Baseball Prepares to Face Michigan in Non-Conference Tilt Tuesday

Eastern Michigan Baseball at Michigan
Date	Tuesday \| March 25
Venue	Ray Fisher Stadium\| Ann Arbor, Mich.
Preview Info	EMU Notes (PDF) \| Media Guide
Live Stats	EMUEagles.com/livestats
Watch Live	Big Ten Plus
Listen Live	Eagle All-Access/Varsity Network App
Social Media	X: @EMU _Baseball \| @EMUAthletics IG: @emu_baseball \| @emuathletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team is slated for a non-conference "Power Five" matchup with Washtenaw County foe, the University of Michigan, at Ray Fisher Stadium, in Ann Arbor Tuesday, March 25, 4 p.m.

Eastern enters the game standing tied for third in the MAC with a 6-3 record (10-10 overall) and is off to its best start in MAC play since 2017. The Wolverines come in tied for third in the Big Ten with a 5-4 conference record (13-10 overall).

Fans can follow along using the live stats and watch links that can be accessed on the EMU baseball schedule page here. Also, stay tuned to EMU baseball socials including EMU_Baseball on X, and emu_baseball on Instagram for live in-game updates and additional EMU baseball content.

ALL-TIME AGAINST MICHIGAN
Eastern and Michigan will meet on the diamond for the 191st time Tuesday. Overall, the Eagles hold a 65-123-2 record against the Wolverines, and an 8-23 clip when facing them in Ann Arbor. Michigan has controlled the series in recent years having won nine of the previous 10 contests. Eastern once took seven straight over Michigan from 2011-14, its longest winning streak against the Big Ten foe.

LAST SEASON VS MICHIGAN
Eastern split a home-and-home series with the Wolverines last season. The Eagles first run-ruled Michigan in seven innings to the tune of 14-4 to open the home portion of its 2024 season, before the Wolverines returned the favor with a 16-8 win in seven innings in the final game of the series in Ann Arbor, April 2.

NOTABLES FROM WIN VS MICHIGAN IN 2024
Eastern's 14-4 run-ruling victory over Michigan last season, March 19, marked its largest win over a "Power Five" team since is bested the Purdue Boilermakers by 18 runs (20-2) in the 2013 season, May 14. It was the first time the Eagles have beat a power five team since they beat Notre Dame University of the Atlantic Coast Conference in San Antonio, Texas, Feb. 22, 2019. The game also served as the first time Eastern Michigan defeated the Wolverines since April 15, 2015, when it bested Michigan in Ann Arbor by a score of 4-3. It was also the first time the Eagles defeated the Wolverines at home since April 23, 2013, when Eastern won a high-scoring game, 15-10. Lastly, the game served as Head Coach Robbie Britt's first win at home as the EMU skipper.

LOOKING FOR P5 ROAD WIN
Eastern is in search of its second "Power Five" win under Head Coach Robbie Britt, and its first P5 road win after run ruling Michigan in the 2024 home opener, 14-4, March 19. The Eagles last won a game against a P5 opponent on the road when they topped Notre Dame, 4-2, in the third game of the 2019 Alamo Irish Classic, Feb. 22. The last true road P5 win came in the 2018 season, when the Eagles bested Oklahoma State, 6-5, March 11, securing the series win, its first over a P5 opponent since it took 2-of-3 from Kansas in Lawrence in 2011.

ALL-TIME AGAINST THE B1G
The contest against Michigan will mark the 402nd for Eastern against a Big Ten opponent. Overall, the Eagles post a 150-248-5 record when facing Big Ten teams. Additionally, the only four Big Ten institutions the Eagles have yet to face on the diamond are Maryland, Rutgers, USC, and UCLA.

SERIES IN REVIEW: VS MIAMI, MARCH 21-22
Eastern took one of three games against Miami to open the home portion of its 2025 schedule, March 21-22.

Game One
Eastern fell to Miami in the first game of the series, 14-11. The game was highlighted by Ty Stecko's two homers, marking the second time an EMU player homered twice in the same game this season.

Game Two
EMU dropped game two in seven innings, 18-7. Junior infielder Devan Zirwas set a career high with five RBI and tied his career best with three hits as he went a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate. His five RBI that day tie for the second-most in a single game in the MAC and on the squad as Logan Hugo's six RBI hold the top spot in both.

Game Three
Eastern exploded for a 19-run performance against the RedHawks in the series finale, winning 19-12. The runs total marked the most of the season from the Eagles as they were led by a career day from Logan Hugo, who posted five hits, two doubles, two home runs, and six RBI.

OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION
The Eagles exploded for a season-best offensive performance in game three against the RedHawks, March 22. Eastern set season highs in runs (19), hits (18), RBI (18), and walks (11). Eastern Michigan's 19 runs stands as the third-most in a single game in the MAC, while its 18 hits and five doubles are the third-most. Its runs, hits, RBI, and walks (11) all serve as the most in the Head Coach Robbie Britt era.

