Baseball To Resume MAC Play with Weekend Series at Kent State

Baseball at Kent State
Date	Friday-Sunday, April 5-7
Venue	Kent, Ohio \| Schoonover Stadium
Preview Info	EMU Notes (PDF) \| Media Guide (PDF)
Live Stats	Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Social Media	@EMU _Baseball \| @EMUAthletics

KENT, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – Aiming to rebound after a loss at the University of Michigan, April 2, the Eastern Michigan University Eagles resume Mid-American Conference (MAC) play against the Kent State University Golden Flashes this weekend Friday-Sunday, April 5-7, at Schoonover Stadium.
Game one and three will take place at 1 p.m., while game two will begin at 3 p.m. Fans can follow along with the action using a live stats link 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.
Following the series with Kent State, Eastern will return home to begin a season-long eight game home stand at Oestrike Stadium, starting Tuesday, April 9, with a mid-week contest against the Oakland University Golden Grizzlies at 3 p.m.

FIRST PITCHES
» EMU currently stands tied for second in the MAC with a 6-3 conference record after winning each of its first three MAC series, marking the first time the Eagles have done so since the 2008 campaign.
» With series wins over rivals Western Michigan (March 23-24) and Central Michigan (March 28-30), Eastern has beaten both its Michigan MAC foes in a series in the same season for the first time since 2012.
» With a series win against the Golden Flashes, the Eagles will have won their first four MAC series for the first time since the 2007 season. 2007 was also the last time Eastern won the MAC regular-season.
» The Eagles and Golden Flashes will meet for the 130th time Friday. Overall, Eastern holds a 48-81 record against Kent.
» After the series against Kent State, Eastern will return home to begin a season-long eight game home stand at Oestrike Stadium, starting Tuesday, April 9, with a mid-week contest against the Oakland University Golden Grizzlies.

THE FIRST OF HIS KIND
With a series win against the Golden Flashes, first-year Head Coach Robbie Britt would become the first coach in program history to win the first four MAC series in their first year leading the Eagles. Currently, Britt is tied with former EMU skipper, and current Michigan State University Head Coach Jake Boss Jr., who won the first three MAC series in his first season at the helm (2008).

GOING FOR FOUR STRAIGHT MAC SERIES WINS
The Eagles aim to capture their fourth consecutive MAC series win in their upcoming series against the Golden Flashes. Winning the series would mark the first time an Eastern squad has opened MAC play with four straight series wins since the 2007 season. That year, Eastern opened MAC play with a sweep of Bowling Green, March 24-25, took two-of-three from Buffalo, March 30-31, swept Ohio, April 13-14, and Ball State, April 20-22. The 2007 season also serves as the last time the Eagles took home the MAC regular-season crown, as they lost just four conference games that season, winning every MAC series.

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.

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.

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.

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.

COMPLETE GAMES NATIONWIDE
Senior Nick Chittum is one of nine players in the nation to record multiple 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 97 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 improvements to his slugging percentage (up .62 points from last season), and OPS (up .51 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 .351 with 33 hits, 24 runs, five doubles, four homers, 20 RBI, and 50 TB. McRae has also increased his OPS 192 points from .772 to .972.

BOB GETS THE NOD
Senior Bobby Jones started in the series opening 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 fifth most in the nation. The senior took the ball for Eastern Michigan to start the game against the Central Michigan, March 28. 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 53rd 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 eighth nationally in strikeout-to-walk ratio (8.00) and ninth 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 41st nationally with 14 stolen bases. He also stands 56th in the country and second in the conference in stolen bases per game (0.52). Hugo leads an Eagles team that ranks 65th nationally in stolen bags, and second in the conference with 43, EMU also ranks high in stolen bases per game, averaging 1.59 swipes per contest (66th nationally, second in MAC).

STRONG START
Freshman relief pitcher Liam Baker has had a strong start to his young career. The right-hander has allowed just one earned run in his young collegiate career (7.1 IP), after allowing one earned run in his appearance against Morehead State University, March 15, Baker has yet to allow an earned run in his last four appearances on the mound.

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 an 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 16 times this season, compiling a 9-7 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 2-15. 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 32 this season (fifth in the MAC), ranking 99th in the country. Eastern averages 1.29 homers per game (sixth in the MAC), slotting 104th 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-30 nationally. Miller also ranks high in sacrifice bunts per game, slotting 23rd in the country and third in the conference. The senior most recently executed two sacrifice bunts in the Eagles' victory over Michigan, March 19.

IN THE SERIES: KENT STATE
The Eagles and Golden Flashes will meet for the 130th time on Friday. Overall, Eastern holds a 48-81 record against Kent. Last season, the Golden Flashes took the series, 2-1, with two close wins over the Eagles, winning 4-1 in the second game before edging out a nail-biting 1-0 win in the rubber match of the series, May 14. The Eagles are aiming to take their first series from the Golden Flashes since the 1988 campaign.

