Baseball Takes on Notre Dame in South Bend Wednesday

Baseball at Notre Dame
Date	Wednesday \| March 5
Venue	Frank Eck Stadium \| South Bend, Ind.
Preview Info	EMU Notes (PDF) \| Media Guide
Live Stats	Statbroadcast
Watch Live	ESPN+
Social Media	X: @EMU _Baseball \| @EMUAthletics IG: @emu_baseball \| @emuathletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Returning to the midwest to take on their second Power Five and Atlantic Coast Conference opponent of the season, the Eastern Michigan University baseball team will battle the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame University in a non-conference, mid-week contest, at Frank Eck Stadium, in South Bend, Ind., Wednesday, March 5. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m.

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 (formerly Twitter), and emu_baseball on Instagram for live in-game updates and additional EMU baseball content.

ALL-TIME AGAINST NOTRE DAME
Eastern holds a 4-5 all-time record against the Fighting Irish. Wednesday's match up marks the first since the two programs played each other twice in the 2019 season at the Alamo Irish Classic, splitting the two games. Eastern holds a 3-3 record when facing the Irish in South Bend, most recently being shutout, 5-0, April 26, 2017. The Eagles' most recent win at Notre Dame came the year prior, shutting out the Irish, 8-0, April 27, 2016.

ZIRWAS MAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Junior infielder Devan Zirwas earned the first conference player of the week award of his career, and the Eagles second consecutively 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' week comes as he leads the conference and ranks 10th nationally with seven doubles, two more than the second-highest value (five), while standing fourth in America and first in the MAC, averaging 0.78 doubles per game. He is one of three EMU players ranking inside the top five in the MAC in slugging, as he stands fifth with a .750 slugging clip. Moreover, his two doubles in the win over the Blue Hose, Feb. 28, stand as the second most in a single game in the MAC this season.

SERIES IN REVIEW: AT PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE, FEB. 28-MARCH 2
The Eagles most recently split a four-game set with the reigning Big South Regular Season Champions, the Blue Hose of Presbyterian College.

Game One
Eastern took the first game from the Blue Hose, 8-2. After Presbyterian scored one run in each of the first two frames, the Eagles scored multiple runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings to earn the win.

Game Two
Senior outfielder Giano Zuccaro drove in two runs in the first inning, the only two runs of the day for EMU as it fell in the first game of a seven-inning doubleheader, 5-2.

Game Three
The Eagles bounced back in the second game of the doubleheader, scoring all five of their runs in the fifth inning while working a season-high seven walks in the 5-2 victory.

Game Four
Giano Zuccaro crushed a three-run home run in the eighth to give the Eagles a 9-8 lead in a back-and-forth contest, but that wouldn't hold as the Eagles got walked off in the ninth, 10-9.

HISTORIC OFFENSIVE START
Through ten games, Eastern has seen its most hits (107) since 2018 (110), most runs (74) since 1999 (77), most home runs (15) since 2022 (16), most RBI (69) since 1999 (71), and most doubles (24) since 2014 (28) Furthermore, Eastern has tallied double-digit hits in seven of its first 10 games to start the season for the first time since 2010, seven or more RBI in seven of its ten for the first time in the modern statistical era (1999-present), and recorded at least one home run in eight of the first 10 games of the season for the first time since 2022.

POTENT OFFENSE
Through six games, the Eagles offense is pacing the MAC in three categories, ranking first in average (.301), doubles (24), and slugging percentage (.500). They rank second in runs (74), hits (107), home runs (15), RBI (69), and total bases (178). Eastern has also struck out 80 times, the third-least figure in the MAC.

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. His four hits that day also tied for the most in the conference in a single game. 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 Monday, driving in one run.

ON PACE TO...
Averaging 1.5 home runs per game while ranking second in the MAC in home runs with 15, Eastern is on pace to hit 73.5 home runs, a figure that would rank sixth all time on the single-season leaderboards. Averaging 2.40 doubles per game, EMU is on pace to conclude the season with 117.6 doubles, the fifth most in program history and most since the 2008 squad hit 120.

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 away from the friendly confines of Oestrike Stadium 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.

TWO VS THE ACC
The game against Notre Dame marks the second ACC opponent the Eagles have matched up with this season after starting the 2025 campaign against Pitt in Port Charlotte, Fla. 2025 marks the first time the Eagles have faced two ACC foes in the same season since it took on Wake Forest twice (March 2, March 4) and Notre Dame once (March 20) in the 2012 season, losing all three games. Overall, the game against the Irish will mark the 60th Eastern has played vs an ACC team. It is 24-35 when facing the conference.

POP IN THE BATS
Eastern's 15 home runs ranks 43rd in the nation and second in the MAC. Having homered multiple times in five of the first ten games, the Eagles rank 29th nationally and first in the conference in home runs per game (1.50), and slot 52nd in America and first in the MAC with a .500 slugging percentage. The output has powered the Eagles to 74 total runs, the second most in the conference.

