Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, February 28
Edwardsville, Illi.
1 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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Baseball Sweeps Saturday Doubleheader at SIUE
2/28/2026 9:19:00 PM | Baseball
Eastern has won consecutive games for the first time this season and first time in the Interim Head Coach Trevor Beerman era
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University baseball team swept a doubleheader against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with a 9-1 victory in game one and a resilient 8-7 win in the nightcap Saturday, Feb. 28, at the Simmons Baseball Complex.
Eastern has won consecutive games for the first time this season and first time in the Interim Head Coach Trevor Beerman era (2026-present).
How it Happened (Game One)
In the opener, the Eagles fell behind 1-0 in the first inning but quickly took control. Eastern Michigan tied the game in the third inning before a go-ahead RBI single from freshman Keegan Knupp (Galena, Ohio/Olentangy Orange) put the Eagles ahead for good. The offense extended its lead to 4-1 in the fourth when senior John Hale (Ashland City, Tenn./Sycamore/Motlow State C.C.) delivered a two-run single. The power came alive late as senior Ty Stecko (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin/Mount St. Mary's) hit a solo home run in the seventh inning, and senior Drew Jones (Cleveland, Ohio/Brush/Ohio State) sealed the dominant performance with a three-run blast in the ninth.
On the mound, senior pitcher Michael Pfeiffer (Brownsboro, Ala./Huntsville/Northwest-Shoals C.C.) was outstanding, tossing six innings and allowing just one run on two hits to earn his first win of the season. Junior Cole Egan (Pittsburgh, Pa./West Allegheny/George Mason) was equally effective out of the bullpen, pitching the final three innings without allowing a run to record his first save as an Eagle.
How it Happened (Game Two)
The second game, a seven-inning contest, saw the Eagles jump out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning. Senior Devan Zirwas (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny/VCU) started the scoring with an RBI double, and junior Kriss Sydlowski (Ann Arbor, Mich./Saline/USC Sumpter C.C.) followed with a two-run single. Zirwas added a solo home run in the third to push the lead to 4-1. However, SIUE mounted a comeback, scoring six unanswered runs, including a three-run homer in the fourth, to take a 7-5 lead.
Eastern Michigan showed its resilience, responding immediately in the top of the fifth inning. Hale drove in a run with a double, and senior TJ Williams (Racine, Wis./Racine Horlic/Kansas) delivered the decisive blow with a two-run single up the middle that put the Eagles back in front, 8-7. The bullpen shut the door from there, with senior Emmett Gillies (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Hartley/Akron) earning the win after 2.1 scoreless innings of relief, and sophomore Fischer Hendershot (Flushing, Mich./Flint Powers) securing the save in the seventh.
Game Notes (Game One)
» Eastern's record improved to 3-7 (0-0 MAC), and SIUE's shifted to 4-6 (0-0 OVC).
» Eastern outhit its opponent for the first time this season, producing a 1-0 record when doing so.
» Eastern pitching allowed a season-low four hits. It issued just three walks, its second-lowest total of the season.
» Eastern's nine RBI are its second-highest total of the season after driving in 11 at Little Rock, Feb. 14. EMU is 2-0 this year when driving in nine runs or more.
» After hitting three home runs in Friday's series opener and two long balls in the first game of the double header, Eastern has homered multiple times in consecutive games for the second time this season.
» Michael Pfeiffer earned his first win of the season as his 6.0 innings pitched marked the longest stint on the mound of his NCAA Division I career. He allowed less than two runs for the second time this season as he has done so in two of his three appearances this year.
» Cole Egan earned his first save of the season after pitching three shutout innings, allowing just two hits while striking out three Cougars and walking none.
» Drew Jones homered for the first time this season and fourth time of his career with a three-run bomb to left field in the top of the ninth. His three RBI mark a season high and his first game with multiple RBI in 2026.
» John Hale notched his second consecutive game with multiple hits and RBI. His two hits and three RBI increased his season totals to a team best two multi-hit games and two multi-RBI outings. Additionally, he is the only Eagle this season with multiple games of three or more RBI.
» Ty Stecko launched his fifth home run of the season, a solo homer to left field in the top of the seventh inning. His five home runs lead the team and rank second in the MAC. He has homered in consecutive games for the first time in his collegiate baseball career.
Historical Notes (Game One)
» Eastern and SIUE met for the second time in program history. The series is tied, 1-1.
» Eastern faced an OVC team for the 92nd time in program history. It is 45-47 all-time when facing the conference.