SCOUTING KENT STATE
The Golden Flashes entered the 2024 season as both the regular-season and conference tournament favorites, as they were picked to finish first in the regular-season with 98 points and eight first-place votes. Currently, Kent stands sixth in the MAC with a 5-4 conference record (12-14 overall). Kent State is most recently coming off a 2-1 series loss to Western Michigan, March 28-30, whom the Eagles defeated in their MAC home opening series, 2-1, March 23-24.

ON THE HORIZON
Following the series with Kent State, Eastern will return home to begin a season-long eight game home stand at Oestrike Stadium, starting Tuesday, April 9, with a mid-week contest against the Oakland University Golden Grizzlies at 3 p.m.

THE FIRST OF HIS KIND
With a series win against the Golden Flashes, first-year Head Coach Robbie Britt would become the first coach in program history to win the first four MAC series in their first year leading the Eagles. Currently, Britt is tied with former EMU skipper, and current Michigan State University Head Coach Jake Boss Jr., who won the first three MAC series in his first season at the helm (2008).

GOING FOR FOUR STRAIGHT MAC SERIES WINS
The Eagles aim to capture their fourth consecutive MAC series win in their upcoming series against the Golden Flashes. Winning the series would mark the first time an Eastern squad has opened MAC play with four straight series wins since the 2007 season. That year, Eastern opened MAC play with a sweep of Bowling Green, March 24-25, took two-of-three from Buffalo, March 30-31, swept Ohio, April 13-14, and Ball State, April 20-22. The 2007 season also serves as the last time the Eagles took home the MAC regular-season crown, as they lost just four conference games that season, winning every MAC series.

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.

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.

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.

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.

COMPLETE GAMES NATIONWIDE
Senior Nick Chittum is one of nine players in the nation to record multiple 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 97 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 improvements to his slugging percentage (up .62 points from last season), and OPS (up .51 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 .351 with 33 hits, 24 runs, five doubles, four homers, 20 RBI, and 50 TB. McRae has also increased his OPS 192 points from .772 to .972.

BOB GETS THE NOD
Senior Bobby Jones started in the series opening 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 fifth most in the nation. The senior took the ball for Eastern Michigan to start the game against the Central Michigan, March 28. 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 53rd 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 eighth nationally in strikeout-to-walk ratio (8.00) and ninth 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 41st nationally with 14 stolen bases. He also stands 56th in the country and second in the conference in stolen bases per game (0.52). Hugo leads an Eagles team that ranks 65th nationally in stolen bags, and second in the conference with 43, EMU also ranks high in stolen bases per game, averaging 1.59 swipes per contest (66th nationally, second in MAC).

STRONG START
Freshman relief pitcher Liam Baker has had a strong start to his young career. The right-hander has allowed just one earned run in his young collegiate career (7.1 IP), after allowing one earned run in his appearance against Morehead State University, March 15, Baker has yet to allow an earned run in his last four appearances on the mound.

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 an 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 16 times this season, compiling a 9-7 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 2-15. 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 32 this season (fifth in the MAC), ranking 99th in the country. Eastern averages 1.29 homers per game (sixth in the MAC), slotting 104th 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-30 nationally. Miller also ranks high in sacrifice bunts per game, slotting 23rd in the country and third in the conference. The senior most recently executed two sacrifice bunts in the Eagles' victory over Michigan, March 19.

IN THE SERIES: KENT STATE
The Eagles and Golden Flashes will meet for the 130th time on Friday. Overall, Eastern holds a 48-81 record against Kent. Last season, the Golden Flashes took the series, 2-1, with two close wins over the Eagles, winning 4-1 in the second game before edging out a nail-biting 1-0 win in the rubber match of the series, May 14. The Eagles are aiming to take their first series from the Golden Flashes since the 1988 campaign.

SCOUTING KENT STATE
The Golden Flashes entered the 2024 season as both the regular-season and conference tournament favorites, as they were picked to finish first in the regular-season with 98 points and eight first-place votes. Currently, Kent stands sixth in the MAC with a 5-4 conference record (12-14 overall). Kent State is most recently coming off a 2-1 series loss to Western Michigan, March 28-30, whom the Eagles defeated in their MAC home opening series, 2-1, March 23-24.

ON THE HORIZON
Following the series with Kent State, Eastern will return home to begin a season-long eight game home stand at Oestrike Stadium, starting Tuesday, April 9, with a mid-week contest against the Oakland University Golden Grizzlies at 3 p.m.

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 To Resume MAC Play with Weekend Series at Kent State

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Players Mentioned

Liam Baker

Nick Chittum

Logan Hugo

Bobby Jones

Blake McRae

Glenn Miller

Kyle Schroedle

Eastern Michigan Athletics