Baseball Set to Conclude 2024 Campaign With Three-Game Set at Northern Illinois

Baseball at Northern Illinois
Date	Thursday-Saturday \| May 16-18
Venue	Ralph McKinzie at Walt and Janice Owens Park \| DeKalb, Ill.
Preview Info	EMU Notes (PDF) \| Media Guide (PDF)
Live Stats	Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Watch Live	Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Social Media	@EMU _Baseball \| @EMUAthletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team is slated to conclude its 2024 campaign with a three-game series against Northern Illinois University Thursday-Saturday, May 16-18 at Ralph McKinzie Field at Walt and Janice Owens Park. Thursday's game will start at 3 p.m. CT (4 p.m. ET), Friday's will begin at 2 p.m. CT, and Saturday's first pitch will be thrown at 1 p.m. CT

Fans can follow along using the live stats and watch link that 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.

FIRST PITCHES
» Logan Hugo, Glenn Miller, and Cory Taylor have all reached the 100 hits mark in their respective careers this season. Taylor did so most recently, as he knocked No. 100 against Bowling Green State University Friday, May 10.
» The Eagles hit their second grand slam of the season against Michigan State University Tuesday, May 14, as Logan Hugo crushed a no doubter to left field for his 10th homer of the season
» Cory Taylor had five hits in Eastern's game against Oakland University, April 9. He became the first Eagle to have five hits in a game since former Eagle Jeff Timko did so in the 2018 season.
» 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.
» The Eagles and Huskies will meet for the 138th time on Friday, the Eagles currently hold the series edge with a 83-54 all-time record against NIU.
» The Eagles swept Northern Illinois the last time they faced the Huskies (May 18-20, 2023) and Kyle Schroedle hit for the first cycle in EMU program history in a 10-9 win over the Huskies, May 19.
» The series against Northern Illinois concludes Eastern's 2024 campaign.
» 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.

BAKING ON THE BUMP
In his freshman season, Liam Baker has held opponents to zero earned runs in 11-of-19 appearances and currently has done so in two consecutive games. Prior to allowing zero earned runs against the Spartans, May 14, Baker held the Bowling Green State University Falcons to zero earned runs, May 10. At one point, the right-hander went four straight appearances without allowing an ER from March 17-April 2.

HUGO'S HUGE HOMER
The Eagles hit their second grand slam of the season against Michigan State University Tuesday, May 14, as Logan Hugo crushed a no doubter to left field for his 10th homer of the season. Before Hugo, Aidan Arbogast had a grand slam against Ohio University in a 15-6 win. Additionally, the grand slam went down as the second of Hugo's career as he went yard with the sacks full as a freshman in a 14-10 win over Miami University, April 10, 2022.

MILLER TIME IN EAST LANSING
Glenn Miller had a day against Michigan State, May 14. The veteran went 3-for-5 from the dish with two RBI and his first home run of the season coming in the third before doubling in the fourth and eighth. After also knocking three hits against BGSU, May 12, Miller has had consecutive three-hit games for the first time in his Eastern Michigan career.

LAST TIME AGAINST NIU
The Eagles swept the Huskies and the series was highlighted by Kyle Schroedle cycle performance in the second game. His cycle went down as 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.

TOUGH TO SHAKE
Eastern showed its resilience in its series against MAC regular-season champs, Bowling Green, May 10. The Eagles came back from a four-run deficit, eventually walking off the Falcons in the ninth to secure the 10-9 comeback win. The victory was Eastern's third walk-off win of the season and third comeback (trailing by three or more runs) win of the season.

IMPORTANCE OF THE SEVENTH
The Eagles have proven hard to beat when leading after seven and eight innings of play as they post an 8-1 record when leading after seven and an 8-0 mark when leading after eight innings.

THE CENTURY MARK
Logan Hugo reached the 100-hit mark in his collegiate career with his first inning homer against Akron, April 19, while Glenn Miller did so with a leadoff single in the first inning against Miami University, April 28. Cory Taylor knocked his 100th against Bowling Green with an infield single in the bottom of the third. This marked the first time EMU has had three players accomplish the feat in one season since 2022, when former Eagles Shane Easter, Brady Huebbe, and Jared Kauffman did so. Kyle Schroedle is also approaching the 100 mark as he would need 10 hits in the final three games to reach 100 hits at Eastern. On the pitching side, Bobby Jones is also approaching triple digits as he currently stands with 92 strikeouts as an Eagle.

HITTIN'!
The Eastern bats have remained productive for a large part of the season, as the Eagles rank third in the conference and 52nd in the country with a .301 batting average this season. The Eagles also rank high in hits, having knocked 507 this season, a figure that ranks them third in the MAC while standing 72nd in the nation.

DOUBLE-DIGITS x2
The Eagles have logged double-digit hits and runs in the same game 13 times this season, compiling an 8-5 record in such games. EMU most recently did so in its game against BGSU, May 10, scoring 10 runs off 15 hits.

TAYLOR'S TRIPLES
Cory Taylor recorded his third triple of the season when he smoked a ball off the right-field wall in the series opening game against Ohio University, April 13. His three three-baggers rank as the most on the team, the third-most in the MAC and slot him 107th nationally. As a team, the Eagles have tripled 12 times, the third-most in the MAC and 81st in America.

