Eastern Michigan Athletics
Thursday, May 15
Ypsilanti, Mich.
3 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Kent State
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
MAC Tournament Berth On the Line as Baseball Hosts Kent State in Regular-Season Finale
5/14/2025 7:53:00 PM | Baseball, General
The series will take place Thursday-Saturday at Oestrike Stadium. Admission is free.
| Kent State vs. Eastern Michigan Baseball | |
| Date | Thursday-Saturday | May 15-17 |
| Venue | Oestrike Stadium | Ypsilanti, Mich. |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes (PDF) | Media Guide |
| Watch Live (ESPN+) | Game One | Game Two | Game Three |
| Live Stats | Game One | Game Two | Game Three |
| Listen Live | Game One | Game Two | Game Three |
| Social Media | X: @EMU_Baseball | @EMUAthletics IG: @emu_baseball | @emuathletics |
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – With a Mid-American Conference (MAC) Tournament berth on the line, the sixth-place Eastern Michigan University baseball team is set to welcome first-place Kent State University for a crucial MAC series Thursday-Saturday, May 15-17.
Game one will begin at 3:05 p.m., Thursday, May 15, game two will start at 2:05 p.m., Friday, May 16, and first pitch for the series finale is set for 1:05 p.m.
Eastern enters the game with a 19-27 (11-16 MAC) record, is looking to secure a MAC Tournament berth for the first time since the 2017 season, a series-win over Kent State for the first time in 37 years (1988), and attempting to get back on track in conference play as it has lost eight of its previous 10 MAC games. It most recently dropped a back-and-forth power conference match up to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, 12-10, May 13. Its most recent MAC series resulted in a 2-1 series-loss to Central Michigan, May 9-11. Kent State comes in with a 35-15 (21-6 MAC) record and is coming off a 9-8 walk-off win over Wright State, May 13. In conference play, it most recently swept Western Michigan at home, 3-0, May 9-11.
Admission at Oestrike Stadium is free. Fans can follow along using the live stats and radio link 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 for all three games live from Oestrike Stadium on ESPN+, Eagle All-Access, and The Varsity Network.
A FIGHT FOR NO. 6
Currently, Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, and Central Michigan are tied for the sixth and final playoff spot in the conference. At a minimum, in order to make the tournament, EMU is expected to have to win its series against Kent State. If all three schools' series have the same result, Western Michigan will get the sixth and final spot as it holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over both schools with a 4-2 record while EMU is 3-3 and CMU is 2-4.
If both EMU and WMU win its series, 2-1, and CMU loses its, EMU would get the sixth seed as it holds the tie breaker over WMU after beating it in a three-game series, 2-1, March 14-15, and CMU would have a worse conference winning percentage, so its 2-1 series-win over Eastern, May 9-11, would not factor in.
If EMU loses the series, 2-1, and both Central and Western win their series, 2-1, Western would take the sixth spot, followed by CMU seventh, and EMU eighth.
HONORING SENIORS
Eastern is set to honor its 11 seniors in the final home game of the 2025 season Saturday, May 26, 3 p.m. The Eagles will recognize Drew Beckner, Logan Hugo, Giano Zuccaro, Brendan Kleiman, Harrison Travis, Jad Oestrike, Andrew Dukesherer, Tyler Kapa, Bobby Jones, Lucas Johnson, and Dom Anderson. The game will feature public-address reads highlighting each senior's respective career in-between innings.
WELCOMING HISTORY
Eastern is set to welcome back its 1975 and 1976 College World Series teams with its 50-Year College World Series & Alumni Day Celebration as the Eagles take on the Golden Flashes Friday, May 16, 2 p.m.
Before Eastern Michigan's runs to the College World Series in 1975 and again in 1976, only two other MAC schools (Ohio and Western Michigan) had ever advanced to the national tournament. Kent State's trip to the Super Regional and CWS in 2012 marked the first time a MAC team had returned to that phase of the tournament since the NCAA introduced the format in 1999.
The Green and White of that era featured a lineup full of major-league talent, including the pitching duo of Bob Owchinko and Bob Welch, who both ended up becoming first-round draft selections, as Owchinko was the No. 5 pick by the San Diego Padres in 1976 and Welch the 20th by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1977. Both had extensive careers in the MLB, most notably Welch, who won the 1990 National League Cy Young Award with the Los Angeles Dodgers, pitched his way to a team-best 1.82 ERA in 1976 along with a 10-3 record.
Seven additional members of the College World Series squads were taken in Major League drafts from 1976-78.
ALL-TIME AGAINST KENT STATE
The Eagles and Golden Flashes will meet for the 133rd-135th time Thursday-Saturday. Overall, Eastern holds a 48-83 record against Kent and a 4-21 mark when facing it at Oestrike Stadium in the modern statistical era (1999-present). Last season, the Golden Flashes took the series in Kent, 2-1, winning game one, 20-7, before the Eagles triumphed to a 13-12 extra-innings win in 11 frames, prior to dropping the rubber-match, 9-2. Additionally, The Eagles are aiming to take their first series from the Golden Flashes since the 1988 campaign when Ronald Reagan was in office as President of the United States.
