Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, February 27
Edwardsville, Illi.
3 p.m. CT
Eastern Michigan University
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SIUE
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Eastern Michigan
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SIU Edwardsville
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Photo by: Patrick Crawford
Baseball Falls at SIUE, 12-7, Despite Late Power Surge
2/27/2026 7:56:00 PM | Baseball
Six-run sixth inning and three home runs highlight offensive milestones in loss to Cougars
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University baseball team dropped its series opener to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 12-7, in the first meeting between the programs Friday, Feb. 27, at the Simmons Baseball Complex.
The Eagles fell to 2-7 (0-0 MAC) on the season after a late rally was not enough to overcome early deficits against the Cougars (4-5, 0-0 OVC).
How it Happened
Keegan Knupp (Galena, Ohio/Olentangy Orange) sparked the Eastern offense right away, launching his first collegiate home run in the top of the first to give the Eagles an early lead. After SIUE responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame and continued to add on, Eastern trailed 9-1 heading into the sixth.
Eastern's offense erupted in the sixth inning, plating six runs to cut the deficit to two, 9-7. Devan Zirwas (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny/VCU) ignited the rally with an RBI triple, followed by a two-run home run from Ty Stecko (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin/Mount St. Mary's), his fourth of the season. John Hale (Ashland City, Tenn./Sycamore/Motlow State C.C.) capped the inning with his first home run of the year, a three-run shot to left.
SIUE responded quickly in the bottom of the sixth, extending the lead to 11-7 off a two-run homer. The Cougars added an insurance run in the seventh as the game concluded in a 12-7 final.
Game Notes
» Eastern's record shifted to 2-7 (0-0 MAC) and SIUE's went to 4-5 (0-0 OVC).
» Eastern faced an Ohio Valley Conference team for the fourth time this season. It is 1-3 when facing the conference.
» Eastern's six runs in the sixth inning marked its second inning with four or more runs this season. The first came in the seventh inning against Little Rock, Feb. 14, where EMU pushed across eight runs, its most in a single inning this season and most since it scored nine runs in the second inning against Miami, March 22, 2025.
» Eastern hit three home runs (Knupp, Stecko, Hale), tying its season high set at Austin Peay, Feb. 20. It totaled five extra-base hits (three homers, one double, one triple), its most of the season.
» Eastern struck out a season-low six times.
» Keegan Knupp homered for the first time and recorded the first RBI of his collegiate career, sending the first pitch he saw over the left-field wall. Knupp is up to five hits this season. He also scored a season-high two runs with two walks
» Devan Zirwas recorded the Eagles' first triple of the season in the top of the sixth, scoring Keegan Knupp from first base. The triple marked the third of his NCAA career and second with the Eagles, while serving as his ninth RBI and sixth hit of 2026.
» Ty Stecko crushed his team-leading fourth homer of the season in the sixth inning, a two-run shot to center field. Stecko's four home runs tie for the second most by value in the MAC as he continues to lead the Eagles in RBI with 10. The senior has reached base in eight consecutive games as he extended his hitting streak to four straight games. The game also marked Stecko's third with multiple RBI, the most on the team.
» John Hale homered for the first time this season with a three-run bomb to center field in the sixth inning. He collected his first three RBI of the season with one swing of the bat as the game represents his first with multiple RBI since he drove in three against Kent State, May 15, 2025. Hale recorded two hits on the day for his first multi-hit game of the season with one home run and one double.
» TJ Williams (Racine, Wis./Racine Horlick/Kansas) captured his first multi-hit game as an Eagle as he went 2-for-5 on the day with a pair of singles.
» Ethan Rowland (Lafayette, Calif./Acalanes/Saint Peter's) made his first appearance as an Eagle, pitching one scoreless inning.
Historical Notes
» Eastern and SIUE met for the first time in program history. The Cougars lead the series, 1-0.
» Eastern faced an OVC team for the 91st time in program history. It is 44-47 all-time when facing the conference.
Up Next
Eastern Michigan continues its series at SIUE with a doubleheader Saturday, Feb. 28. Game one is slated for 1 p.m., with game two to follow at 4 p.m.
Follow Us
Keep up with all things Eastern baseball by following the team on X @EMU_Baseball, and on Instagram @emu_baseball.
The Eagles fell to 2-7 (0-0 MAC) on the season after a late rally was not enough to overcome early deficits against the Cougars (4-5, 0-0 OVC).
How it Happened
Keegan Knupp (Galena, Ohio/Olentangy Orange) sparked the Eastern offense right away, launching his first collegiate home run in the top of the first to give the Eagles an early lead. After SIUE responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame and continued to add on, Eastern trailed 9-1 heading into the sixth.
