Baseball Welcomes NIU to Ypsilanti for Weekend MAC Slate Friday-Sunday

Northern Illinois at Eastern Michigan Baseball
Date	Friday-Sunday \| May 2-4
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
Listen Live	Game 1 \| Game 2 \| Game 3
Social Media	X: @EMU _Baseball \| @EMUAthletics IG: @emu_baseball \| @emuathletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – With three Mid-American Conference (MAC) series remaining, the Eastern Michigan University baseball team is slated for an important three-game weekend set against the Northern Illinois University Huskies Friday-Sunday, May 2-4, at Oestrike Stadium. Game one will start at 3:05 p.m. Friday, May 2, game two will begin at 2:05 p.m. Saturday, May 3, and the series finale is scheduled for a 1:05 p.m. first pitch Sunday, May 4.

Eastern enters the week standing sixth in the MAC, currently holds the final MAC Tournament spot with a 9-12 conference record (17-21 overall), is looking for its fourth MAC series win of the season, and was most recently swept in a three-game set by Bowling Green, April 26-27. The Huskies come in slotting 10th in the conference with a 5-16 MAC mark (16-28 overall) and most recently fell to the Milwaukee Panthers in a 24-run affair, 16-8 Tuesday, April 29, a game that saw the Huskies score seven runs in the ninth and 11 runs total over the final two innings.

Admission is free at Oestrike Stadium. Fans can follow along using the live stats, radio, 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.

ON THE AIR
Greg Steiner, Tom Helmer, and Elena Davis will have the call live on ESPN+ and The Varsity Network for all three contests.

ALL-TIME AGAINST NIU
Eastern and NIU will meet on the diamond for the 140th-142nd times this weekend. Eastern leads the all-time series with an 83-57 record against the Huskies, and a 29-15 record when facing them at Oestrike Stadium. The series has been a back-and-forth one in recent years, as the Eagles hold a 5-5 record in the series' previous 10 games. The Eagles average 6.87 runs per game against the Huskies and their largest margin of victory was 18, topping NIU, 22-4, May 8, 2004. Eastern rattled off 10 straight against the Huskies from 2000-02, and is looking to avoid tying its longest losing streak against NIU (four games) in the modern statistical era (1999-present) as they would match that number with a loss in game one.

LAST TIME AGAINST NIU
Eastern was swept by the Huskies in DeKalb to conclude the 2024 season, May 16-18 as each game was decided by just one run, with game two going into extra innings (11). The series was the first between the two institutions in the modern statistical era (1999-present) where each game was decided by one run. Bobby Jones struck out 10 Huskies and recorded the first complete game of his career and the third of the Eagles' 2024 season in game one. Brendan Kleiman homered in all three games, becoming the first Eagle to do so since Kyle Schroedle did so in the 2023 campaign, May 16-19.

THIS WEEKEND'S PROMOTIONS
Friday - Mental Health Awareness Day
As part of Mental Health Awareness Day, EMU baseball will honor Dr. Caroline Callaway, a Staff Psychologist from EMU who supports the mental health and well-being of EMU students every day.

Saturday - 9 Innings of Winnings
Fans can experience trivia throughout the game with a different question each inning for the chance to win Eastern prizes.

Sunday - Ypsi Wars Day
Long time Star Wars fan and EMU Volleyball Head Coach Kevin Foeman will throw out the first pitch, and fans will be able to participate in Star Wars trivia throughout the game as well as on-field Star Wars-themed promotions.

KAPA & BECKNER: MAC'S 1 & 2 IN Ks
Pitchers Tyler Kapa and Drew Beckner rank one and two in the MAC in strikeouts, as Kapa posts 66 and Beckner has 64. The duo is the only in the conference from the same school to rank inside the top five in strikeouts. Eastern is also the only school in the conference with two pitchers above 60 strikeouts on the season, one of eight Divison I schools in the country to have two pitchers that rank inside the conference top-three in strikeouts, and one of four pitching duos in Division I to rank first and second in their respective conference.

HUGO CAREER HOMERS
Logan Hugo has hit 29 home runs in his career, tying him for the eighth-most in program history. Ryan Goleski (2001-03) holds the program's career record with 51 long balls.

PITCHING VS POWER
This weekend's series will serve as the tale of pitching versus power as the Eagles have allowed the fewest extra-base hits (XBH) in the conference at 119 while NIU has tallied the most XBH from the plate at 168, including leading the MAC in homers (73) and ranking third in doubles (89). Conversely, EMU has given up the fewest homers (35), third-fewest doubles (73), and fourth-fewest triples (11).

