Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, May 3
Ypsilanti, Mich.
2 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
18-22, 0
13
vs
3
Northern Illinois
17-29, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
R
H
E
Northern Illinois
0
0
1
0
0
0
2
0
3
5
0
Eastern Michigan
0
2
0
8
0
0
2
1
13
13
1
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Baseball Splits Doubleheader Against NIU
5/3/2025 10:03:00 PM | Baseball
Eastern won game one, 13-3, and lost game two, 17-1
Photo Gallery
GAME ONE | EMU 13, NIU 3 (8)
GAME TWO | NIU 17, EMU 1 (7)
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team split a Mid-American Conference doubleheader against Northern Illinois University, winning the first game, 13-3 in eight innings due to the 10-run rule, and dropping the second, 17-1, in seven innings Saturday, May 3, at Oestrike Stadium.
Starting pitcher Tyler Kapa (Waterford, Mich./Kettering/Alma/Mott C.C./Davenport) (4-5) earned the win in the first game as the Eagles' offense was led by John Hale (Ashland City, Tenn./Sycamore/Motlow State C.C.) who went 3-for-3 with two walks and three RBI as he reached base in every plate appearance. NIU's Ty Brachbill (1-7) was tagged with the loss.
The Huskies' Carter Cox (2-0) earned the win in the second game while Ty Stecko (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin/Mount St. Mary's) paced the EMU offense with two hits, including his team-leading 10th home run of the season. Junior right-hander Michael Pfeiffer (Brownsboro, Ala./Huntsville/Northwest-Shoals C.C.) (1-2) was tagged with the loss.
How it Happened – Game One
Eastern struck first in the second inning. After reaching via a single, Devan Zirwas (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny/VCU) scored from third base on a passed ball to give the Eagles the 1-0 lead. Later in the inning, Hale drove in Bruce Jellison (Hartland, Mich./Hartland/Wabash Valley) from second off an RBI-double.
Northern Illinois responded with one run in the third off an RBI-single to right field, scoring a runner from second base to make the score 2-1, EMU.
The Eastern offense popped off for eight runs in the fourth to increase its lead to a commanding nine runs at 10-1. Cooper Vance (New Waterford, Ohio/Mohawk) got the scoring started in the frame as he ripped a bases-clearing double down the left-field line with the bases loaded. Logan Hugo (Essexville, Mic./Essexville Garber) added one with an RBI-knock to score Vance, before Harrison Travis (Soddy Daisy, Tenn./Soddy Daisy/Carson-Newman) singled to left-center to plate two more runs. Stecko wrapped up the inning with a double to left field, scoring two more.
Kapa was relieved by sophomore right-hander Emmett Gillies (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Hartley/Akron) after allowing just two runs off four hits while striking out eight and walking two over an NCAA Division I-best 6.1 innings of work.
The Huskies scored two runs in the seventh off a triple to right-center field to trim the EMU lead to seven at 10-3. Eastern made up those two runs in the ensuing half inning as Hugo drove in Vance and Hale to bring the lead back up to nine at 12-3.
Gillies retired the side in order in the eighth before the EMU offense loaded the bases and Hale walked to end the game in eight innings due to the 10-run rule with a score of 13-3.
How it Happened – Game Two
The Huskies struck first as they scored three runs in the second inning off two RBI-singles and one RBI groundout.
The Eagles responded in the home half of the inning as Stecko sent his team-leading 10th bomb of the season over the left field wall to trim the Huskies' lead to two at 3-1.
Junior right-hander Drew Norris (Leawood, Kan./Blue Valley/Utah/Johnson C.C.) relieved right-handed starter Pfeiffer after facing the first two batters in the third inning.
NIU scored 14 runs over the remaining five innings, including seven in the third as it won the game in seven innings due to the 10-run rule, 17-1.
Game Notes – Game One
» The Eagles reached the double-digit mark in runs (13), hits (13), and RBI (12) for the 11th time this season. They are 10-1 when doing so.
» Eastern out-hit its opponent for the 24th time this season as they knocked 13 hits to NIU's five. Its is 16-8 when out-hitting its foe. EMU also eclipsed the 10-hit mark for the 22nd time this season. It is 15-7 in 2025 when totaling at least 10 hits.
» Eastern's eight-run fourth inning marks its fourth time scoring eight runs in an inning this season. It also tied for the most runs in an inning under Head Coach Robbie Britt.
» Every Eastern Michigan starter reached base and 8-of-9 did so via a hit.
» Hugo recorded the 14th multi-hit game of the season and drove in multiple runs for the 13th time in 2025. Both figures rank as the second-most on the team.