LIFE IN 1988
It's been 37 years (1988) since the Eagles beat the Golden Flashes in a series. That year, gas topped out at $0.96/gallon, milk was roughly $2.19/gallon, bread was $0.60/loaf, Apple stock was just $0.10 apiece compared to the $207 it is today. The top grossing move was Rain Man, starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise, and the top selling album was Faith by Michael George.
KAPA & BECKNER: MAC'S 1 & 3 IN Ks
Pitchers Tyler Kapa and Drew Beckner rank first and third in the MAC in strikeouts, as Kapa posts 82 and Beckner has 69. 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 65 strikeouts on the season, and one of 11 Division I schools in the country to have two pitchers that rank inside the conference top-three in strikeouts.
KAPA's Ks
Senior right-hander Tyler Kapa has demonstrated high strike-throwing ability in 13 appearances (12 starts) this season. He has sat down a total of 82 batters, good for the most in the conference, 47th in the nation, and the most by an Eagle in a single season since Luke Russo's 107 in 2023. 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.
The 6-foot-2 righty also ranks highly in strikeouts per nine innings as he slots first in the conference and 23rd in the nation, averaging 12.16 Ks per nine.
KAPA: 4 CONSECUTIVE APPEARANCES WITH 7+ STRIKEOUTS
Tyler Kapa has posted four consecutive starts with at least seven strikeouts, most recently sitting down eight in a 9-7 win over Central Michigan, May 10. The last time he failed to strikeout seven came against Toledo, April 13, when he struck out four in a 6-2 loss. Kapa's four straight appearances with at least seven strikeouts are the first instance of an Eagle doing so since Luke Russo in the 2023 season, April 22-29. Russo recorded five consecutive games with at least seven Ks, totaling 44 in the process with his high watermark being 12 in a 12-2 win at Niagara, April 29.
HUGO CAREER HOMERS
Logan Hugo has hit 30 home runs in his career, tying him for the sixth-most in program history. Ryan Goleski (2001-03) holds the program's career record with 51 long balls. One more home run would give him sole possession of the No. 6 spot in program history, and two more would tie him for the fifth-most all-time with Mitchell McGeein (2013-16).
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 (.323), slugging (.570), on-base (.427), and OPS (.997).
His 12 doubles, 60 hits, 48 runs, 53 RBI, and 30 walks mark career highs, while his 10 home runs tie his career high set in 2024. Hugo needs one stolen base to match his career high of 18 (2024) and two to surpass that total.
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.
SLAMMIN' EAGS
EMU excels in hitting grand slams as they have hit five this season with Harrison Travis recording the team's 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 it reach eight grand slams, EMU would be the seventh team in NCAA history to do so in a season. It would be the only MAC team on the list.
Eagles with Grand Slams
Name Opp. Date
Devan Zirwas Akron March 8
John Hale WMU March 15
Ty Stecko Toledo April 12
Logan Hugo Albany April 17
Harrison Travis YSU April 22
POTENT OFFENSE
Through 46 games, the Eagles offense ranks inside the MAC top five in 10 categories, including pacing the MAC with the fewest strikeouts, as they have gone down on strikes just 326 times, 15 fewer than the second-least strikeout total (Ohio - 341).
Stat Figure MAC Rnk.
Strikeouts (Least) 326 1st
On-Base % 0.403 T3rd
Runs Per Game 7.7 4th
Average .292 T4th
Walks 230 5th
Slugging % 0.457 5th
Runs 356 5th
Doubles/game 2.02 5th
Homers/game 1.17 5th
RBI 331 5th
PITCHING RANKINGS
Through 46 games, Eastern pitching ranks inside the top five in the conference in value in eight categories, most notably ranking first in home runs allowed (38) and sacrifice hits allowed (nine). Eastern pitching has not conceded a home run in its previous seven games, its longest stretch since it went 14 straight without giving up a bomb in the 2017 season, a year that saw the Eagles allow just 40 homers as they have allowed 38 through 46 games in 2025.
Stat Figure MAC Rnk.
Homers Allowed 38 1st
Sac Hits Allowed 9 1st
At-Bats 1,581 2nd
XBH Allowed 146 3rd
Ks Per Nine 8.5 4th
Saves 9 4th
Doubles Allowed 92 4th
LIMITING POWER
Eastern pitching has allowed 146 extra-base hits (XBH) this season, ranking third in the conference. Toledo has allowed the least at 137, followed by Kent State and Miami, who have given up 145 each.
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 MAC 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 and April 21.
ZIRWAS BREAKOUT YEAR
Junior infielder Devan 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 (179), runs (41), hits (62), doubles (19), home runs (eight), RBI (51), total bases (107), walks (30), and stolen bases (two). He is also posting career best numbers in average (.346) , slugging (.598), on-base (.451), and OPS (1.049). Zirwas has also improved his discipline at the plate as he struck out in 30% of his at-bats in 2024 and currently strikes out just 16.7% of the time this season.
Additionally, his batting average, hits, doubles, and total bases all lead the team as he ranks inside the top three in nearly every offensive category.