SERIES IN REVIEW: AT BGSU, APRIL 26-27
The Eagles were most recently swept by the Bowling Green Falcons, April 26-27.

Game One
Bowling Green took game one, 11-4. Giano Zuccaro turned in a 3-for-4 day from the plate with two doubles and one home run while Eastern pitching tossed 11 strikeouts, headlined by Drew Beckner's four.

Game Two
The Falcons captured game two, 10-9, Ty Stecko turned in a two-hit day with three RBI while Michael Pfeiffer tossed a scoreless outing in a career-best 4.2 innings.

Game Three
BGSU completed the sweep with an 8-4 win as EMU starting pitcher Tyler Kapa struck out seven to increase his MAC-best strikeout total to 66 on the season. Ty Stecko led the EMU offense from the plate with a two-hit, two-RBI showing.

IN THE TOURNAMENT
Currently, the Eagles slot sixth in the MAC, qualifying them for the MAC Tournament for the first time since the 2018 season. Entering Friday, they would be paired with the three seed in the first round, which is currently occupied by Miami, whom EMU dropped a three-game series to, 2-1, March 21-22. Overall, EMU is 37-25 in the MAC Tournament, has won four of them (1981, 1982, 2003, 2008), and finished as the runner-up three times (2004, 2007, 2017).

SLAMMIN' EAGS
The Eagles excel in hitting grand slams as they have hit five this season with Harrison Travis recording the Eagles' fifth in the 14-4 run-ruling win over YSU, April 22. EMU's five grand slams are its most since at least the 2018 season, and stand three short of tying for the sixth-most in NCAA Division I history in terms of value. Should they reach eight grand slams, EMU would be the seventh team in NCAA history to do so in a season. It would also be the only MAC team on the list.

KAPA PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Tyler Kapa was named MAC Co-Pitcher of the Week, April 21. He struck out a MAC-high and career-best 11 batters without allowing a run for the first time in his NCAA Division I career, giving up a Division I career-low one hit, and walking two in the Eagles' 9-7 series-clinching win over Albany, April 19. He also tied a Division I career long outing with six innings pitched. Kapa was especially lethal with runners on base as he held the Great Danes' hitless (0-for-8) and excelled in ending innings, limiting Albany to a .143 (1-for-7) clip with two outs. Kapa's performance is the first instance of an EMU pitcher striking out 11 without allowing a run since current Altoona Curve (Pittsburgh Pirates Double-A Affiliate) pitcher Justin Meis punched out 11 without allowing a run off two hits and one walk in a 13-2 win over St. Bonaventure, May 1, 2021.

PLAYERS/PITCHERS OF THE WEEK
Eastern has earned four MAC Weekly Honors, doubling the two it had last season. Most recently, Tyler Kapa was named MAC Pitcher of the Week, April 21. The honor marked the Eagles' fourth player of the week award of the season as Logan Hugo (Feb. 25) and Devan Zirwas (March 4) previously earned the recognition as position players, and Drew Beckner was named MAC Pitcher of the Week, April 14.

After Beckner's pitcher of the week nod, April 14, and Kapa's, April 21, the Eagles' have earned consecutive MAC Pitcher of the Week awards for the first time since the 2017 season when Brad Allen won it, March 27, followed by Brent Mattson the next week, April 3.

CONSECUTIVE POTW AWARDS
Eastern is one of three MAC schools to earn consecutive player/pitcher of the week honors, and the only school in the conference to do so for both the player and pitcher of the week award. Logan Hugo and Devan Zirwas won the player of the week award in consecutive weeks, Feb. 25, March 1, while Drew Beckner and Tyler Kapa recently won back-to-back pitcher of the week honors, April 14, April 21.

BECKNER PUNCH OUTS
Drew Beckner recorded at least eight strikeouts in three consecutive outings, April 4-17. He is the first EMU pitcher to do so since Sam Delaplane (10, 8, 12) did in the 2017 season, March 31-April 14, posting 30 strikeouts total in the three starts. Beckner struck out eight in his start against Ball State, April 4, eight against Toledo, April 11, and 10 at Albany, April 17, for a total of 26 strikeouts.