» Kapa went at least six innings for the third time this season and second time in his previous three starts. He allowed just two runs or less for the second time this season and struck out eight or more for the fourth time. He leads the MAC with 74 strikeouts in 2025 and earned his team-leading fourth win of the season.
» Travis secured his 10th multi-hit game and eighth game with multiple RBI with a 2-for-5 day from the dish with two RBI. He also hit his fifth double of the season.
» Vance knocked his 12th multi-hit game of the season and fifth game with multiple RBI. He surpassed his hit total from the 2024 season as he now has a career-best 44 on the year and furthered his season-long career-best doubles figure as he knocked his 11th of the season. He is one of three Eagles with double-digit doubles this season.
» Hale recorded his 11th multi-hit game and his fifth game with multiple RBI. He was 3-for-3 from the plate with two walks as he reached base in every plate appearance.
» Zirwas, Jellison, and Hale each drew two walks. For Zirwas, it was his fifth time drawing multiple base-on-balls as he stands second on the team with 26.
Game Notes – Game Two
» Stecko knocked his 13th multi-hit game and sent his team-high 10th home run of the season over the left field wall. He is the first Eagle to reach double-digit homers this season as his 10 mark a season-long career-best. His 10 bombs rank as the eighth-most in the MAC in terms of value.
» Zirwas went 2-for-3 from the dish for his team-high 17th multi-hit game.
» Henry Slaby (Avon, Ohio/St. Edward) spun his fifth scoreless outing of the season. He has not allowed a run in five of his six appearances.
Historical Notes – Game One
» Game two marked the 141st all-time between the Eagles and Huskies. After the result, Eastern remains in the series lead with an 84-58 clip against NIU and a 30-16 record when facing it at home.
» The win snapped a four-game losing streak against NIU that previously tied for EMU's longest against the Huskies in the modern statistical era (1999-present).
Historical Notes – Game Two
» Game two marked the 141st all-time between the Eagles and Huskies. After the result, Eastern remains in the series lead with an 84-59 clip against NIU and a 30-17 record when facing it at home.
Up Next
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.
GAME ONE | EMU 13, NIU 3 (8)
GAME TWO | NIU 17, EMU 1 (7)
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team split a Mid-American Conference doubleheader against Northern Illinois University, winning the first game, 13-3 in eight innings due to the 10-run rule, and dropping the second, 17-1, in seven innings Saturday, May 3, at Oestrike Stadium.
Starting pitcher Tyler Kapa (Waterford, Mich./Kettering/Alma/Mott C.C./Davenport) (4-5) earned the win in the first game as the Eagles' offense was led by John Hale (Ashland City, Tenn./Sycamore/Motlow State C.C.) who went 3-for-3 with two walks and three RBI as he reached base in every plate appearance. NIU's Ty Brachbill (1-7) was tagged with the loss.
The Huskies' Carter Cox (2-0) earned the win in the second game while Ty Stecko (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin/Mount St. Mary's) paced the EMU offense with two hits, including his team-leading 10th home run of the season. Junior right-hander Michael Pfeiffer (Brownsboro, Ala./Huntsville/Northwest-Shoals C.C.) (1-2) was tagged with the loss.
How it Happened – Game One
Eastern struck first in the second inning. After reaching via a single, Devan Zirwas (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny/VCU) scored from third base on a passed ball to give the Eagles the 1-0 lead. Later in the inning, Hale drove in Bruce Jellison (Hartland, Mich./Hartland/Wabash Valley) from second off an RBI-double.
Northern Illinois responded with one run in the third off an RBI-single to right field, scoring a runner from second base to make the score 2-1, EMU.
The Eastern offense popped off for eight runs in the fourth to increase its lead to a commanding nine runs at 10-1. Cooper Vance (New Waterford, Ohio/Mohawk) got the scoring started in the frame as he ripped a bases-clearing double down the left-field line with the bases loaded. Logan Hugo (Essexville, Mic./Essexville Garber) added one with an RBI-knock to score Vance, before Harrison Travis (Soddy Daisy, Tenn./Soddy Daisy/Carson-Newman) singled to left-center to plate two more runs. Stecko wrapped up the inning with a double to left field, scoring two more.
Kapa was relieved by sophomore right-hander Emmett Gillies (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Hartley/Akron) after allowing just two runs off four hits while striking out eight and walking two over an NCAA Division I-best 6.1 innings of work.
The Huskies scored two runs in the seventh off a triple to right-center field to trim the EMU lead to seven at 10-3. Eastern made up those two runs in the ensuing half inning as Hugo drove in Vance and Hale to bring the lead back up to nine at 12-3.
Gillies retired the side in order in the eighth before the EMU offense loaded the bases and Hale walked to end the game in eight innings due to the 10-run rule with a score of 13-3.
