Baseball Set to Open 2025 Campaign in Florida Against Pitt

Baseball vs. Pitt
Date	Friday-Sunday \| Feb. 14-16
Venue	Centennial Park \| Port Charlotte, Fla.
Preview Info	EMU Notes (PDF)
Live Stats	Game 1 \| Game 2 \| Game 3
Listen Live	Game 1 \| Game 2 \| Game 3
Social Media	X: @EMU _Baseball \| @EMUAthletics IG: @emu_baseball \| @emuathletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team is slated to begin its 2025 campaign in the Sunshine State of Florida as the Eagles will take on the Pittsburgh Panthers in a three-game series at Centennial Park, in Port Charlotte, Friday-Sunday, Feb. 14-16. Friday and Saturday's games will start at 1 p.m. while Sunday's will begin at 12 p.m.

Fans can follow along using the live stats and audio 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 and additional EMU baseball content.

ON THE AIR
Fans can listen to the action live as Greg Steiner will have the call for all three games on Eagle All-Access and the Varsity Network App.

ALL-TIME VERSUS PITT
The Eagles and Panthers are meeting on the diamond for the second three-game series between the two institutions. Eastern and Pitt last played, Feb. 21-23, 2020, a series that was swept by Pitt, as it out scored the Eagles 16-8. Coincidentally, that series also took place in the state of Florida as it was held in Sanford, a city located roughly 25 miles northeast of Orlando.

YEAR TWO UNDER BRITT
Head Coach Robbie Britt enters his second season at the helm of the program in 2025. The 2025 campaign marks Britt's sixth overall season as a collegiate head coach. In 225 career games, Britt posts a 139-86 record and .617 career winning percentage. The Eagles went 14-38 in Britt's first season.

77 YEARS OF BASEBALL IN YPSI
The 2025 campaign marks the 77th season of EMU baseball. Overall, the program holds a 36-40 record in season-opening contests dating back to the program's first season, 1949. Last season, the Eagles fell to the Belmont Bruins in the first game of the year, 4-3.

BRITT'S ASSISTANTS
Joining Robbie Britt in his second year at Eastern are assistant coaches Trevor Beerman, Craig Prince, and Andrew DiTullio. Beerman serves as the program's recruiting coordinator while coaching outfielders and assisting with the offense, Prince acts as the program's pitching coach, while DiTullio serves as the team's offensive coordinator and coaches infielders.

BOBBY JONES: ALL-MAC RETURNER
Eastern returns one All-MAC player in senior right-handed pitcher Bobby Jones. Last season, Jones led the team in ERA (6.28), WHIP (1.31), wins (five), innings pitched (86.0), and strikeouts (79), while issuing the second-least amount of walks of any EMU starter (24), and allowing the lowest opposing batting average of all starters (.255). Additionally, Jones' 86.0 innings on the mound ranked as the most in the MAC, while ranking seventh in the conference in opposing batting average, strikeouts, and walks allowed.

PG PRESEASON ALL-MAC
Bobby Jones and Drew Jones were named Preseason First Team All-MAC by Perfect Game. Entering his second season with the Eagles, Drew Jones batted. 265 last season with a .730 OPS. He drove in 14 runs, totaled two homers, with 10 multi-hit games. He also walked-off the regular season MAC Champs, Bowling Green, via a two-run double, May 10.

KEY RETURNERS: POSITION PLAYERS
The Eagles return key position players in Giano Zuccaro and Logan Hugo.

Zuccaro averaged .341 from the plate with a .946 OPS, adding 57 hits and 12 doubles along with 30 RBI. His hits, doubles, and triples (two) total all ranked as the second-most on the team while playing a clean outfield with a 1.000 fielding percentage and two assists.

Hugo averaged .284 from the dish with a .857 OPS, adding 52 hits and a team-high 10 home runs, totaling 19 extra base hits, along with 30 RBI. Also a threat on the base paths, Hugo led the team with 18 stolen bases in 22 attempts in 2024, and was second on the squad with 92 total bases.

KEY RETURNERS: PITCHERS
Along with Second Team All-MAC selection Bobby Jones, the Eagles return veteran left-hander Drew Beckner. In 15 total appearances and 10 starts last season, he posted a 6.52 ERA, 1.74 WHIP, held opposing batters to a .262 average, and stuck out 62 while walking 50. In 69 innings of work, Beckner allowed 59 runs (50 earned), 70 hits, and 21 extra-base hits (eight homers).