COMPLETE GAME
Eastern posted double-digit runs (15), hits (13), RBI (15), walks (offensive) (12), and strikeouts (pitching) (15) in the same game for the first time in 21 years in a 15-6 win at Albany, April 17. The Eagles last accomplished the feat against the NCAA Division II Wayne State Warriors, March 22, 2004. Eastern recorded 13 runs, 11 hits, 10 RBI, 10 walks (offensive), and 10 strikeouts (pitching) enroute to a 13-3 win. Additionally, the walks and strikeouts totals marked the most in the Head Coach Robbie Britt era.

MULTIPLE P4 WINS FOR BRITT
With two wins over Michigan in his first two seasons as head coach, Robbie Britt became the fourth head coach in program history to earn multiple "power four" 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.

POTENT OFFENSE
Through 38 games, the Eagles offense ranks inside the MAC top five in nine categories, including pacing the MAC with the fewest strikeouts, as they have gone down on strikes just 254 times, 21 fewer than the second-least strikeout total (Western Michigan - 275).

Stat                        Figure          MAC Rnk.
Strikeouts (Least) 274               1st
Runs Per Game     7.8                3rd
Ks Per Nine            8.9                3rd
Doubles/Game     2.00              3rd                                                                   On-Base %       0.405     4th
Average                 .292             4th
Slugging %             .461             5th
Sacrifice Flies        19                5th
Homers/Game      1.21              5th

PITCHING RANKINGS
Eastern pitching ranks inside the top five in the conference in value in seven categories, most notably ranking first in extra-base hits (XBH) allowed and home runs allowed (35).

Stat                        Figure          MAC Rnk.
XBH Allowed         119              1st
Homers Allowed   35                1st
At-Bats                   1,311           2nd
Hits Allowed          389              3rd
Doubles Allowed   73                3rd
Saves                      8                   T3rd
Triples Allowed     11                4th

DREW BECKNER: MAC PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Senior left-hander Drew Beckner was named MAC Pitcher of the Week for the first time in his career, April 14. He pitched a gem in his start against the Toledo Rockets, April 11. Beckner tied what used to be a career high with eight strikeouts for the third time this season and second consecutive game, as he didn't allow an earned run, pitched 6.2 innings, and held opposing batters to a .174 average. His eight strikeouts rank as the fourth-most in a game in the MAC and the most strikeouts from a single pitcher from April 11-13. Beckner also held strong with runners on base, limiting his opposition to a .200 clip (2-for-10). Furthermore, the zero earned run start marked the first of Beckner's NCAA Division I career.

The honor marked the first of Beckner's career and the Eagles' third player of the week award of the season as Logan Hugo (Feb. 25) and Devan Zirwas (March 4) previously earned the recognition as position players.

Furthermore, Beckner was the first Eastern pitcher to garner the accolade since current pitching development assistant Nick Chittum earned the honor after pitching a complete game shutout against Western Michigan in the second game of a doubleheader, March 24, 2024.

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.

BETTER THAN PROJECTED
The Eagles were predicted to finish 10th in the conference in the MAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. They have soared past that prediction, as they currently stand sixth in the conference with a 9-12 MAC record and at one point stood as high as second in the MAC.

AHEAD OF SCHEDULE (2024 WIN TOTAL)
The Eagles won 14 games in Robbie Britt's first season last year. Thirty-eight games into the 2025 campaign, the Eagles have already surpassed that total with 17 wins. They have also matched their 2024 win total when it comes to conference play, as their win over Toledo, April 11, marked their ninth in the MAC. One win over NIU this weekend would exceed the Eagles' conference-win total from last season.

EMU posted 13 wins in its first 38 games last season, eight of which came in conference play.

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) and RBI (18), while also knocking 18 hits and drawing 11 walks, both of which are its second-highest total of the season. Eastern Michigan's 19 runs and 18 RBI stand as the sixth-most in a single game in the MAC, while its five doubles are the fourth-most and hits are the fifth-most and walks are the sixth-most. Its runs and RBI total all serve as the most in the 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.

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 - and 13 total bases stand as the most from an individual in the MAC this season while his two home runs stand as the second-most, and six RBI rank as the fourth-most in the conference.

BIG FISCH IN A LITTLE POND
Freshman right-hander Fischer Hendershot has the most saves of any freshman in the MAC as he ranks second on the team and fifth in the conference in terms of value with three behind Ethan Davis' four. Hendershot's three saves are the most from an Eastern freshman since Thomas House recorded four in his freshman campaign in 2018. He most recently earned a save in the Eagle's 9-7 win over Albany, April 19, as he got the final out of the game.

TEAM TRIPLE DOUBLES
The Eagles have reached double-digit marks in runs, hits, and RBI 10 times this season. They hold a 9-1 record in such games. Most recently, Eastern posted 10+ in each category in the 14-4 run-ruling win over Youngstown State, April 22. Eastern scored 14 runs off 10 hits with 14 RBI.

