Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, February 20
Clarksville, Tenn.
2 p.m. CT
Eastern Michigan University
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Austin Peay
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Eastern Mich.
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Austin Peay
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Photo by: Brody Hall/Walt Middleton Photography
Stecko Smashes Two Homers, Baseball Rallies Past Austin Peay, 7-6, for Comeback Win
2/20/2026 7:10:00 PM | Baseball
Stecko's bat and sound EMU pitching paved the way to the win
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team broke through with a late offensive surge, highlighted by two home runs from Ty Stecko, to earn a 7-6 comeback win over defending Atlantic Sun Conference Regular Season Champion Austin Peay State University on Friday, Feb. 20 at Raymond C. Hand Park.
Along with Stecko (North Huntingdon/Norwin/Mount St. Mary's), strong pitching from John Carmichael (Destrehan, La./Destrehan/McLennan C.C.) set the tone on the mound, as he fanned a career-best eight batters while working five innings and walking one.
The Eastern bullpen followed suit with Carmichael, allowing a combined two runs off four hits in four innings of work.
Cole Egan (Pittsburgh, Pa./West Allegheny/George Mason) earned the win in relief, his first of the season, while sophomore Fischer Hendershot (Flushing, Mich./Flint Powers) closed the door in the ninth to secure the win and his first save of the year.
How it Happened
Eastern struck first when Devan Zirwas (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny/VCU) singled in the opening inning and later homered to right in the third. Moments after, Stecko launched his first of two home runs on the day as the Eagles built a 3-0 cushion.
Austin Peay responded with runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings to take a 4-3 lead.
In the seventh, Nathan Borchardt (Stanley, N.C./East Lincoln/King) delivered a pinch-hit RBI single to bring home Zirwas and knot the score at four. Austin Peay briefly regained the lead, but a pivotal eighth inning turned the tide. With two on and one out, Stecko connected for a go-ahead three-run homer, plating Zirwas and John Hale (Ashland City, Tenn./Sycamore/Motlow State C.C.) to give EMU the decisive seven-run total.
The Governors scored one run in the bottom of the eighth, before Hendershot slammed the door in the bottom of the ninth for his first save of the season.
Game Notes
» Eastern's record shifted to 2-4 (0-0 MAC) and Austin Peay's went to 2-3 (0-0 ASUN).
» Eastern's three home runs are a season high and tie for the second most in the MAC by value in single-game standings.
» Eastern set season highs in hits (nine) and walks (nine). Eastern's nine walks tie for the second most in a single game in the MAC.
» After being outhit by Austin Peay, 11-9, Eastern has been outhit in both of its wins this season. EMU was previously outhit by Little Rock, 13-8, besting the Trojans, 11-6, Feb. 14.
» Ty Stecko recorded multiple home runs for the first time this season and second time in his NCAA career with homers in the third and eighth innings. The senior posted his first multi-hit game of the season and second with multiple RBI. His four RBI mark the most this season from an Eagle and tied his EMU career high.
» Ty Stecko leads the Eagles with three home runs this season, a figure that ties for the second most by value in the MAC. Moreover, Stecko's two home runs against the Governors tie for the most in the conference in a single game this season.
» Devan Zirwas homered for the second time this season, recorded his first multi-hit game of the season with two hits, and notched his sixth RBI of the year. He also set new season highs for runs scored (three) and hits (two). He scored the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and led all players in scoring.
» John Carmichael struck out a career-high eight batters over 5.0 innings, doubling his previous EMU best of four strikeouts. He walked just one Governors' batter while allowing two earned runs, his least of the season.
» John Carmichael's eight strikeouts are the most from an individual Eagle in a single game this season and tie for the second most in the MAC.
» Fischer Hendershot recorded his first save of the 2026 season and fourth of his career, pitching a scoreless ninth inning to seal the one-run victory. Hendershot hasn't allowed a run in four innings of work this season.
» Emmett Gillies (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Hartley/Akron) tossed his third consecutive scoreless outing. He has yet to allow a run this season in three innings pitched.
Historical Notes
» Eastern and Austin Peay met for the 15th time. EMU is now 6-8 all-time against the Governors.
» Eastern matched up with an Atlantic Sun Conference team for the 47th time. It is 23-25 when facing the conference.
» Eastern beat Austin Peay for the first time since the 2020 season.
» Ty Stecko and Devan Zirwas' consecutive home runs in the third inning marked the first occurrence of back-to-back homers since Harrison Travis and Zirwas accomplished the feat against Northern Illinois, May 2, 2025.
» Ty Stecko is the first Eagle to hit two home runs in a game this season and first since Logan Hugo hit a pair against Kent State, May 16, 2025.
Up Next
The Eagles and Governors are back on the diamond for game two tomorrow, Feb. 21, at 3 p.m. ET. The game can be streamed live on ESPN+.
Follow Us
Keep up with all things Eastern baseball by following the team on X @EMU_Baseball, and on Instagram @emu_baseball.
Along with Stecko (North Huntingdon/Norwin/Mount St. Mary's), strong pitching from John Carmichael (Destrehan, La./Destrehan/McLennan C.C.) set the tone on the mound, as he fanned a career-best eight batters while working five innings and walking one.