Eastern's bats particularly popped off in the second inning, scoring nine runs. Its nine runs that inning are the most under Britt and the most since Eastern plated 10 against Toledo, May 4, 2021.

HUGO CAREER DAY
Senior outfielder Logan Hugo had a career day in the 19-12 win over the RedHawks, March 22. Hugo went 5-for-6 from the plate with two home runs, two doubles, six RBI, and three runs. His five hits, two home runs, and six RBI all marked career-highs. The five hits, six RBI, and 13 total bases stand as the most from an individual in the MAC this season while his two home runs tie for the second-most in the conference.

ZIRWAS CAREER HIGH RBI
Junior infielder Devan Zirwas hit career-best marks in the second game against Miami, March 21. He went a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate with five RBI. Zirwas' five RBI stand as the second most from an individual in the MAC this season to his teammate Logan Hugo's six RBI against the RedHawks, March 22.

STRONG START TO MAC PLAY
After winning its first two MAC series, Eastern is off to a 6-3 start in MAC play, its best since it started 7-2 in the 2017 season, a campaign that saw the Eagles finish as the MAC Tournament Runner Ups.

EASTERN IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
Eastern ranks 21st in the nation and first in the MAC with a .317 batting average. It also slots 27th in the nation in runs per game as its 8.8 serves as the second-best output in the MAC. The Eagles also slot inside the top 50 in slugging percentage (44th - .505), home runs per game (45th - 1.45), and on-base percentage (0.420).

BIG FISCH IN A LITTLE POND
Freshman right hander Fischer Hendershot is the only true freshman in the MAC with multiple saves this season, as he is tied with Ethan Davis for the team lead with two. Hendershot's two saves are the most from an Eastern freshman since Thomas House recorded four in his freshman campaign in 2018.

BEATING THE TOURNEY CHAMPS PT. 2
For the second straight season, Eastern Michigan has beat the reigning MAC Tournament Champion in a series. Eastern recently bested the reigning tournament champs, Western Michigan, March 14-15, after taking 2-of-3 from Ball State in the 2024 season, March 8-10. Eastern's series win over Western marked the first time it has beaten the reigning MAC Tournament Champion in consecutive seasons since 2007-08. Eastern swept the 2006 MAC Tournament Champions, Ball State in a three-game slate in the 2007 season, April 20-22, before besting the 2007 tournament champion, Kent State, 12-4, May 24, in their lone match up of the season in 2008 to clinch the MAC Tournament Championship.

TEAM TRIPLE DOUBLES
The Eagles have reached double-digit marks in runs hits, and RBI six times this season. They hold a 5-1 record in such games. Most recently, Eastern posted 10+ in each category in the 19-12 win over Miami, March 22. Eastern scored 19 runs, while recording 18 hits and 18 RBI.

AHEAD OF SCHEDULE (2024 WIN TOTAL)
The Eagles won 14 games in Britt's first season last year. Twenty games into the 2025 campaign, the Eagles have already reached 10 wins, more than half of the 14 they earned in 2024. EMU posted seven wins in its first 20 games last season.

HUGO BREAKOUT SEASON
Senior outfielder Logan Hugo is in the midst of a breakout season. After winning the MAC Player of the Week award for the first time in his career, Feb. 25. The 6-foot-2 right-handed bat ranks highly across the MAC as he stands inside the top five in terms of value in doubles (2nd - 11), hits (2nd - 34), slugging percentage (3rd - .756), and home runs (5th - six) . Hugo is currently posting career highs in batting average (.395), slugging (.756), and OPS (1.215). If he keeps his current doubles pace (0.47 per game), Hugo would end the season with 27 doubles, which would set the program record.

HUGO IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
Logan Hugo ranks inside the national top 25 in three categories, including doubles (15th - 11), doubles per game (6th - 0.55), and hits per game (23rd - 1.70). The senior outfielder also ranks highly in slugging percentage, standing 51st in the country with a 0.756 clip.

DREW BECKNER ON THE BUMP
Senior left hander Drew Beckner has gotten off to a solid start on the mound. Through six starts (31.1 IP - third most in the MAC), he posts a 4.02 ERA (6th in the MAC) and has allowed 14 earned runs (5th in the MAC). With a 2-1 record on the year, his two wins are tied for the third most in the conference. Expected to make a minimum of eight more starts this season, Beckner is on pace to set career-best marks in innings pitched (72.33), strikeouts (67.66). He is currently averaging career-bests in ERA (4.02), and WHIP (1.51).

POTENT OFFENSE
Through 20 games, the Eagles offense is pacing the MAC in average (.317 - stands 21st in the country), has struck out 149 times, the fewest in the MAC, and also leads the conference in hit by pitch (1st - 43/53rd in the nation). Eastern also ranks inside the top five in terms of value in eight categories, including slugging percentage (3rd - .505/44th in the nation), doubles (T4th - 43), RBI (4th - 164), home runs (T4th - 29) hits (5th - 227), runs (5th - 176), and total bases (5th - 361).