Eastern's offense erupted in the sixth inning, plating six runs to cut the deficit to two, 9-7. Devan Zirwas (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny/VCU) ignited the rally with an RBI triple, followed by a two-run home run from Ty Stecko (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin/Mount St. Mary's), his fourth of the season. John Hale (Ashland City, Tenn./Sycamore/Motlow State C.C.) capped the inning with his first home run of the year, a three-run shot to left.
SIUE responded quickly in the bottom of the sixth, extending the lead to 11-7 off a two-run homer. The Cougars added an insurance run in the seventh as the game concluded in a 12-7 final.
Game Notes
» Eastern's record shifted to 2-7 (0-0 MAC) and SIUE's went to 4-5 (0-0 OVC).
» Eastern faced an Ohio Valley Conference team for the fourth time this season. It is 1-3 when facing the conference.
» Eastern's six runs in the sixth inning marked its second inning with four or more runs this season. The first came in the seventh inning against Little Rock, Feb. 14, where EMU pushed across eight runs, its most in a single inning this season and most since it scored nine runs in the second inning against Miami, March 22, 2025.
» Eastern hit three home runs (Knupp, Stecko, Hale), tying its season high set at Austin Peay, Feb. 20. It totaled five extra-base hits (three homers, one double, one triple), its most of the season.
» Eastern struck out a season-low six times.
» Keegan Knupp homered for the first time and recorded the first RBI of his collegiate career, sending the first pitch he saw over the left-field wall. Knupp is up to five hits this season. He also scored a season-high two runs with two walks
» Devan Zirwas recorded the Eagles' first triple of the season in the top of the sixth, scoring Keegan Knupp from first base. The triple marked the third of his NCAA career and second with the Eagles, while serving as his ninth RBI and sixth hit of 2026.
» Ty Stecko crushed his team-leading fourth homer of the season in the sixth inning, a two-run shot to center field. Stecko's four home runs tie for the second most by value in the MAC as he continues to lead the Eagles in RBI with 10. The senior has reached base in eight consecutive games as he extended his hitting streak to four straight games. The game also marked Stecko's third with multiple RBI, the most on the team.
» John Hale homered for the first time this season with a three-run bomb to center field in the sixth inning. He collected his first three RBI of the season with one swing of the bat as the game represents his first with multiple RBI since he drove in three against Kent State, May 15, 2025. Hale recorded two hits on the day for his first multi-hit game of the season with one home run and one double.
» TJ Williams (Racine, Wis./Racine Horlick/Kansas) captured his first multi-hit game as an Eagle as he went 2-for-5 on the day with a pair of singles.
» Ethan Rowland (Lafayette, Calif./Acalanes/Saint Peter's) made his first appearance as an Eagle, pitching one scoreless inning.
Historical Notes
» Eastern and SIUE met for the first time in program history. The Cougars lead the series, 1-0.
» Eastern faced an OVC team for the 91st time in program history. It is 44-47 all-time when facing the conference.
Up Next
Eastern Michigan continues its series at SIUE with a doubleheader Saturday, Feb. 28. Game one is slated for 1 p.m., with game two to follow at 4 p.m.
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: Jase Phillips (1-1)
L: Carmichael, John (0-2)
S: Porter Conn (1)
Batting:
2B: Hale, John 1
3B: Zirwas, Devan 1
HR: Knupp, Keegan 1 ; Stecko, Ty 1 ; Hale, John 1
RBI: Knupp, Keegan 1 ; Zirwas, Devan 1 ; Stecko, Ty 2 ; Hale, John 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Knupp, Keegan 2 ; Zirwas, Devan 1 ; Stecko, Ty 1 ; Crane, Tristan 1 ; Jellison, Bruce 1 ; Hale, John 1
SB: Williams, TJ 1
Batting:
2B: Joshua Heyder 1
3B: Mack Mitchell 1
HR: Ryan Niedzwiedz 2 ; Terrick Thompson-Al 1 ; Brenden Fry 1
RBI: Ryan Niedzwiedz 6 ; Ethan Willoughby 1 ; Terrick Thompson-Al 1 ; Brenden Fry 3 ; Daniel Gierer 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mack Mitchell 2 ; Ryan Niedzwiedz 2 ; Joshua Heyder 1 ; Terrick Thompson-Al 2 ; Sean Kang 3 ; Brenden Fry 2
SB: Terrick Thompson-Al 1 ; Sean Kang 1
CS: Chase Bloomer 1 ; Ethan Willoughby 1
HBP: Mack Mitchell 1
PO: Terrick Thompson-Al 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
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AB
3
R
2
H
1
RBI
1
AB
5
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF
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RHP
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INF
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