The Eastern bullpen followed suit with Carmichael, allowing a combined two runs off four hits in four innings of work.
Cole Egan (Pittsburgh, Pa./West Allegheny/George Mason) earned the win in relief, his first of the season, while sophomore Fischer Hendershot (Flushing, Mich./Flint Powers) closed the door in the ninth to secure the win and his first save of the year.
How it Happened
Eastern struck first when Devan Zirwas (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny/VCU) singled in the opening inning and later homered to right in the third. Moments after, Stecko launched his first of two home runs on the day as the Eagles built a 3-0 cushion.
Austin Peay responded with runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings to take a 4-3 lead.
In the seventh, Nathan Borchardt (Stanley, N.C./East Lincoln/King) delivered a pinch-hit RBI single to bring home Zirwas and knot the score at four. Austin Peay briefly regained the lead, but a pivotal eighth inning turned the tide. With two on and one out, Stecko connected for a go-ahead three-run homer, plating Zirwas and John Hale (Ashland City, Tenn./Sycamore/Motlow State C.C.) to give EMU the decisive seven-run total.
The Governors scored one run in the bottom of the eighth, before Hendershot slammed the door in the bottom of the ninth for his first save of the season.
Game Notes
» Eastern's record shifted to 2-4 (0-0 MAC) and Austin Peay's went to 2-3 (0-0 ASUN).
» Eastern's three home runs are a season high and tie for the second most in the MAC by value in single-game standings.
» Eastern set season highs in hits (nine) and walks (nine). Eastern's nine walks tie for the second most in a single game in the MAC.
» After being outhit by Austin Peay, 11-9, Eastern has been outhit in both of its wins this season. EMU was previously outhit by Little Rock, 13-8, besting the Trojans, 11-6, Feb. 14.
» Ty Stecko recorded multiple home runs for the first time this season and second time in his NCAA career with homers in the third and eighth innings. The senior posted his first multi-hit game of the season and second with multiple RBI. His four RBI mark the most this season from an Eagle and tied his EMU career high.
» Ty Stecko leads the Eagles with three home runs this season, a figure that ties for the second most by value in the MAC. Moreover, Stecko's two home runs against the Governors tie for the most in the conference in a single game this season.
» Devan Zirwas homered for the second time this season, recorded his first multi-hit game of the season with two hits, and notched his sixth RBI of the year. He also set new season highs for runs scored (three) and hits (two). He scored the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and led all players in scoring.
» John Carmichael struck out a career-high eight batters over 5.0 innings, doubling his previous EMU best of four strikeouts. He walked just one Governors' batter while allowing two earned runs, his least of the season.
» John Carmichael's eight strikeouts are the most from an individual Eagle in a single game this season and tie for the second most in the MAC.
» Fischer Hendershot recorded his first save of the 2026 season and fourth of his career, pitching a scoreless ninth inning to seal the one-run victory. Hendershot hasn't allowed a run in four innings of work this season.
» Emmett Gillies (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Hartley/Akron) tossed his third consecutive scoreless outing. He has yet to allow a run this season in three innings pitched.
Historical Notes
» Eastern and Austin Peay met for the 15th time. EMU is now 6-8 all-time against the Governors.
» Eastern matched up with an Atlantic Sun Conference team for the 47th time. It is 23-25 when facing the conference.
» Eastern beat Austin Peay for the first time since the 2020 season.
» Ty Stecko and Devan Zirwas' consecutive home runs in the third inning marked the first occurrence of back-to-back homers since Harrison Travis and Zirwas accomplished the feat against Northern Illinois, May 2, 2025.
» Ty Stecko is the first Eagle to hit two home runs in a game this season and first since Logan Hugo hit a pair against Kent State, May 16, 2025.
Up Next
The Eagles and Governors are back on the diamond for game two tomorrow, Feb. 21, at 3 p.m. ET. The game can be streamed live on ESPN+.
Follow Us
Keep up with all things Eastern baseball by following the team on X @EMU_Baseball, and on Instagram @emu_baseball.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Egan, Cole (1-0)
L: D. Delucia (0-1)
S: Hendershot, Fischer (1)
Batting:
HR: Zirwas, Devan 1 ; Stecko, Ty 2
RBI: Zirwas, Devan 1 ; Stecko, Ty 4 ; Borchardt, Nathan 1
SH: Williams, TJ 1 ; Jellison, Bruce 1 ; Weaver, Nick 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Williams, TJ 1 ; Zirwas, Devan 3 ; Stecko, Ty 2 ; Hale, John 1
SB: Jones, Drew 1 ; Knupp, Keegan 1
Batting:
2B: T. Wisdom 2
RBI: K. Proctor 1 ; C. Johnson 1 ; A. Matias 1 ; T. Conley 1
SH: A. Matias 1
SF: K. Proctor 1
Base Running:
RUNS: R. Velazquez 2 ; T. Wisdom 2 ; P. Pridgen 2
SB: P. Pridgen 1
CS: T. Conley 1
HBP: R. Velazquez 1 ; T. Conley 1
Game Leaders
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RBI
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RBI
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Players Mentioned
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