PITCHING RANKINGS
Eastern pitching ranks inside the top five in the conference in value in six categories including triples allowed (2nd least - five), doubles allowed (T2nd least - 40), wins (T3rd - 10), hits allowed (T3rd least - 207), home runs allowed (5th least - 26), and runs allowed (5th - 172).

HUGO MAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior outfielder Logan Hugo was named MAC Player of the Week for the first time in his career, Feb. 25. In 13 at-bats, Hugo batted .538 with a 1.000 slugging percentage and 1.600 OPS. He notched seven hits, four of which went for extra bases (three doubles, one homer), while driving in seven runs, and totaling 13 bases. The Essexville, Mich., native also worked one walk and one hit by pitch while going strikeout free for the week.

Hugo started the week with a 4-for-5 performance from the plate with a MAC single-game high three doubles and four RBI while scoring one run. He then went 1-for-4 from the dish in game two with one home run, two RBI, and two runs scored, before batting 2-for-4 in the series finale, driving in one run.

UPCOMING MILESTONES
Logan Hugo recently reached the 100 RBI mark as he has 102 in his career. Giano Zuccaro is 24 hits away from reaching the 200 mark, and two home runs away from posting 20 in his career. Pitching wise, Drew Beckner is 12 strikeouts away from reaching 200, and Tyler Kapa is three from reaching the 100 milestone.

KINGS OF THE FIFTH
The Eagles have thrived in the fifth inning, scoring roughly 26.7 percent of their total runs (176) in the frame as they have scored 47 runs in the fifth, their highest total in any inning this season. Conversely, Eastern has allowed just 26 runs in the fifth inning, accounting for just 15.1 percent of their total runs allowed (172).

IMPORTANCE OF THE SIXTH
The sixth inning has provided insight on whether the Eagles will win or lose the game. When leading after six innings, Eastern posts an 8-2 record. Conversely, when trailing after six, EMU is winless at 0-8. EMU earned its eighth win of the season when leading after six innings against Miami, March 22, as it concluded the sixth with a 15-8 advantage and won the game 19-12.

ONE WEEK, TWO SAVES
Junior right hander Ethan Davis had a strong week as he earned one save in both of his appearances out of the bullpen against Akron, March 7-9. Davis tallied 3.1 innings pitched and allowed just one run while issuing zero walks and striking out two. Davis' two saves lead the Eagles and stand as the third most in the MAC. Furthermore, he is the first Eastern hurler to earn two saves in one week since Trevor House did so in the 2021 season against Toledo in the first game of a doubleheader, May 11, and against Northern Illinois, May 15. Davis plays a large role in the much improved Eastern bullpen that through 20 games already has more saves than it did all of last season.

ZIRWAS MAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Devan Zirwas earned the first conference player of the week award of his career, and the Eagles' second consecutive as senior outfielder Logan Hugo won the award the previous week, Feb. 25. Zirwas paced the Eagles in nearly all offensive categories. In 17 at-bats, he batted .529, knocked nine hits, four of which went for extra bases (three doubles, one home run), driving in three runs, and totaling 15 bases.

Zirwas struck out just twice on the week as he posted a 1.411 OPS (.882 slugging, .529 on-base) and played a perfect first base, totaling 28 putouts, three assists, and a 1.000% fielding clip. Zirwas tallied multiple hits in 3-of-4 games on the week, starting the series with a 3-for-5 performance with one run, two doubles, and one RBI, before batting 2-for-3 with one run scored in game two, 1-for-4 with one double in game three, and 3-for-5 in the series finale with one run scored, one home run, and two RBI.

Zirwas is spreading his wings after seeing just 48 at-bats in his redshirt freshman season at VCU in 2024. He has already set career highs in at-bats (77), runs (20), hits (29), doubles (eight), home runs (five), RBI (27), total bases (52), walks (eight), stolen bases (one). He is also posting career best numbers in average (.377) and OPS (1.131). Zirwas has also improved his discipline at the plate as he posts just two more strikeouts than he did last season at VCU (15), but has 28 more at-bats.

KAPA'S COMPLETE GAME
Tyler Kapa pitched a seven-inning complete game against Presbyterian in the first game of a doubleheader, March 1, becoming the first EMU hurler to throw a complete game since his teammate, Bobby Jones threw an eight-inning complete game last season against Northern Illinois (May 16). Kapa is one of 89 pitchers nationally and four in the MAC to have thrown a complete game this season. He allowed seven hits and three earned runs, while striking out nine and walking two. Overall, he is tied for seventh in the nation with his one complete game.

ON THE HORIZON
Eastern will return to MAC play with a three-game set against the Ohio Bobcats, in Athens Friday-Sunday, March 28-30. All three games will be streamed on ESPN+.

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.

Baseball Prepares to Face Michigan in Non-Conference Tilt Tuesday

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Players Mentioned

Drew Beckner

Ethan Davis

Fischer Hendershot

Logan Hugo

Bobby Jones

Tyler Kapa

Ty Stecko

Devan Zirwas

Giano Zuccaro

Eastern Michigan Athletics