, 2017.

KYLE SCHROEDLE: MID-SEASON FORM
Kyle Schroedle has turned a corner in his second Division I season. The Redding, Calif., native has already matched his home run total from last season (seven), which stands as the fourth-most in the MAC. The graduate student is just six RBI away from tying his total from 2023 (23). Additionally, Schroedle is over halfway to reaching his hit total from last season (41), and has made substantial improvements to his slugging percentage (up .69 points from last season), and OPS (up .62 points from last season).

McRAE'S BREAKOUT SEASON
Also in his second Division I campaign, Blake McRae has grown leaps and bounds since last season, as the senior has already surpassed his 2023 season total in nearly every hitting statistic. Last season, the Armada, Mich., native batted .292 with 26 hits, 16 runs, two doubles, two home runs, 13 RBI, and 34 TB. This season, McRae is batting .352 with 32 hits, 24 runs, five doubles, four homers, 19 RBI, and 49 TB. McRae has also increased his OPS 200 points from .772 to .972.

BOB GETS THE NOD
Senior Bobby Jones started in Thursday's win over Central Michigan, March 28, marking his eighth start of the season. Jones' eight starts rank as the most in the conference thus far, and third most in the nation. The senior took the ball for Eastern Michigan to start the game against the Chippewas. He struck out seven batters and walked just one while allowing four runs, earned, off six hits. Moreover, Jones tallied his second straight start with seven or more IP, as he went seven innings before being relieved at the start of the eighth. Jones also sits 30th in the nation and first in the MAC with four wins on the year.

BOBBY JONES: NATIONALLY RANKED
Bobby Jones is nationally ranked in both strikeout-to-walk ratio and walks allowed per nine innings. Jones stands second in the conference in both categories, while ranking 12th nationally in strikeout-to-walk ratio (8.00) and 15th in the country in walks allowed per nine innings (1.05).

DANGEROUS ON THE BASE PATHS
Junior Logan Hugo ranks second in the MAC and stands 19th nationally with 14 stolen bases. He also stands 26th in the country and second in the conference in stolen bases per game (0.58). Hugo leads an Eagles team that ranks 70th nationally in stolen bags, and second in the conference with 41, EMU also ranks high in stolen bases per game, averaging 1.58 swipes per contest (73rd nationally, third in MAC).

SCORING FIRST
When scoring first, Eastern posts a 7-5 record. The trend continues when Eastern Michigan scores in the first inning of the game, as the Eagles hold a 5-2 record in such occurrences. The Eagles scored first, and in the first inning, plating six runs in the first frame in its 11-4 win over the Broncos, March 23.

12 HITS = WINS
The Eagles have a 8-1 record when recording 12 or more hits in a single game this season. Most recently, EMU tabbed 12 hits in its 5-4 win over Central Michigan, March 28. Additionally, the Eagles have out-hit their opponent 15 times this season, compiling a 9-6 record when doing so.

IMPORTANCE OF THE SIXTH
The Eagles post a 9-0 record when leading after six innings of play. Conversely, when trailing after six, EMU is 2-13. The Eagles went against the grain most recently, as both of their wins over Central Michigan (March 28, March 30) came when they were trailing after six innings.

NATIONALLY RANKED IN HOMERS
EMU checks into the top-100 nationally in both home runs and home runs per game, totaling 31 this season (fifth in the MAC), ranking 77th in the country. Eastern averages 1.29 homers per game (fourth in the MAC), slotting 78th nationally.

MOVE EM' UP
Glenn Miller has excelled this season in advancing EMU baserunners via the sacrifice bunt. Miller has notched five sacrifice bunts on the season, ranking him at the top of the MAC and inside the top-15 in the country in sacrifice bunts per game, at ninth. The senior most recently executed two sacrifice bunts in the Eagles' victory over Michigan, March 19.

LAST TIME AGAINST MICHIGAN
Eastern triumphed over Michigan, 14-4, in a contest that was run-ruled in the seventh inning, March 19. The win marked the Eagles first victory over the Wolverines since 2015, and first "Power 5" win since 2019. Furthermore, the 14-4 thrashing went down as the first time EMU beat a "Power 5" opponent by 10+ runs since they beat up on the Purdue Boilermakers, 20-2, in West Lafayette, Ind., May 14, 2013.

IN THE SERIES: MICHIGAN
The Eagles and Wolverines will meet for the 190th time Tuesday. Eastern holds a 65-122-2 record in the all-time series. A win against Michigan on Tuesday would mark the first time the Eagles have beaten the Big Ten foe twice in the same season since the 2013 campaign. That season, EMU nearly doubled up UM's run total, outscoring the Wolverines, 28-14, in two games.

SCOUTING MICHIGAN
Picked to finish sixth in the Big Ten Conference in the preseason poll, the Wolverines currently hold a 11-17 (4-2 B1G) overall record. Michigan stands tied for fourth in the B1G and is coming off a 9-4 win against the University of Maryland, March 31. The Wolverines have three players listed on the Big Ten's players to watch list (Jonathan Kim (CF), Dylan Vigue (RHP), and Mitch Voit (RHP/1B).

ALL-TIME AGAINST THE B1G
The contest against Michigan will mark the 393rd for Eastern against a Big Ten opponent. Overall, the Eagles post a 146-241-5 record when facing Big Ten teams. Additionally, the only three Big Ten institutions the Eagles have yet to face on the diamond are Maryland, the University of Illinois, and Rutgers University.

ON THE HORIZON
After the battle with the Wolverines, the Eagles will resume MAC play with a three-game road series against Kent State University Friday-Saturday, April 5-7.

FOLLOW US
For all things EMU Baseball, be sure to check out the team's social media accounts, including EMU_Baseball on X (formerly Twitter), emu.baseball on Instagram, and emu.baseball on TikTok.

Baseball Slated to Face Michigan for Second Time in 2024 Campaign

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Players Mentioned

Nick Chittum

Logan Hugo

Bobby Jones

Blake McRae

Glenn Miller

Kyle Schroedle

Eastern Michigan Athletics