Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, February 15
Port Charlotte, Fla.
1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
0-2
8
vs
11
Pittsburgh
2-0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Eastern Michigan
0
0
4
1
3
0
0
0
0
8
12
1
Pittsburgh
3
1
0
0
0
7
0
0
X
11
9
0
Photo by: Phelan Ebenhack/Walt Middleton Photography
Kapa Strikes Out Nine, but Pitt’s Late Surge Sinks EMU
2/15/2025 4:43:00 PM | Baseball
Travis Crushes Two Homers as Eagles' Offense Shines in Defeat
Re-Listen to the Game | Photo Gallery.
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (EMUEagles.com) – Senior Tyler Kapa (Waterford, Mich./Kettering/Alma/Mott C.C./Davenport) dazzled in his Eastern Michigan University baseball debut, fanning nine University of Pittsburgh batters over five solid innings. However, a seven-run sixth inning by the Panthers proved to be the difference as EMU fell, 11-8, in non-conference action at Centennial Park Saturday, Feb. 15.
Kapa kept the Eagles (0-2) in contention, allowing four earned runs on six hits and two walks before turning it over to the bullpen. Sophomore Niko Kreuzer (Westerville, Ohio/St. Francis Desales) provided a strong relief effort, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings with two hits allowed.
At the plate, EMU's offense was led by senior Harrison Travis (Soddy Daisy, Tenn./Soddy Daisy/Carson-Newman), who delivered a two-homer performance, driving in three runs. Junior Ty Stecko (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin/Mount St. Mary's) launched a solo shot, while senior Logan Hugo (Essexville, Mich./Essexville Garber) added a 2-for-3 day with a triple, an RBI, and two walks.
How It Happened
Pittsburgh (2-0) took an early lead, plating three runs in the first on a three-run homer by A.J. Nessler. After adding another run in the second, the Panthers led 4-0.
EMU responded in the third, tying the game with a four-run outburst. A two-run blast from Travis highlighted the frame, while Hugo added an RBI triple.
The Eagles briefly grabbed the lead in the fourth on Stecko's solo homer and extended their advantage to 8-4 in the fifth, powered by Travis' second long ball and an RBI single from Kevin Krill (White Lake, Mich./Lakeland/Oakland/Kalamazoo Valley C.C.).
However, Pittsburgh turned the game around in the bottom of the sixth, scoring seven runs on two hits, four walks, and two hit batters. The Eagles could not recover, going hitless over the final three innings against Pitt's bullpen, with Ethan Firoved earning the save.
Game Notes
» Eastern Michigan got a two-homer day from Travis.
» Kapa fanned nine Panthers hitters.
» Eastern Michigan's highest-scoring inning was the third when it pushed four runs across.
» Four Eastern Michigan hitters had multiple base knocks in the ballgame.
» The Eagles took Pittsburgh pitchers deep three times on Saturday.
» Eastern Michigan left 10 runners stranded on base in the loss.
» The Eagles out-hit the Panthers at a 12-9 clip.
» Eastern Michigan pitchers faced 43 Pittsburgh hitters in the game, allowing six ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out nine.
» The Eagles drew six walks from Pittsburgh pitching.
» Travis led the Eagles at the plate, going 2-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI.
Up Next
The Eagles and Panthers wrap up the three-game set Sunday, Feb. 16, 12 p.m. Fans can listen to the game on Eagle All-Access or the Varsity Network
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.
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (EMUEagles.com) – Senior Tyler Kapa (Waterford, Mich./Kettering/Alma/Mott C.C./Davenport) dazzled in his Eastern Michigan University baseball debut, fanning nine University of Pittsburgh batters over five solid innings. However, a seven-run sixth inning by the Panthers proved to be the difference as EMU fell, 11-8, in non-conference action at Centennial Park Saturday, Feb. 15.
Kapa kept the Eagles (0-2) in contention, allowing four earned runs on six hits and two walks before turning it over to the bullpen. Sophomore Niko Kreuzer (Westerville, Ohio/St. Francis Desales) provided a strong relief effort, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings with two hits allowed.
At the plate, EMU's offense was led by senior Harrison Travis (Soddy Daisy, Tenn./Soddy Daisy/Carson-Newman), who delivered a two-homer performance, driving in three runs. Junior Ty Stecko (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin/Mount St. Mary's) launched a solo shot, while senior Logan Hugo (Essexville, Mich./Essexville Garber) added a 2-for-3 day with a triple, an RBI, and two walks.
How It Happened
Pittsburgh (2-0) took an early lead, plating three runs in the first on a three-run homer by A.J. Nessler. After adding another run in the second, the Panthers led 4-0.
EMU responded in the third, tying the game with a four-run outburst. A two-run blast from Travis highlighted the frame, while Hugo added an RBI triple.
The Eagles briefly grabbed the lead in the fourth on Stecko's solo homer and extended their advantage to 8-4 in the fifth, powered by Travis' second long ball and an RBI single from Kevin Krill (White Lake, Mich./Lakeland/Oakland/Kalamazoo Valley C.C.).
However, Pittsburgh turned the game around in the bottom of the sixth, scoring seven runs on two hits, four walks, and two hit batters. The Eagles could not recover, going hitless over the final three innings against Pitt's bullpen, with Ethan Firoved earning the save.
Game Notes
» Eastern Michigan got a two-homer day from Travis.
» Kapa fanned nine Panthers hitters.
» Eastern Michigan's highest-scoring inning was the third when it pushed four runs across.
» Four Eastern Michigan hitters had multiple base knocks in the ballgame.
» The Eagles took Pittsburgh pitchers deep three times on Saturday.
» Eastern Michigan left 10 runners stranded on base in the loss.
» The Eagles out-hit the Panthers at a 12-9 clip.
» Eastern Michigan pitchers faced 43 Pittsburgh hitters in the game, allowing six ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out nine.
» The Eagles drew six walks from Pittsburgh pitching.
» Travis led the Eagles at the plate, going 2-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI.
Up Next
The Eagles and Panthers wrap up the three-game set Sunday, Feb. 16, 12 p.m. Fans can listen to the game on Eagle All-Access or the Varsity Network
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.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: McAuliff (1-0)
L: Morand, DJ (0-1)
S: Firoved (1)
Batting:
3B: Hugo, Logan 1
HR: Travis, Harrison 2 ; Stecko, Ty 1
RBI: Travis, Harrison 3 ; Hugo, Logan 1 ; Krill, Kevin 1 ; Stecko, Ty 1 ; Walsh, Connor 1
SF: Walsh, Connor 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hale, John 1 ; Travis, Harrison 2 ; Jellison, Bruce 2 ; Hugo, Logan 1 ; Stecko, Ty 1 ; Vance, Cooper 1
HBP: Vance, Cooper 1
Batting:
2B: Cantwell 1
3B: Pedanou 1
HR: Nessler 1
RBI: Cantwell 2 ; Pisacreta 1 ; Zuckerman 1 ; Nessler 3 ; Melendez 1 ; Miller 1 ; Pedanou 2
SF: Pisacreta 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cantwell 2 ; Pisacreta 1 ; Zuckerman 1 ; Nessler 2 ; Melendez 1 ; Miller 1 ; Pedanou 2 ; Kendro 1
HBP: Carrier 1 ; Melendez 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
2
H
2
RBI
3
AB
5
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballUTIL
/ Baseball
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