Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, April 4
Ypsilanti, Mich.
11 a.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Ball State
Photo by: Steven King/Steve King Studios
Baseball Poised for MAC Series Versus Ball State
4/3/2025 1:46:00 PM | Baseball
The series will start with a doubleheader Friday and conclude with one game Saturday
| Ball State vs. Eastern Michigan Baseball | |
| Date | Friday-Saturday | April 4-5 |
| Venue | Oestrike Stadium| Ypsilanti, Mich. |
| 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) – Looking to match and surpass its win total from the 2024 season (14) just 26 games into the 2025 campaign, the Eastern Michigan University baseball team will take on the Cardinals of Ball State University in a three-game Mid-American Conference (MAC) set, Friday-Saturday, April 4-5, at Oestrike Stadium. Friday will entail a doubleheader with game one starting at 11 a.m. and game two beginning roughly 40 minutes after the conclusion of game one. Game three is schedule for Saturday, April 5, 2 p.m.
Eastern enters the week standing fifth in the MAC with an 8-4 record (13-12 overall) and is off to its best start in MAC play since 2017. Ball State enters the series standing third in the MAC (7-2) and is tied with Kent State for the second-best conference record while tying Bowling Green for the most overall wins in the MAC (20).
Admission is free for all games. Fans can follow along using the live stats and watch links 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, and emubaseball on Instagram for live in-game updates and additional EMU baseball content.
ALL-TIME AGAINST BALL STATE
Eastern and Ball State will face off for the 173rd-175th time once the series is completed. Overall, the series is neck-and-neck with the Cardinals holding a slight edge as EMU possesses a 85-86-1 all-time record against BSU and a 17-19 clip when facing them at home. Ball State has controlled the series in recent years as Eastern holds a 3-7 record in the last 10 games against the Cardinals. Eastern is looking to snap a four-game losing streak at home against them and is looking to take a home series over BSU for the first time since 2018, when it captured 2-of-3 over it, April 6-8. Eastern's offense is typically productive against the Cardinals as it averages 6.05 runs per game when facing them since the 1999 season.
LAST SEASON AT BSU
Eastern took 2-of-3 games from the Cardinals on the road last season to open MAC play, March 8-10. The series win marked the Eagles' first in Muncie in 17 years as the last time they captured a series in the city came in the 2007 season via a three-game sweep over the Cardinals. The series win also went down as the first time EMU has won a series against the defending MAC Tournament Champion since it took 2-of-3 games from the Ohio University Bobcats in Athens in the 2018 season, April 13-14.
LAST TIME OUT: VS. MICHIGAN, APRIL 1
EMU is coming off a 13-2 loss to Michigan, April 1. Cooper Vance and Harrison Travis each recorded solo homers, marking Vance's second of the year and Travis' sixth. Ethan LaPointe was a bright spot on the mound, totaling career bests with four strikeouts in 2.2 innings while allowing zero earned runs, his second consecutive outing allowing zero earned runs as he also did so in the 9-8 win at Michigan, March 25.
NOTABLES FROM WIN AT 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 marked the first time that Eastern Michigan 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.
CARDIAC EAGLES
Eastern has four comeback wins when trailing by at least three runs this season, surpassing the three it had in the 2024 campaign. Two of the four comeback wins have come in the ninth inning with the Eagles putting up eight runs in the frame for the victory. Eastern trailed Western Michigan 7-2 entering the ninth, March 14, before putting up eight runs to win, 10-8. The Eagles accomplished the feat again in a 9-5 win over Ohio, March 29, as they entered the ninth down 5-1 and rattled off eight to secure the 9-5 victory.
EASTERN IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
The Eagles rank inside the national top 50 in six categories, most notably standing 23rd in the nation with a .313 batting average.
Stat Figure Rank
Average .313 23rd
Runs/Game 9 27th
On-Base .420 43rd
Slugging .495 45th
Homers/Game 1.37 47th
Hit by Pitch 55 49th
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), RBI (18), and walks (11), while also knocking 18 hits, its second-highest total of the season. Eastern Michigan's 19 runs that day 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, 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.
Eastern nearly matched that performance in its 18-13 win over Ohio, March 29. It tied a season best with 18 RBI while setting a season best with 19 hits.
AHEAD OF SCHEDULE (2024 WIN TOTAL)
The Eagles won 14 games in Britt's first season last year. Twenty-five games into the 2025 campaign, the Eagles have already reached 13 wins, just one win shy of the 14 they earned in 2024. EMU posted 10 wins in its first 24 games last season.
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.
STRONG START TO MAC PLAY
After winning three of its first four MAC series, Eastern is off to a 8-4 start in MAC play, its best since it also started 8-4 in the 2017 season, a campaign that saw the Eagles finish as the MAC Tournament Runner Ups. A sweep of the Cardinals would bring the Eagles MAC record to 11-4 through 15 games for the first time since the 2008 campaign, a season that saw the Eagles win the MAC Tournament. Taking 2-of-3 from the Cardinals would bring Eastern's MAC record to 10-5 for the first time since 2010.
