Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
4-13
Michigan State
4-11
Baseball Debuts All-New Oestrike Stadium, Drops Home Opener to Michigan State
3/10/2026 7:42:00 PM | Baseball
MSU got out to an early 7-0 lead after the top of the second and led for the remainder of the game
Photo Gallery
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University baseball team opened its 2026 home slate on the all-new field at Oestrike Stadium with a 13-5 setback against Michigan State University Tuesday, March 10.
Michigan State got out to an early 7-0 lead after the top of the second and led for the remainder of the game. Spartan left-hander Bobby Crane (1-0) earned the win while Eastern starter Eli Henderson (Gallatin, Tenn./Trousdale County/Columbia State C.C.) (1-2) was tagged with the loss.
How it Happened
Michigan State jumped out quickly, posting two runs in the first and breaking the game open with a five-run second inning, including an inside-the-park home run. The Spartans added three more in the third, building a 10-2 advantage after Keegan Knupp (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy Orange) and TJ Williams (Racine, Wis./Racine Horlick/Kansas) each collected hits and contributed to a two-run second inning for the Eagles.
Eastern Michigan's pitching staff struggled to contain Michigan State's offense, with seven walks and two hit batters contributing to the early deficit.
Eastern found a spark in the bottom of the fifth as Devan Zirwas (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny/VCU) launched a three-run home run to right center, marking his sixth homer of the year and giving him the team lead. The blast brought in Ty Stecko (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin/Mount St. Mary's) and John Hale (Ashland City, Tenn./Sycamore/Motlow State C.C.), trimming the gap to 10-5.
Despite the offensive highlight, Eastern's bullpen could not stem the Spartans' momentum. Michigan State continued to capitalize, adding two runs in the sixth and one more in the ninth. The Eagles were limited to five hits and left five runners on base as the game concluded in a 13-5 win for Michigan State.
Game Notes
» Eastern's record went to 4-13 (0-3 MAC) and Michigan State's improved to 4-11 (0-3 B1G).
» Devan Zirwas homered for the team-leading sixth time this season with a three-run shot to right field in the top of the fifth inning. Zirwas' six homers rank second in the MAC, while his 15 RBI also lead Eastern and stand sixth in the conference by value. The game marked Zirwas' fourth with multiple RBI this season, a figure that paces EMU.
» Devan Zirwas' home run in the fifth inning marked Eastern's 18th of the season, a number that ranks the Eagles second in the conference.
» Aidan Norris (Platte County, Mo./Platte County/Iowa Western C.C.) pitched a season-long 2.0 scoreless innings, marking the second scoreless outing of the season after doing so at Austin Peay in 0.2 innings, Feb. 27.
» Ty Stecko walked for the 14th time this season, the most on the team and fourth most in the Mid-American Conference. Eastern drew at least five walks for the 14th time this season as it has failed to do so just three times in 2026.
» TJ Williams recorded his team-high 15th hit of the season as he reached base twice and swiped his seventh bag of the season, which also leads the team and ranks third in the league.
Historical Notes
» The Eagles and Spartans met for the 143rd time. Eastern posts a 58-83-2 record when facing MSU and a 5-10 mark when facing it in Ypsilanti since 1999.
» The contest against Michigan State marked the 407th for Eastern against a Big Ten opponent. Overall, the Eagles post a 151-251-5 record when facing Big Ten teams. Additionally, the only four Big Ten institutions the Eagles have yet to face on the diamond are Maryland, Rutgers, USC, and UCLA.
» EMU hosted Michigan State for the first time since April 4, 2017, a 4-3 win for the Eagles.
» Eastern opened its home season against Michigan State for the third time since 1999. It is 0-3 when playing the Spartans in its home opener.
» The game was EMU's earliest home opener since at least 1999.
» Easter faced former EMU head coaches Jake Boss Jr. (2008) and Mark VanAmeyde (2015-17). The Eagles are 6-19 when facing the Spartans under Boss and 3-16 when both Boss and VanAmeyde are in the same dugout.
» Devan Zirwas is seven hits from reaching 100 in his career as he currently totals 93.
Up Next
Eastern returns to the road and Mid-American Conference play with a three-game series at Ball State University Friday-Sunday, March 13-15. The series will take place at Shebek Stadium in Muncie, Ind.
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: Crane,B (1-0)
L: Henderson, Eli (1-2)
Batting:
2B: Broski,A 1
3B: Murphy,D 1
HR: Seymour,R 1 ; Williams,N 1
RBI: Seymour,R 3 ; McKay,R 1 ; Murphy,D 2 ; Williams,N 2 ; Broski,A 4
SH: Thomas,K 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Seymour,R 1 ; Sturgess,I 2 ; McKay,R 1 ; Murphy,D 2 ; Williams,N 2 ; Domey,I 3 ; Thomas,K 2
SB: Murphy,D 1 ; Broski,A 1
HBP: Murphy,D 2
Batting:
HR: Zirwas, Devan 1
RBI: Zirwas, Devan 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Stecko, Ty 1 ; Zirwas, Devan 1 ; Jellison, Bruce 1 ; Knupp, Keegan 1 ; Hale, John 1
SB: Williams, TJ 1
HBP: Stecko, Ty 1