KEY TRANSFERS: POSITION PLAYERS
Among 17 other transfers, Eastern brings in junior outfielder John Hale and graduate student catcher Harrison Travis.

By way of Motlow State Community College, Hale batted .347 with a .999 OPS and totaled 50 hits, 14 of which went for extra bases while four left the yard. Hale showed discipline at the dish, working 35 walks and striking out just 26 times. He was dangerous on the base paths as well, stealing 18 bases in 24 attempts all while playing a perfect outfield in 90 chances.

Entering his sixth year of collegiate baseball, Harrison Travis spent five seasons at Carson-Newman where he earned two SAC Player of the Week Awards and was named Preseason Second Team All-SAC prior to the 2023 season. Most recently in 2024, Travis posted career numbers nearly across the board. He averaged .297 from the plate with a 1.066 OPS while drilling 25 extra-base hits (13 homers, 12 doubles), driving in 39 runs and working 21 walks while striking out 29 times.

KEY TRANSFERS: PITCHERS
The Eagles most notably added right-handers Tyler Kapa and Michael Pfeiffer from the portal.

Kapa made the move up to Division I from Davenport University (Mich.). In 2024, Kapa had 19 appearances, all in relief, posting a 5.17 ERA and holding opposing batters to a .230 average. In 15.2 innings of work, he struck out 28 while walking 17 and allowed 14 hits, just four of which went for extra bases (two doubles, one triple, one homer).

Pfeiffer made the move to Eastern from Alabama JuCo, Northwest Shoals Community College. Last season as a sophomore, he had 14 appearances, posted a 4-3 record, totaled 75 innings on the mound with a 3.72 ERA and 1.25 WHIP, struck out 66 while walking 25 for an average of 7.92 strikeouts per game, allowed 31 earned runs, and gave up 69 hits with just three going for extra bases (three home runs).

KEY FRESHMAN
EMU brings in 10 freshmen this season. Infielder Connor Walsh stands out among other position players. In his senior season at Mattawan High School, Walsh was named First Team All-SMAC, All-District Division I, First Team All-State, and was selected to the Michigan High School Baseball Association Dream Team. As a senior, he batted .462 with a 1.094 OPS, had 48 hits, 24 RBI, and 36 runs, while working 17 walks and striking out just eight times while stealing 15 bases. He also earned three All-SMAC honors as a basketball player and graduated Summa Cum laude.

Fischer Hendershot is a notable addition on the mound. He was an all-conference, all-region, and academic all-state athlete in his high school career. His Flint Powers Catholic Chargers won the Saginaw Valley Conference and Division II State Championship in 2024. Additionally, Hendershot pitched a five-inning shutout in the state title game.

THE SEASON AHEAD
Throughout the 50 game season, the Eagles will play three neutral site games, 29 road contests, and 16 home games. Eastern will compete in eight different states including Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York, Ohio, and South Carolina. Outside of its MAC opponents, Eastern will face teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference, Atlantic Sun Conference, America East Conference, Big South Conference, Big Ten Conference, and the Horizon League.

EMU IN SEASON OPENERS
Eastern Michigan is entering its 77th season in 2025, with its start dating back to 1949. In its 76 previous seasons, Eastern is 36-40 in season openers. Last season, Eastern fell at Belmont, 4-3.

OPENING VERSUS THE POWER FOUR
The Eagles are opening the season against a power four team for the first time since 2017, when they took on the Southeastern Conference's Missouri Tigers in a four-game series, Feb. 17-19, 2017. The Eagles won the first game, 6-2, before dropping the next three. The game against the Panthers also marks the first time the Eagles are opening a season against an ACC team since 2014 when they knocked off the No. 13 Clemson Tigers in 10 innings, 6-5, Feb. 14. Overall, Eastern is 6-11 when opening against the power four.

OPENING IN FLORIDA
The Eagles are opening their season in the state of Florida for the first time since 2018 when they started the season with a four-game set against Florida Gulf Coast in Ft. Meyers. They were swept in the series.

RECORD IN FLORIDA SINCE 1999
Since 1999, the Eagles have played 52 games in the Sunshine State, posting a 11-41 record. Despite the record, the Eagles have come up with power four upsets in the state. They topped Missouri, 6-3, to open the 2017 season, Feb. 17, before beating Ohio State in Pensacola in the 2017 campaign, March 4.