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 ranks second on the team with two behind Ethan Davis' three. 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 seven times this season. They hold a 6-1 record in such games. Most recently, Eastern posted 10+ in each category in the 18-13 win at Ohio, March 29. Eastern scored 18 runs, while recording 19 hits and 18 RBI.
PITCHING RANKINGS
Eastern pitching ranks inside the top five in the conference in value in six categories.
Stat Figure MAC Rnk.
Triples Allowed 5 T1st
Homers Allowed 32 5th
Doubles Allowed 52 4th
Saves 6 T4th
Hits Allowed 266 5th
Wins 13 5th
POTENT OFFENSE
Through 25 games, the Eagles offense ranks inside the MAC top five in nine categories, including pacing the MAC in average (.310 - stands 27th in the country) and strikeouts, as they have gone down on strikes just 178 times, the fewest in the MAC, and 22 fewer than the second-least strikeout total (200). Eastern also leads the conference in hit by pitch (1st - 55/27th in the nation).
Stat Figure MAC Rnk. N'atl Rnk.
Average .310 1st 27th
HBP (offensive) 55 1st 27th
Strikeouts (Least) 178 1st n/a
On-Base % 0.418 2nd 46th
Slugging % .496 3rd 58th
RBI 202 4th n/a
Runs 217 4th 71st
Home runs 35 5th 80th
Doubles 53 5th 121st
HUGO BREAKOUT SEASON
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 right-handed bat ranks highly IN the MAC as he stands inside the top five in terms of value in doubles (3rd - 11). Hugo is currently posting career highs in batting average (.356), slugging (.683), and OPS (1.116). If he keeps his current doubles pace (0.45 per game), Hugo would end the season with 21 doubles, which would tie Steve Bradshaw (2008) for the fifth most in program history.
His 11 doubles already mark a career high while his RBI total (30) ties his career best from last season, and his home runs (seven) are three away from tying his career high set in 2024 (10).
HUGO IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
Logan Hugo ranks inside the national top 50 in two categories.
Stat Figure Rank
Doubles/Game 0.46 34th
Doubles 11 41st
DREW BECKNER ON THE BUMP
Senior left hander Drew Beckner has gotten off to a solid start on the mound. Through six starts (37.0 IP - 5th most in the MAC), he posts a 4.14 ERA (6th in the MAC) and has allowed 17 earned runs (7th in the MAC). With a 2-1 record on the year, his two wins are tied for the fourth most in the conference. Expected to make a minimum of seven more starts this season, Beckner is on pace to set career-best marks in innings pitched (74) and strikeouts (68). He is currently averaging career-bests in ERA (4.14), and WHIP (1.41).
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.
KINGS OF THE FIFTH
The Eagles have thrived in the fifth inning, scoring roughly 25.3 percent of their total runs (217) in the frame as they have scored 55 runs in the fifth, their highest total in any inning this season.
STRONG IN THE NINTH
Eastern has allowed just seven 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 3.4 percent of its total runs allowed (202).
ZIRWAS MAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Devan Zirwas earned the first conference player of the week award of his career, March 4, 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), while 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 (98), runs (26), hits (37), doubles (eight), home runs (five), RBI (32), total bases (62), walks (12), stolen bases (one). He is also posting career best numbers in average (.378) and OPS (1.094). 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 19 percent of the time this season.
UPCOMING MILESTONES
Tyler Kapa recently reached the 100 strikeouts milestone with his six at Ohio, March 29. He currently has 103 in his NCAA Division I career. Giano Zuccaro is 20 hits away from reaching the 200 mark, and two home runs away from posting 20 in his career. Pitching wise, Drew Beckner is seven strikeouts away from reaching 200.
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 a 9-2 record. Conversely, when trailing after six, EMU is 2-10. EMU earned its ninth win of the season when leading after six innings against Ohio, March 29, as it concluded the sixth with a 17-9 advantage and won the game 18-13. Most recently, the Eagles came back to win for the second time after being down after six innings against Ohio, March 29. Eastern concluded the sixth inning in the first game of the doubleheader that day trailing 5-1 and came back to win 9-5.
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' three saves lead the Eagles and stand as the fifth 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 25 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 109 pitchers nationally and five 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 13th in the nation with his one complete game.
ON THE HORIZON
Eastern will remain home for more MAC contests, as it is slated to host Toledo for a three-game set Friday-Sunday, April 11-13.
FOLLOW US
For all things EMU Baseball, check out the team's social media accounts, including EMU_Baseball on X, emu.baseball on Instagram, and emu.baseball on TikTok.
Players Mentioned
LHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballDrew Beckner's Comments After BGSU Win in MAC Tournament
Friday, May 23
Robbie Britt's Comments After MAC Tournament Win over BGSU
Friday, May 23
EMU Stuns BGSU for First Postseason Win Since 2017
Friday, May 23
Baseball 2025 MAC Tournament Practice Day Recap
Wednesday, May 21