Game Notes (Game Two)
» Eastern's record improved to 4-7 (0-0 MAC), and SIUE's shifted to 4-7 (0-0 OVC).
» With the win in game two, Eastern has won consecutive games for the first time this season.
» With Devan Zirwas' third-inning homer, Eastern has hit a home run in three consecutive game for the first time this season.
» Emmett Gillies earned his first win of the season as he tossed 2.1-scoreless innings with a trio of strikeouts and zero walks. Gillies has yet to allow a run in his 5.1 innings of work this season.
» Fischer Hendershot earned his second save of the season, striking out one opposing batter in a scoreless seventh inning. His two saves lead the Eagles and tie for the most in the conference.
» Devan Zirwas propelled the Eastern offense with three hits, all of which went for extra bases with two doubles and one home run. He secured his first three-hit game of the season and second game with multiple hits. He also drove in multiple runs for the third time this season, tying for the team lead.
» Devan Zirwas piped his fourth bomb of the season in the third inning. His four homers rank second on the squad and tie for third in the MAC.
» TJ Williams scored one run off two hits with two RBI. He collected his second multi-hit game of the season and first game with multiple RBI.
» While Ty Stecko's five-game hitting streak ended, he reached base for the 10th consecutive game with one walk. His hitting streak was the longest on the team as is his 10-game streak of reaching base.
» Kriss Sydlowski drove in multiple runs for the first time in his NCAA Division I tenure with a two-RBI single in the top of the first inning.
Historical Notes (Game Two)
» Eastern and SIUE met for the third time in program history. EMU leads the series, 2-1.
» Eastern faced an OVC team for the 93rd time in program history. It is 46-47 all-time when facing the conference.
» With the win in game two, Eastern has won consecutive games for the first time in the Interim Head Coach Trevor Beerman era (2026-present).
Up Next
The Eagles will go for the series victory against SIUE in the finale Sunday, March 1. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET and will be streamed on ESPN+.
Follow Us
Keep up with all things Eastern baseball by following the team on X @EMU_Baseball, and on Instagram @emu_baseball.
Eastern has won consecutive games for the first time this season and first time in the Interim Head Coach Trevor Beerman era (2026-present).
How it Happened (Game One)
In the opener, the Eagles fell behind 1-0 in the first inning but quickly took control. Eastern Michigan tied the game in the third inning before a go-ahead RBI single from freshman Keegan Knupp (Galena, Ohio/Olentangy Orange) put the Eagles ahead for good. The offense extended its lead to 4-1 in the fourth when senior John Hale (Ashland City, Tenn./Sycamore/Motlow State C.C.) delivered a two-run single. The power came alive late as senior Ty Stecko (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin/Mount St. Mary's) hit a solo home run in the seventh inning, and senior Drew Jones (Cleveland, Ohio/Brush/Ohio State) sealed the dominant performance with a three-run blast in the ninth.
On the mound, senior pitcher Michael Pfeiffer (Brownsboro, Ala./Huntsville/Northwest-Shoals C.C.) was outstanding, tossing six innings and allowing just one run on two hits to earn his first win of the season. Junior Cole Egan (Pittsburgh, Pa./West Allegheny/George Mason) was equally effective out of the bullpen, pitching the final three innings without allowing a run to record his first save as an Eagle.
How it Happened (Game Two)
The second game, a seven-inning contest, saw the Eagles jump out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning. Senior Devan Zirwas (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny/VCU) started the scoring with an RBI double, and junior Kriss Sydlowski (Ann Arbor, Mich./Saline/USC Sumpter C.C.) followed with a two-run single. Zirwas added a solo home run in the third to push the lead to 4-1. However, SIUE mounted a comeback, scoring six unanswered runs, including a three-run homer in the fourth, to take a 7-5 lead.
Eastern Michigan showed its resilience, responding immediately in the top of the fifth inning. Hale drove in a run with a double, and senior TJ Williams (Racine, Wis./Racine Horlic/Kansas) delivered the decisive blow with a two-run single up the middle that put the Eagles back in front, 8-7. The bullpen shut the door from there, with senior Emmett Gillies (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Hartley/Akron) earning the win after 2.1 scoreless innings of relief, and sophomore Fischer Hendershot (Flushing, Mich./Flint Powers) securing the save in the seventh.
Game Notes (Game One)
» Eastern's record improved to 3-7 (0-0 MAC), and SIUE's shifted to 4-6 (0-0 OVC).
» Eastern outhit its opponent for the first time this season, producing a 1-0 record when doing so.