DEV'S DOUBLES
Devan Zirwas ranks 31st in the nation and third in the MAC with 19 doubles. In doubles per game, he stands 21st in the nation and third in the conference with a 0.42 average. His doubles are the most from the program since 2022 MAC Player of the Year Matt Kirk hit 24 in the 2023 campaign. Currently, Zirwas' 19 doubles are tied with Bryon Horn (1981) and Jeff Davis (2008) for eighth in program history. Should he reach 20 two-baggers, he would be the eighth player in program history to do so as he is the third edit to the top-10 list in the past four seasons as Matt Kirk's 25 in 2022 tied the program record and his 24 in 2023 rank second in program annals.
Zirwas has gone for multiple doubles twice, most recently against Central Michigan, May 11. His two doubles rank as the second-most in a game in the MAC.
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) en route to a 13-3 win. Additionally, the walks and strikeouts totals marked the most in the Head Coach Robbie Britt era.
JELLISON SACRIFICE FLIES
Junior infielder Bruce Jellison excels in hitting sacrifice flies as he ranks second in the MAC and 14th in the nation with seven on the season. He most recently tallied his sixth SF of the season when he drove in Logan Hugo with a fly-out to center field against Notre Dame, May 13. A first-year transfer from the highly-touted Wabash Valley College Junior College program, Jellison led all of JuCo with nine sacrifice flies in 2024.
DREW BECKNER ON THE BUMP
Senior left-hander Drew Beckner has pitched well this season. Through 12 starts (67.1 IP - 5th most in the MAC), he has struck out 69 batters (2nd in the MAC) while walking just 32, has allowed 41 earned runs, 47 total runs, held opposing batters to a .268 average, and given up 72 hits. With a 3-2 record on the year, his three wins are tied for the sixth-most in the conference. Expected to make a minimum of one more start this season, Beckner is on pace to set NCAA Division I career-best marks as a starter in innings pitched (72), strikeouts (74), and walks (34). He is currently averaging NCAA Division I career-bests in ERA (5.48) and WHIP (1.54).
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.
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 are tied for sixth in the conference with a 11-16 MAC record and at one point tied for the top spot in the conference.
AHEAD OF SCHEDULE (2024 WIN TOTAL)
The Eagles won 14 games in Robbie Britt's first season last year. Forty-six games into the 2025 campaign, the Eagles have already surpassed that total with 19 wins. They have also surpassed their 2024-win total when it comes to conference play, as their 13-3 win over NIU in the first game of a doubleheader, May 3 marked their 10th in the MAC after posting nine MAC wins in 2024. EMU is up to 11 conference wins with its 9-7 win over Central Michigan, May 10.
EMU posted 13 wins in its first 45 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, hits are the fifth-most, and walks are the sixth-most. Furthermore, 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.
TEAM TRIPLE DOUBLES
The Eagles have reached double-digit marks in runs, hits, and RBI 12 times this season. They hold a 10-2 record in such games. Most recently, Eastern posted 10+ in each category in the 13-3 run-ruling win over Northern Illinois, May 3. Eastern scored 13 runs off 13 hits with 12 RBI. EMU lost for the second time this season when posting the team triple double as its 10 runs, 12 hits, and 10 RBI was not enough in a 12-10 loss to Notre Dame, May 13.
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 sixth 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 Eagles' 9-7 win over Albany, April 19, as he got the final out of the game.
KINGS OF THE FIFTH
The Eagles have thrived in the fifth inning, scoring roughly 19.6% of their total runs (356) in the frame as they have scored 70 runs in the fifth, their highest total in any inning this season and 16 runs more than their second-highest scoring inning (3rd - 54 runs).
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 4.7% of its total runs allowed (370).
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 14-4 record. Conversely, when trailing after six, EMU is 2-20. EMU earned its 14th win of the season when leading after six innings against Central Michigan, May 10, as it concluded the sixth with a 7-3 advantage and won the game, 9-7. 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.
UPCOMING MILESTONES
Cooper Vance is five hits away from reaching 100 in his career. Giano Zuccaro is 11 hits away from reaching the 200-mark, two home runs away from posting 20 in his career, and three doubles from 50. Brendan Kleiman needs 12 knocks to reach 100 in his NCAA career. Drew Beckner reached the 200 strikeouts milestone with his eight against Ball State, April 4. He currently has 226 in his career.
ONE WEEK, TWO SAVES
Ethan Davis' four 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 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 plays a large role in the much-improved Eastern bullpen that through 46 games has more than doubled its save total from last season (four) as it currently posts nine.
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 233 pitchers nationally and seven 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 54th in the nation with his one complete game.
LAST TIME OUT: AT NOTRE DAME, MAY 13
The Eagles fell in a back-and forth battle with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, 12-10, May 13. The Eagles scored three runs in the ninth and five over the last three frames, but fell, 12-10.
ON THE HORIZON
Should the Eagles make the MAC Tournament as the six seed, they will be slated for a first-round match up against the three seed, which is currently held by Ball State. The game would be held at Crushers Stadium in Avon, Ohio, Wednesday, May 21, 12:30 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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