DOUBLE DOWN
Eastern currently stands third in the MAC in both doubles per-game (1.90) and doubles (93), figures that rank EMU 115th and 120th in the nation, respectively. The Eagles also hold the highest single-game total in doubles in the conference as they have barreled seven twice this season, first against Belmont University, Feb. 18, and most recently against Morehead State University, March 17.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW
Former Eagle Max Schuemann became Eastern baseball's 18th alumni to record playing time in the major leagues. Schuemann donned the Script E for three seasons (2016-18), and collected an All-MAC Second Team honor in the 2018 season, while making the MAC All-Tournament team in the 2017 campaign. A 20th round selection by the Oakland Athletics in the 2018 draft, Schuemann made his MLB debut with the A's, April 12. Entering the game as the extra-innings runner on second base in the bottom of the 10th inning, Schuemann was driven in to secure the walk-off win over the Washington Nationals, marking his first MLB run. He recently recorded his first MLB hit and home run with one swing of the bat, as he homered against the Cleveland Guardians, April 20. He became the first EMU baseball alum to homer in the majors since Brian Bixler left the playing field for the Houston Astros June 25, 2012. In 25 games with the A's, Schuemann has scored nine runs, driven-in seven, knocked 13 hits, worked eight walks, homered twice, and stole one base.

TAYLOR: FIRST FIVE-HIT DAY SINCE 2018
Cory Taylor swung a blazing-hot bat against Oakland, April 9. The second baseman went 5-for-7 from the dish, marking the first five-hit day from the Eagles since former Eagle Jeff Timko did so in an 11-5 win over Nicholls State, March 3, 2018. The Shelbyville, Ind., native, homered twice in the game for the first multi-homer game of his career. Additionally, both Taylor's hits (five) and RBI count (four) went down as career-highs while also tying for the most hits from an individual in a single game in the MAC this season.

HOT BATS
EMU's offense erupted for a 17-run, 24-hit, 15-RBI day from the dish in its game against Oakland, April 9. The runs, hits, and RBI totals mark season-highs for the Eagles, while the hits are the most from the program since it knocked 28 in a 27-7 win over BGSU, April 8, 2009. The 17 runs went down as the second time in 2024 the Eagles have eclipsed the 15-run mark, it also did so in their 16-6 thumping of the Belmont, Feb. 18. Additionally, EMU's 15 hits currently stands as the third-highest single-game total in the MAC.

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. After dropping a 10-9 decision in 10 innings at Toledo, May 3, the Eagles are 1-1 in extra-inning contests under Britt.

COMPLETE GAMES NATIONWIDE
Nick Chittum is one of 41 pitchers 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 183 Division I pitchers to go the distance this season, Chittum held the Broncos scoreless in his most recent CG, he 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 surpassed his home run total from last season (seven) with 10 jacks this season. The graduate student has also eclipsed his RBI total from last season (23) as he has currently driven-in 34. Additionally, Schroedle surpassed his hit total from last season (41) as he has knocked 50 this season and has made improvements to his slugging percentage (up from .533 to .633), OPS (up from .903 to 1.029), and batting average (up from .299 to .331).

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 .331 with 57 hits, 41 runs, eight doubles, one triple, five homers, 32 RBI, and 82 TB. McRae has also increased his OPS (up from .772 to .907), batting average (up from .292 to .331), and slugging percentage (up from .382 to .477).

NICK GETS THE NOD
Nick Chittum started in the series finale against Bowling Green, May 12 marking his 13th start of the season. Chittum's 13 starts rank as the most in the conference, and 17th-most in the nation.

DANGEROUS ON THE BASE PATHS
Logan Hugo ranks third in the MAC and 97th nationally with 18 stolen bases. He also stands 79th in the country and second in the conference in SB per game (0.41). He owns the MAC's highest single-game total in SB as he took three against WMU, March 23. Hugo leads an Eagles team that ranks 74th-nationally in SB and third in the MAC with 72. EMU also ranks high in SB per game, averaging 1.50 SB per contest (68th nationally and fourth in MAC).

MOVE EM' UP
Glenn Miller has excelled in advancing baserunners via the sacrifice bunt. Miller has notched nine sacrifice bunts on the season, ranking him second in the MAC and 24th nationally. He also ranks high in sacrifice bunts per-game, slotting 16th in the nation and second in the conference at 0.23. Miller most recently executed a sac bunt in the fifth inning against Toledo, May 5, advancing two baserunners 90-feet.

IN THE SERIES: NORTHERN ILLINOIS
The Eagles and Huskies will meet for the 138th time on Friday, the Eagles currently hold the series edge with a 83-54 all-time record against NIU. The winning continues on the road as the Eagles hold a 21-15 record against NIU when playing in DeKalb. Eastern has come out on top in the series in recent years as it has won six of the last 10 matchups, including the last five contests. The Eagles are looking for their first sweep of the Huskies in DeKalb since May 12-14, 2017, when they outscored NIU to the tune of 21-6.

SCOUTING NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Selected to finish 10th in the conference's coaches preseason poll, the Huskies currently sit in seventh with an 18-33 (11-16 MAC) record. NIU is coming off a series-loss to Western Michigan, 2-1, May 10-12. The Huskies post a 4-6 record in their last 10 games. Offensively, they are led by Colin Summerhill, who bats .290 with 19 homers, 60 RBI, and a 1.047 OPS. NIU's best arm is Adam Brouwer, who posts a 5.07 ERA in 72.1 IP, with 46 runs (44 earned), while striking out 53 and walking 22.

ON THE HORIZON
The series against NIU concludes the 2024 campaign for the Eagles.

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.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

Baseball Set to Conclude 2024 Campaign With Three-Game Set at Northern Illinois

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Players Mentioned

Aidan Arbogast

Liam Baker

Nick Chittum

Logan Hugo

Bobby Jones

Blake McRae

Glenn Miller

Kyle Schroedle

Cory Taylor

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