DEV'S DOUBLES
Junior infielder Devan Zirwas slots first in the MAC with seven doubles on the year, a figure that ranks him 10th in the country. With at least one two-bagger in six of his nine games played this season, the Imperial, Pa., native stands fourth nationally and first in the MAC, averaging 0.78 doubles per game. Zirwas has at least one extra-base hit in seven of his nine games this season and has doubled and homerd in the same game once this season (at Central Arkansas, Feb. 22). He recently went 3-for-5 with one home run, two RBI, and one run in Eastern's last game against Presbyterian, March 2

HARRISON TRAVIS: POWER HITTER
Graduate student catcher Harrison Travis has the second-most home runs in the MAC with four on the season. His three long balls rank him 63rd in the country while slotting 26th nationally in homers per game (0.50). His homers per game value rank as the most in the MAC. Travis most recently homered in the series-opening win over Presbyterian (Feb. 28), going 1-for-5 from the dish.

BRUCE JELLISON: BIG HITTER
Junior infielder Bruce Jellison has seen a productive start to his Division I career, as he leads the team and is tied for the third-most hits in the conference with 14. Jellison has been a tough out at the plate as he has gone down on strikes just three times this season, the least of any EMU starter. The Hartland, Mich., native is ranked 86th in the nation and fourth in the MAC in "Toughest to Strikeout," if he keeps his current strikeout pace, he will end the season with just 15 strikeouts.

JOHN HALE ON THE BASE PATHS
A threat on the base paths, junior outfielder John Hale ranks second in the MAC and 40th in the country with seven stolen bases while slotting third in the conference and 35th in America, averaging 0.70 swipes per game. Hale has also sacrificed his body at the plate. He's been pegged five times this season, ranking him third in the MAC and 76th nationally while standing 75th in the country and fourth in the MAC, averaging 0.50 HBP per game.

DREW BECKNER ON THE BUMP
Senior left hander Drew Beckner has gotten off to a hot start on the mound. Through three starts, he posts a 1.56 ERA (second in the MAC), has held opponents to a .161 batting average (first in the conference), allowed 10 hits (third in the MAC), three earned runs (third in the MAC), and has struck out 17 (fourth in the conference). With a 2-0 record on the year, his two wins are tied for the most in the MAC and stand 39th in the country. His 1.56 ERA, should he maintain that figure, would rank as the ninth-best in a single season in program history. He would be the first edit to that top-10 list since Eastern legend Bob Welch posted a 1.29 ERA as a freshman in 1975. Welch was drafted in the first round (20th overall) by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1977 draft, competed in Eastern's last College World Series appearance (1976), won the 1990 American League Cy Young Award, compiled a 211-146 record, totaled 1,969 strikeouts, and a 3.47 ERA in 3,092 innings across his 17-year MLB career.

KAPA's Ks
Senior right hander Tyler Kapa has demonstrated high strike-throwing ability in three starts this season. He has sat down a total of 22 batters, good for the second-highest total in the conference. Kapa's nine strikeouts against Pitt, Feb. 15, stand as the second most in a single game in the MAC this season and a Division I career high for the Waterford, Mich., native. Kapa ranks 52nd nationally in strikeouts while his 12.91 strikeouts per nine innings figure stands as the best in the conference and ranks 84th in the nation. Kapa became the first EMU hurler to throw a complete game since his teammate, Bobby Jones threw an eight-inning complete game in his final start last season against Northern Illinois (May 16, L, 5-4).

KAPA'S COMPLETE GAME
Despite being credited with the loss, Senior right hander Tyler Kapa pitched a seven-inning complete game against Presbyterian in the first game of a doubleheader, March 1. He is one of 25 pitchers nationally and three in the MAC to have thrown a complete game this season. He allowed seven hits, three earned runs, while striking out nine, and walking two. Additionally, with his nine strikeouts that day, he is the only pitcher in the MAC to strikeout at least nine batters in two games this season.

ON THE HORIZON
Eastern is set to open conference play with a three-game set against the Zips of Akron, at Skeeles Field, in Akron, Ohio, Friday-Sunday, March 7-9.

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
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.

BRITT PRIOR TO EASTERN
Robbie Britt's hiring was announced by EMU, June 16, 2023. A highly-accomplished program leader with four seasons as a Division II head coach, Britt arrived in Ypsilanti after serving as the head coach at the University of Charleston (W. Va.) from 2020-23. Posting a .722 career winning percentage (125-48), he has an extensive coaching resume which includes stops at the NCAA Division I, II, and III ranks along with high school and club baseball. Britt was the head coach at the University of Charleston (W. Va.) from 2020-23. The Maryville, Tenn., native owned the seventh-best winning percentage among active Division II head coaches. He had built the Golden Eagles into a perennial power at the Division II level with three NCAA appearances, three conference regular season championships, and two conference tournament titles. The third-winningest coach in program history, Britt's Charleston teams were dominant at home, posting a 72-14 record (.837 winning percentage) on their own field.

BOBBY JONES: ALL-MAC RETURNER
Eastern returns one All-MAC player in senior right-handed pitcher Bobby Jones. Earning a second-team nod 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, and 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) 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 on 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, 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.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Drew Beckner

John Hale

Fischer Hendershot

Logan Hugo

Bruce Jellison

Bobby Jones

Drew Jones

Tyler Kapa

Michael Pfeiffer

Harrison Travis

Connor Walsh

Devan Zirwas

Giano Zuccaro

Eastern Michigan Athletics