LIMITING POWER
Eastern pitching has allowed 119 extra-base hits (XBH) this season, the fewest in the conference by five XBH as Kent State has allowed the second-fewest at 124 Eastern's opponent this weekend, NIU, has allowed the most in the MAC at 174 XBH.

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. Hugo is currently posting career highs in batting average (.307), slugging (.588), and OPS (1.004).

His 12 doubles, 45 RBI, and 26 walks mark career highs, while his home runs (nine) are one away from tying his career high set in 2024 (10). Hugo needs two more runs to equal his career high of 39 (2024), five more hits to tie his career best of 52 (2024), and four stolen bases to match his career high of 18 (2024).

KINGS OF THE FIFTH
The Eagles have thrived in the fifth inning, scoring roughly 23-percent of their total runs (298) in the frame as they have scored 68 runs in the fifth, their highest total in any inning this season and 16 runs more than their second-highest scoring inning (3rd - 47 runs).

DREW BECKNER ON THE BUMP
Senior left hander Drew Beckner has gotten off to a solid start on the mound. Through 11 starts (57.2 IP - 6th most in the MAC), he has struck out 64 batters (2nd in the MAC) while walking just 28, posts a 4.06 ERA (4th in the MAC), has allowed just 26 earned runs (5th in the MAC), and held opposing batters to a .234 average (7th in the conference). With a 3-1 record on the year, his three wins are tied for the sixth-most in the conference. Expected to make a minimum of three more starts this season, Beckner is on pace to set NCAA Division I career-best marks as a starter in innings pitched (73), strikeouts (81), and walks (36). He is currently averaging NCAA Division I career-bests in ERA (4.06) and WHIP (1.39).

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 a MAC single-game high 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.

KAPA's Ks
Senior right-hander Tyler Kapa has demonstrated high strike-throwing ability in ten appearances this season. He has sat down a total of 66 batters, good for the most in the conference. Kapa's 11 strikeouts at Albany, April 19 stand as the most in a single game in the MAC this season and a Division I career high for the Waterford, Mich., native. He also struck out nine two other times this season, making him the only pitcher in the MAC to fan at least nine batters on three different occasions.

STRONG IN THE NINTH
Eastern has allowed just 18 runs in the ninth inning, its least amount of runs allowed in any inning this season. The 18 runs allowed in the ninth account for just 6.4 percent of its total runs allowed (281).

UPCOMING MILESTONES
Drew Beckner recently reached the 200 strikeouts milestone with his eight against Ball State, April 4. He currently has 223 in his career. Cooper Vance is 10 hits away from reaching 100 in his career. Giano Zuccaro is 14 hits away from reaching the 200 mark, two home runs away from posting 20 in his career, and seven doubles from 50. Brendan Kleiman needs 14 knocks to reach 100 in his NCAA career.

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 12-4 record. Conversely, when trailing after six, EMU is 2-15. EMU earned its 12th win of the season when leading after six innings against Youngstown State, April 22, as it concluded the sixth with a 14-4 advantage and won the game by the same score. 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.

Eastern lost for the fourth time after leading after the sixth inning in game two of a doubleheader at BGSU, April 26. EMU led, 6-4, after six, but lost, 10-9.

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' four 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 38 games has doubled its save total from last season.

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 (147), runs (34), hits (50), doubles (14), home runs (seven), RBI (44), total bases (87), walks (24), and stolen bases (two). He is also posting career best numbers in average (.340) and OPS (1.038). Zirwas has also improved his discipline at the plate as he struck out in 30 percent of his at-bats in 2024 and currently strikes out just 19-percent of the time this 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 199 pitchers nationally and nine 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 40th in the nation with his one complete game.

ON THE HORIZON
Eastern is set for its seventh "Power Four" matchup of the season as it will face the Spartans of Michigan State University in a mid-week non-conference contest Tuesday, May 6.

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 Welcomes NIU to Ypsilanti for Weekend MAC Slate Friday-Sunday

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Players Mentioned

Drew Beckner

Nick Chittum

Ethan Davis

Fischer Hendershot

Logan Hugo

Bobby Jones

Tyler Kapa

Brendan Kleiman

Michael Pfeiffer

Kyle Schroedle

Ty Stecko

Harrison Travis

Cooper Vance

Devan Zirwas

Giano Zuccaro

Eastern Michigan Athletics