» Eastern pitching allowed a season-low four hits. It issued just three walks, its second-lowest total of the season.
» Eastern's nine RBI are its second-highest total of the season after driving in 11 at Little Rock, Feb. 14. EMU is 2-0 this year when driving in nine runs or more.
» After hitting three home runs in Friday's series opener and two long balls in the first game of the double header, Eastern has homered multiple times in consecutive games for the second time this season.
» Michael Pfeiffer earned his first win of the season as his 6.0 innings pitched marked the longest stint on the mound of his NCAA Division I career. He allowed less than two runs for the second time this season as he has done so in two of his three appearances this year.
» Cole Egan earned his first save of the season after pitching three shutout innings, allowing just two hits while striking out three Cougars and walking none.
» Drew Jones homered for the first time this season and fourth time of his career with a three-run bomb to left field in the top of the ninth. His three RBI mark a season high and his first game with multiple RBI in 2026.
» John Hale notched his second consecutive game with multiple hits and RBI. His two hits and three RBI increased his season totals to a team best two multi-hit games and two multi-RBI outings. Additionally, he is the only Eagle this season with multiple games of three or more RBI.
» Ty Stecko launched his fifth home run of the season, a solo homer to left field in the top of the seventh inning. His five home runs lead the team and rank second in the MAC. He has homered in consecutive games for the first time in his collegiate baseball career.
Historical Notes (Game One)
» Eastern and SIUE met for the second time in program history. The series is tied, 1-1.
» Eastern faced an OVC team for the 92nd time in program history. It is 45-47 all-time when facing the conference.
Game Notes (Game Two)
» Eastern's record improved to 4-7 (0-0 MAC), and SIUE's shifted to 4-7 (0-0 OVC).
» With the win in game two, Eastern has won consecutive games for the first time this season.
» With Devan Zirwas' third-inning homer, Eastern has hit a home run in three consecutive game for the first time this season.
» Emmett Gillies earned his first win of the season as he tossed 2.1-scoreless innings with a trio of strikeouts and zero walks. Gillies has yet to allow a run in his 5.1 innings of work this season.
» Fischer Hendershot earned his second save of the season, striking out one opposing batter in a scoreless seventh inning. His two saves lead the Eagles and tie for the most in the conference.
» Devan Zirwas propelled the Eastern offense with three hits, all of which went for extra bases with two doubles and one home run. He secured his first three-hit game of the season and second game with multiple hits. He also drove in multiple runs for the third time this season, tying for the team lead.
» Devan Zirwas piped his fourth bomb of the season in the third inning. His four homers rank second on the squad and tie for third in the MAC.
» TJ Williams scored one run off two hits with two RBI. He collected his second multi-hit game of the season and first game with multiple RBI.
» While Ty Stecko's five-game hitting streak ended, he reached base for the 10th consecutive game with one walk. His hitting streak was the longest on the team as is his 10-game streak of reaching base.
» Kriss Sydlowski drove in multiple runs for the first time in his NCAA Division I tenure with a two-RBI single in the top of the first inning.
Historical Notes (Game Two)
» Eastern and SIUE met for the third time in program history. EMU leads the series, 2-1.
» Eastern faced an OVC team for the 93rd time in program history. It is 46-47 all-time when facing the conference.
» With the win in game two, Eastern has won consecutive games for the first time in the Interim Head Coach Trevor Beerman era (2026-present).
Up Next
The Eagles will go for the series victory against SIUE in the finale Sunday, March 1. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET and will be streamed 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: Pfeiffer, Michael (1-1)
L: Tim Teixeira (0-2)
S: Egan, Cole (1)
Batting:
2B: Hale, John 1
HR: Stecko, Ty 1 ; Jones, Drew 1
RBI: Williams, TJ 1 ; Knupp, Keegan 1 ; Stecko, Ty 1 ; Jones, Drew 3 ; Hale, John 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Williams, TJ 1 ; Zirwas, Devan 1 ; Stecko, Ty 2 ; Schechterman, Ben 1 ; Jones, Drew 1 ; Sydlowski, Kriss 2 ; Weaver, Nick 1
SB: Williams, TJ 1 ; Zirwas, Devan 1 ; Sydlowski, Kriss 1
HBP: Zirwas, Devan 1 ; Stecko, Ty 1 ; Sydlowski, Kriss 1
Batting:
RBI: Chase Bloomer 1
SF: Chase Bloomer 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mack Mitchell 1
SB: Mack Mitchell 1
HBP: Cooper Eggert 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
RHP
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RHP
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UTIL
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RHP
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OF
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INF
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