Baseball To Open Eight-Game Homestand Tuesday Against Oakland

Baseball vs Oakland
Date	Tuesday, April 9 \| 3 p.m.
Venue	Ypsilanti, Mich. \| Oestrike Stadium
Preview Info	EMU Notes (PDF) \| Media Guide (PDF)
Live Stats	Click Here for Live Stats
Live Video	Click Here to Watch Live
Social Media	@EMU _Baseball \| @EMUAthletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team is set to open its season-long eight game homestand, beginning Tuesday, April 9, as the Eagles are slated to begin a home and home series against the Oakland University Golden Grizzlies at 3 p.m. at Oestrike Stadium.

Fans can follow along on Eagles All-Access using a live stats and watch 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.

After the game against Oakland, Eastern will remain at home to welcome the Ohio University Bobcats to Oestrike for a three-game conference series Friday-Sunday, April 12-14.

FIRST PITCHES
» EMU currently stands third in the MAC with a 7-5 conference record after winning 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.
» After losing their first three one-run affairs to start the season, EMU has prevailed to win in each of its last five one-run games.
» The Eagles and Golden Grizzlies will meet for the 69th time on Tuesday, Eastern holds a 48-20 record when facing OU.
» After the game against Oakland, Eastern will remain home to host the Ohio Bobcats Friday-Sunday, April 12-14

ONE-RUN WINNERS
After losing their first three one-run affairs to start the season, EMU has prevailed to win in each of its last five one-run games. Most recently, the Eagles triumphed for a 13-12 extra-innings win over Kent State University, April 6. Prior to the win over the Golden Flashes, the Eagles grabbed two one-run wins in walk-off fashion in its series against Central Michigan University, March 28-30.

KLEIMAN THE LADDER
After tallying three hits in his first seven games played, first year transfer student-athlete Brendan Kleiman has fully adjusted to the Division I level. Kleiman went on a team-high 10 game hit-streak, the longest from Eagles so far this season, recording at least one knock in every game he played from March 16-April 6. Additionally, the junior tallied multi-hit games in five contests during his 10-game streak. Kleiman also recorded EMU career highs in Eastern's 13-12 extra-innings win over the Golden Flashes, April 6, as he tabbed four hits and five RBI. Altogether, the catcher has risen to the top of the EMU leaderboards in batting average, as he is batting at a .377 clip.

SEASON-HIGH IN STOLEN BASES
One of the most aggressive base running teams in the MAC, Eastern swiped a season-high nine bags in the 13-12 win over KSU, April 6. The Eagles' nine stolen bases stand as the most in the conference in a single game this season. It is also the most from an EMU squad since the 2019 team also napped nine in a 6-5 win over the University of Toledo, April 28, 2019. Furthermore, nine stolen bases in a single game is also two off the school record (11), set in the 2015 campaign against Wayne State University.

TOUGH TO SHAKE
Eastern showed its resilience in its 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.

THE MORE THE MERRIER
Eastern won its first extra-innings contest of the season with a 13-12 win over the Golden Flashes in 11 innings, April 6. The win marked the first extra-innings win of the Head Coach Robbie Britt era. The Eagles are now 1-0 in extra-inning contests under Britt.

COMPLETE GAMES NATIONWIDE
Senior Nick Chittum is one of 14 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 113 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 fifth-most in the MAC. The graduate student is just five 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 .40 points from last season), and OPS (up .38 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 .343 with 36 hits, 26 runs, five doubles, four homers, 22 RBI, and 53 TB. McRae has also increased his OPS 160 points from .772 to .932.

STRONG START
Freshman relief pitcher Liam Baker has had a strong start to his young career. The right-hander has allowed just two earned runs in his collegiate career (10.2 IP). Baker most recently earned his second career win (2-0) in a career-long outing on the mound, as he pitched 3.1 innings in Eastern's 13-12 win over KSU, April 6. Baker allowed two hits, one earned run, while striking out four and walking two batters.

BOB GETS THE NOD
Senior Bobby Jones started in the series opening game against Kent State, April 5, marking his ninth start of the season. Jones' nine starts rank as the most in the conference thus far, and fifth most in the nation. Jones also sits 80th 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 10th nationally in strikeout-to-walk ratio (7.50) and 12th in the country in walks allowed per nine innings (1.17). Jones most recently sent five packing via the strikeout while walking one in his most recent appearance against Kent State, April 5.

DANGEROUS ON THE BASE PATHS
Junior Logan Hugo ranks second in the MAC and stands 37th nationally with 16 stolen bases. He also stands 42nd in the country and second in the conference in stolen bases per game (0.55). Hugo leads an Eagles team that ranks 45th nationally in stolen bags, and second in the conference with 53, EMU also ranks high in stolen bases per game, averaging 1.77 swipes per contest (44th nationally, third in MAC).

SCORING FIRST
When scoring first, Eastern posts an 8-5 record. The trend continues when Eastern Michigan scores in the first inning of the game, as the Eagles hold a 6-2 record in such occurrences. The Eagles scored first, and in the first inning, plating three runs in the first frame in its 13-12 extra-innings win over the Golden Flashes, April 6.

12 HITS = WINS
The Eagles have a 9-2 record when recording 12 or more hits in a single game this season. Most recently, EMU tabbed 15 hits in its 13-12 win over Kent State, April 6. Additionally, the Eagles have out-hit their opponent 17 times this season, compiling a 10-7 record when doing so.

IMPORTANCE OF THE SIXTH
The Eagles post a 10-0 record when leading after six innings of play. Conversely, when trailing after six, EMU is 2-17. Entering the seventh inning up 10-6 against the Golden Flashes, April 6, the Eagles would hold on yet again to secure the win after leading following the sixth frame.

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 third in the MAC and 51st nationally. The senior most recently executed two sacrifice bunts in the Eagles' victory over Michigan, March 19.

IN THE SERIES: OAKLAND
The Eagles and Golden Grizzlies will meet for the 69th time on Tuesday. Overall, the Eagles hold a 48-20 record when facing OU. Eastern topped Oakland, 17-8, in the most recent meeting, May 16. Oakland has controlled the series as of late, winning seven of the last 10 match ups.

SCOUTING OAKLAND
Picked to finish third in the Horizon League preseason poll, the Golden Grizzlies enter Tuesday's contest with a 15-16 record (7-5 Horizon), coming off of a three-game sweep of the University of Milwaukee Panthers, April 5-6, a series where the Golden Grizzlies outscored its opposition, 16-9. Oakland finished second in the Horizon League regular season in 2023 and finished as the runner-up in the tournament, losing to champion, Wright State University, May 28, 2023.

ON THE HORIZON
After the game against Oakland, Eastern will remain home to host the Ohio Bobcats Friday-Sunday, April 12-14. Friday's contest will start 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 Open Eight-Game Homestand Tuesday Against Oakland

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Players Mentioned

Liam Baker

Nick Chittum

Logan Hugo

Bobby Jones

Brendan Kleiman

Blake McRae

Glenn Miller

Kyle Schroedle

Eastern Michigan Athletics