How it Happened – Game Two
The Huskies struck first as they scored three runs in the second inning off two RBI-singles and one RBI groundout.
The Eagles responded in the home half of the inning as Stecko sent his team-leading 10th bomb of the season over the left field wall to trim the Huskies' lead to two at 3-1.
Junior right-hander Drew Norris (Leawood, Kan./Blue Valley/Utah/Johnson C.C.) relieved right-handed starter Pfeiffer after facing the first two batters in the third inning.
NIU scored 14 runs over the remaining five innings, including seven in the third as it won the game in seven innings due to the 10-run rule, 17-1.
Game Notes – Game One
» The Eagles reached the double-digit mark in runs (13), hits (13), and RBI (12) for the 11th time this season. They are 10-1 when doing so.
» Eastern out-hit its opponent for the 24th time this season as they knocked 13 hits to NIU's five. Its is 16-8 when out-hitting its foe. EMU also eclipsed the 10-hit mark for the 22nd time this season. It is 15-7 in 2025 when totaling at least 10 hits.
» Eastern's eight-run fourth inning marks its fourth time scoring eight runs in an inning this season. It also tied for the most runs in an inning under Head Coach Robbie Britt.
» Every Eastern Michigan starter reached base and 8-of-9 did so via a hit.
» Hugo recorded the 14th multi-hit game of the season and drove in multiple runs for the 13th time in 2025. Both figures rank as the second-most on the team.
» Kapa went at least six innings for the third time this season and second time in his previous three starts. He allowed just two runs or less for the second time this season and struck out eight or more for the fourth time. He leads the MAC with 74 strikeouts in 2025 and earned his team-leading fourth win of the season.
» Travis secured his 10th multi-hit game and eighth game with multiple RBI with a 2-for-5 day from the dish with two RBI. He also hit his fifth double of the season.
» Vance knocked his 12th multi-hit game of the season and fifth game with multiple RBI. He surpassed his hit total from the 2024 season as he now has a career-best 44 on the year and furthered his season-long career-best doubles figure as he knocked his 11th of the season. He is one of three Eagles with double-digit doubles this season.
» Hale recorded his 11th multi-hit game and his fifth game with multiple RBI. He was 3-for-3 from the plate with two walks as he reached base in every plate appearance.
» Zirwas, Jellison, and Hale each drew two walks. For Zirwas, it was his fifth time drawing multiple base-on-balls as he stands second on the team with 26.
Game Notes – Game Two
» Stecko knocked his 13th multi-hit game and sent his team-high 10th home run of the season over the left field wall. He is the first Eagle to reach double-digit homers this season as his 10 mark a season-long career-best. His 10 bombs rank as the eighth-most in the MAC in terms of value.
» Zirwas went 2-for-3 from the dish for his team-high 17th multi-hit game.
» Henry Slaby (Avon, Ohio/St. Edward) spun his fifth scoreless outing of the season. He has not allowed a run in five of his six appearances.
Historical Notes – Game One
» Game two marked the 141st all-time between the Eagles and Huskies. After the result, Eastern remains in the series lead with an 84-58 clip against NIU and a 30-16 record when facing it at home.
» The win snapped a four-game losing streak against NIU that previously tied for EMU's longest against the Huskies in the modern statistical era (1999-present).
Historical Notes – Game Two
» Game two marked the 141st all-time between the Eagles and Huskies. After the result, Eastern remains in the series lead with an 84-59 clip against NIU and a 30-17 record when facing it at home.
Up Next
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.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kapa, Tyler (4-5)
L: Ty Brachbill (1-7)
Batting:
3B: Logan Gregorio 1
RBI: Logan Gregorio 2 ; Gavin Baldwin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Charlie Parcell 2 ; CJ Cepicky 1
SB: Charlie Parcell 1
Batting:
2B: Travis, Harrison 1 ; Stecko, Ty 1 ; Hale, John 1 ; Vance, Cooper 1
RBI: Hugo, Logan 3 ; Travis, Harrison 2 ; Stecko, Ty 2 ; Hale, John 2 ; Vance, Cooper 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Zuccaro, Giano 1 ; Hugo, Logan 1 ; Travis, Harrison 2 ; Zirwas, Devan 2 ; Jellison, Bruce 2 ; Jones, Drew 1 ; Hale, John 2 ; Vance, Cooper 2
SB: Hugo, Logan 1 ; Hale, John 1
HBP: Zuccaro, Giano 1
PO: Hugo, Logan 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
3
AB
5
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
3
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
C
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballScout day✅
Monday, September 22
Inside the Ride Episode 1: Celia Murkowski
Wednesday, September 17
Drew 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