Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, March 28
Athens, Ohio
3:35 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
at
Ohio
Photo by: Alex Paslawski
Baseball Readies for Pivotal Weekend MAC Series at Ohio
3/27/2025 3:15:00 PM | Baseball
The series will run Friday-Sunday, March 28-30
| Eastern Michigan Baseball at Ohio | |
| Date | Friday-Sunday | March 28-30 |
| Venue | Bob Wren Stadium| Athens, Ohio |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes (PDF) | Media Guide |
| Live Stats | EMUEagles.com/livestats |
| Watch Live | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 |
| Social Media | X: @EMU_Baseball | @EMUAthletics IG: @emu_baseball | @emuathletics |
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Fresh off a win against the University of Michigan, March 25, the Eastern Michigan University baseball team is slated for a pivotal Mid-American Conference (MAC) road series against the Ohio University Bobcats Friday-Sunday, March 28-30.
Eastern enters the game standing tied for third in the MAC with a 6-3 record (11-10 overall) and is off to its best start in MAC play since 2017. The Bobcats come in standing ninth in the conference with a 2-7 record (6-17 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 OHIO
Eastern and Ohio will battle for the 142nd time Friday. Overall, Eastern holds a 71-70 all-time record against OU, and a 13-19 record when facing it in Athens. Eastern last beat the Bobcats in Athens in the 2018 season, taking 2-of-3 games for the series win, April 13-14. Ohio has controlled the series recently as it has won eight of the previous 10 matchups against EMU. Eastern is looking to break an eight-game losing streak in Athens.
LAST SEASON VS. OHIO
Ohio won the series, taking 2-of-3 from the Eagles in Ypsilanti last season, April 13-14. EMU won the first game, 15-6, on the backs of an Aidan Arbogast home run, securing four of his seven RBI in the game, the most from an Eagle since the 2017 season. Ohio bounced back to win game two, 7-4, and game three, 9-4.
NOTABLES FROM WIN VS MICHIGAN
Eastern's 9-8 win over Michigan, March 25, marked its first true road win over a "Power Four" program since it bested the Oklahoma State Cowboys, 6-5, to secure a series win, March 11, 2018. The result marks the first time that Eastern Michigan has defeated a Big Ten Conference team on the road since it beat Ohio State, April 12, 2017. Eastern also picked up its first win in Ann Arbor since April 15, 2015, ending an eight-game losing streak in the city.
MULTIPLE P4 WINS FOR BRITT
With two wins over Michigan in his first two seasons at the helm of the program, Head Coach Robbie Britt became the fourth head coach in program history to earn multiple "power conference" wins in his first two seasons at the helm of the program. Roger Coryell won five from 1989-90, Jay Alexander won six from 2009-10, and Mark Van Ameyde won four from 2015-16.
LAST GAME: AT MICHIGAN, MARCH 25
The Eagles upset their cross-county rival, the Michigan Wolverines, 9-8, March 25. Eastern entered the ninth inning down one run at 7-8 before Giano Zuccaro clutched-up, roping a double to right center to score Devan Zirwas and tie the game, 8-8. Later in the inning, Zuccaro ran home off a Wolverines' passed ball to score the go-ahead run.
After striking out the lead-off batter and walking the second man up, Ethan Davis forced a ground ball to second base where the Eagles would turn a double play to end the game.
PITCHING CHAOS
Eastern used a total of 10 pitchers in the 9-8 win over Michigan, March 25. It marks the first time it has used 10 pitchers since April 25, 2023, when it beat Alma 15-12 at Comerica Park. EMU's 10 pitchers used in the win is its most used in a power conference win in the modern statistical era (1999-present).
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 fourth 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. A sweep of the Bobcats would bring EMU's MAC record to 9-3, which would serve as its best start in MAC play since it started 10-2 in 2008. Taking two of three from Ohio would bring the Eagles' MAC record to 8-4, marking their best start in conference action since they also started 8-4 in the 2017 campaign.
EASTERN IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
The Eagles rank inside the national top 50 in four categories, most notably standing 23rd in the nation with a .314 batting average.
Stat Figure Rank
Average .314 23rd
On-Base .420 43rd
Slugging .503 45th
Homers/Game 1.43 47th
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-one games into the 2025 campaign, the Eagles have already reached 11 wins, just three wins shy of the 14 they earned in 2024. EMU posted eight wins in its first 21 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 (4th - .730), home runs (4th - six), RBI (5th - 26). Hugo is currently posting career highs in batting average (.382), slugging (.730), and OPS (1.186). If he keeps his current doubles pace (0.52 per game), Hugo would end the season with 26 doubles, which would set the program record.
His 11 doubles already mark a career high while his home run (six), and RBI totals (26) are both four away from tying his career highs set last season.
HUGO IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
Logan Hugo ranks inside the national top 50 in three categories, and inside the top-20 in two, most notably standing 12th in the nation with 0.52 doubles per game.
Stat Figure Rank
Doubles/Game 0.52 12th
Doubles 11 19th
Hits/Game 1.62 47th
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 - 4th most in the MAC), he posts a 4.02 ERA (5th in the MAC) and has allowed 14 earned runs (4th 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 21 games, the Eagles offense ranks inside the MAC top five in nine categories, including pacing the MAC in average (.314 - stands 23rd in the country) and strikeouts, as they have gone down on strikes just 154 times, the fewest in the MAC, and 18 fewer than the second-least strikeout total (172). Eastern also leads the conference in hit by pitch (1st - 45/49th in the nation).
Stat Figure MAC Rnk. N'atl Rnk.
Average .314 1st 23rd
HBP (offensive) 45 1st 49th
Slugging % .503 3rd 45th
RBI 170 4th n/a
Home runs 30 4th n/a
Runs 185 4th 80th
Doubles 45 5th 124th
Hits 235 5th 94th
Total bases 376 5th n/a
PITCHING RANKINGS
Eastern pitching ranks inside the top five in the conference in value in six categories.
Stat Figure MAC Rnk.
Triples Allowed 5 T2nd
Hits Allowed 207 T2nd
Wins 11 T3rd
Homers Allowed 26 4th
Doubles Allowed 45 4th
Saves 5 4th
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.
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 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 excelling after seeing just 48 at-bats in his redshirt freshman season at VCU in 2024. He has set career highs in at-bats (81), runs (22), hits (31), doubles (eight), home runs (five), RBI (29), total bases (56), walks (nine), stolen bases (one). He is also posting career best numbers in average (.383) and OPS (1.154). Zirwas has also improved his discipline at the plate as he struck out in 30 percent of his at-bats in 2024 and currently strikeouts just 21 percent of the time this season.
UPCOMING MILESTONES
Logan Hugo recently reached the 100 RBI mark as he has 102 in his career and is four homers away from reaching 30. Giano Zuccaro is 23 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 25.4 percent of their total runs (185) in the frame as they have scored 47 runs in the fifth, their highest total in any inning this season.
STRONG IN THE NINTH
Eastern has allowed just nine runs in the ninth inning, its least amount of runs allowed in any inning this season. The seven runs allowed in the ninth account for just four percent of its total runs allowed (180).
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 1-8. 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. Most recently, the Eagles came back to win for the first time after being down after six innings against Michigan, March 25. Eastern concluded the sixth inning that day trailing 7-6 and came back to win 9-8.
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 fourth 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 21 games already has more saves than it did all of last season.
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 90 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 non-conference action as it will complete the second half of a home and home series with the Michigan Wolverines Tuesday, April 1, 3 p.m. The following day, Eastern will take on Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., Wednesday, April 2, 5 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) and emu_baseball on Instagram.
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