LAST TIME IN PORT CHARLOTTE
Since 1999, Eastern has played six games in Port Charlotte, all of which took place at Centennial Park. It holds a 1-5 record in such games, and most recently won in Port Charlotte in its 12-7 win over St. Bonaventure in the 2017 season, Feb. 24. Current Oakland A's infielder Max Schuemann saw time as a pinch runner in the game.

NEWCOMERS
The Eagles are welcoming 27 new players to the roster for the 2025 season. EMU welcomes 10 Freshmen and 17 transfers to the team.

The freshmen include: Tyler Yudess, Connor Walsh, Anthony Hutter, Michael Ciavolella, Henry Slaby, Ethan LaPointe, Colin Milligan, Jayden Bailey, Fischer Hendershot, and Cal Rutherford.

Transfers include: Keegan Martin, Nick Keane, Bruce Jellison, Devan Zirwas, Eric Boothe, John Hale, DJ Morand, Ben Schechterman, Harrison Travis, Ty Stecko, Michael Pfeiffer, Drew Norris, Eli Henderson, Kevin Krill, Tyler Kapa, Emmett Gillies, and Ethan Davis.

MAC TRANSFERS
Eastern brings in two transfers from opposing MAC teams, both of which come by way of Akron. Sophomore Emmett Gillies totaled 29 appearances for the Zips from 2023-24 while junior Eric Boothe spent his freshman campaign (2023) with Akron but did not see game action.

ASSISTANT COACH ANDREW DITULLIO
New to the staff ahead of the 2025 season is assistant coach Andrew DiTullio. He comes to Ypsilanti with four years of coaching experience throughout a variety of levels of the sport. He most recently served as the hitting coach at Division II Southern New Hampshire University, where his Penmen made a Division II College World Series appearance after he coached four all-conference selections and four all-region honorees, with one earning Division II NCAA All-American designation. Notably, DiTullio had previous stints with Florida Atlantic (2021) and the Minnesota twins (2021-23) of MLB.

DITULLIO HOMECOMING
In his first season with the Eagles, assistant coach Andrew DiTullio will be returning to his native state of Florida when the Eagles take on the Panthers to open the 2025 season. DiTullio hails from Ft. Pierce, which is located on the Atlantic coast and is located roughly 128 miles east of Port Charlotte. Coincidentally, the two cities sit on nearly the same latitude line as Fort Pierce stands at 27.4467 degrees North latitude and Port Charlotte sits just south of it at 26.9762 North latitude.

MAC PRESEASON POLL
The Eagles were predicted to finish 10th out of 11 teams in 2025. Ball State received the most regular season first-place votes (six) and points (95). It is also predicted to win the tournament championship, earning five of such votes.

ON THE HORIZON
The Eagles are next in action against the Central Arkansas Bears for a four-game set in Conway, Ark., Friday-Sunday, Feb. 21-23.

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) and emu_baseball on Instagram.

Previously Noted
COACHING TIES
Britt and Beerman previously crossed paths at the University of Charleston (W. Va.), as Beerman served as an assistant coach/recruiting coordinator for the Golden Eagles under Britt.
Beerman and Prince have also worked together in the past as both were at Bluffton University from 2018-20, where both served as assistant coaches.

PROGRAM PILLARS
Eastern baseball aims to create student-athletes who will succeed throughout life via its program pillars: Graduate Leaders, Develop Stewards, and Create Champions. Arriving in Ypsilanti with a background in education and leadership, Britt aims to create a strong culture at Eastern Michigan.

EARNING THE SCRIPT E
Ahead of the 2025 season, Eastern baseball student-athletes had to earn the right to don the historic Script E. By upholding the program standard, going above and beyond the call of duty, excelling in the arenas of classroom, competition, and community, select Eastern baseball student-athletes earned the right to wear the Script E.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jayden Bailey

Drew Beckner

Eric Boothe

Michael Ciavolella

Ethan Davis

Emmett Gillies

John Hale

Fischer Hendershot

Eli Henderson

Logan Hugo

Anthony Hutter

Bruce Jellison

Bobby Jones

Drew Jones

Tyler Kapa

Nick Keane

Kevin Krill

Ethan LaPointe

Keegan Martin

Colin Milligan

DJ Morand

Drew Norris

Michael Pfeiffer

Cal Rutherford

Ben Schechterman

Henry Slaby

Ty Stecko

Harrison Travis

Connor Walsh

Tyler Yudess

Devan Zirwas

Giano Zuccaro

Eastern Michigan Athletics