Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, March 21
Ypsilanti, Mich.
3 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
5-17, 0
9
vs
8
Akron
10-11, 0
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
8th innning8
9th innning9
10th innning10
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
Akron
0
0
0
0
7
0
0
0
1
0
8
11
2
Eastern Michigan
0
0
3
0
0
0
3
0
2
1
9
13
1
Photo by: Savannah Berry
Baseball Walks Off Akron, Earns First MAC Win of 2026 Campaign
3/21/2026 8:18:00 PM | Baseball
The win marked the first home win of the season and first MAC win for Interim Head Coach Trevor Beerman
Photo Gallery | Re-Watch the Game | Late Inning Highlights
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team earned its first Mid-American Conference victory of the season in dramatic fashion Saturday, March 21, securing a 9-8 walk-off victory in 10 innings against the University of Akron at Oestrike Stadium.
The win marked the first MAC win in the Interim Head Coach Trevor Beerman era (2026-present).
Eastern secured the win by scoring six runs in the final four innings highlighted by Devan Zirwas' (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny/VCU) game-tying two-run homer in the ninth to force extra innings. Eastern won the game off a bases-loaded hit by pitch from TJ Williams (Racine, Wis./Racine Horlick/Kansas) to end the contest in a 9-8 final.
Eastern sophomore Fischer Hendershot (Flushing, Mich./Flint Powers) (1-1) earned his first win of the season on the mound as he tossed a scoreless 0.2 innings. Akron's Garrett Groce (0-2) was tagged with the loss.
How it Happened
Eastern Michigan jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the third inning. Zirwas ignited the offense with a two-run triple to right field, and Bruce Jellison (Hartland, Mich./Hartland/Wabash Valley) followed with an RBI groundout to extend the advantage.
The lead was short-lived, as Akron erupted for seven runs in the top of the fifth inning. The Zips capitalized on five hits, multiple walks and a costly EMU error to seize a 7-3 lead. The Eagles began to chip away in the seventh, loading the bases and scoring three runs on RBIs from Kevin Krill (White Lake, Mich./Lakeland/Oakland/Kalamazoo Valley C.C.), John Hale (Ashland City, Tenn./Sycamore/Motlow State C.C.), and a walk by Nathan Borchardt (Stanley, N.C./East Lincoln/King) to cut the deficit to 7-6.
After Akron added an insurance run in the top of the ninth to make it 8-6, Zirwas delivered the game's most pivotal swing. With two outs, he launched a towering two-run home run to tie the game and send it to extra innings. In the bottom of the 10th, the Eagles loaded the bases and Williams was hit by a pitch to force in the winning run, completing the comeback.
Game Notes
» Eastern's record improved to 5-17 (1-7 MAC), and Akron's fell to 10-11 (4-4 MAC).
» Eastern played its second extra-innings contest of the season, securing its first win in such games. It previously went to extras at Austin Peay, Feb. 21, losing, 8-7. It marked the first walk-off win for the team since it walked off Kent State in 12 innings, 12-11, May 15, 2025.
» The Eagles recorded 13 total hits, their fifth time with double-digit hits this season. Eastern out-hit its opponent for the fifth time this season with 13 hits to Akron's 11. It moved to 2-3 when outhitting opponents.
» Eastern worked eight walks and drove in nine runs, both of which are the second most for EMU in one game this season.
» Devan Zirwas hit his eighth home run of the season in the form of a two-out game-tying shot in the bottom of the ninth. The eight homers match his total from last season and rank second in the MAC. He drove in four runs, tying his career high set against Ball State, March 15, the most from an individual Eagle in one game this season. Zirwas recorded one triple and one homer in the game, elevating his extra-base hit total to a team-high 15.
» Devan Zirwas logged his seventh total multi-RBI game of the season, knocking in four runs. Zirwas leads the squad in RBIs, totaling 25 on the season.
» TJ Williams secured his team-best eighth multi-hit game of the season with a 2-for-6 showing at the dish. He has knocked at least two hits in three of his last four games.
» Demir Heidelberg (Homewood, Ill./Homewood Flossmor) recorded the third multi-hit game of his freshman campaign. This marks the first time in his career with back-to-back multi-hit performances. He extended his hitting streak to four straight games, a career-long streak.
» John Hale (Ashland City, Tenn./Sycamore/Motlow State) had two hits, which marked his fourth multi-hit game of the season, and 18th as an Eagle. In addition, he knocked in his 10th RBI of the season.
» Bruce Jellison reached base for the eighth consecutive game, which is currently the longest streak on the team. He had one hit and one RBI to bring his totals to nine hits and six RBI.
» Tommy Rose (Plymouth, Mich./Plymouth) tossed at least three innings for the fourth time this season. He allowed zero runs for the first time in his career.
» Aidan Norris (Platte City, Mo./Platte County) tossed his fourth scoreless appearance of the season, marking his third consecutive scoreless outing.
» Fischer Hendershot earned his first win of the season on the mound as he tossed a scoreless 0.2 innings.
Historical Notes
» Interim Head Coach Trevor Beerman earned his first home and Mid-American Conference win.
» Eastern won for the first time on the new field at Oestrike Stadium.
» The Eagles met Akron for the 79th time. Eastern holds a 49-30 record all-time against the Zips and an 11-14 mark when facing it at Oestrike Stadium since 1999.
Up Next
The Eagles and Zips will play again tomorrow, March 22, 12 p.m. for the rubber match of the series.
Follow Us
Keep up with all things Eastern baseball by following the team on X @EMU_Baseball, and on Instagram @emu_baseball.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team earned its first Mid-American Conference victory of the season in dramatic fashion Saturday, March 21, securing a 9-8 walk-off victory in 10 innings against the University of Akron at Oestrike Stadium.
The win marked the first MAC win in the Interim Head Coach Trevor Beerman era (2026-present).
Eastern secured the win by scoring six runs in the final four innings highlighted by Devan Zirwas' (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny/VCU) game-tying two-run homer in the ninth to force extra innings. Eastern won the game off a bases-loaded hit by pitch from TJ Williams (Racine, Wis./Racine Horlick/Kansas) to end the contest in a 9-8 final.
Eastern sophomore Fischer Hendershot (Flushing, Mich./Flint Powers) (1-1) earned his first win of the season on the mound as he tossed a scoreless 0.2 innings. Akron's Garrett Groce (0-2) was tagged with the loss.
How it Happened
Eastern Michigan jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the third inning. Zirwas ignited the offense with a two-run triple to right field, and Bruce Jellison (Hartland, Mich./Hartland/Wabash Valley) followed with an RBI groundout to extend the advantage.
The lead was short-lived, as Akron erupted for seven runs in the top of the fifth inning. The Zips capitalized on five hits, multiple walks and a costly EMU error to seize a 7-3 lead. The Eagles began to chip away in the seventh, loading the bases and scoring three runs on RBIs from Kevin Krill (White Lake, Mich./Lakeland/Oakland/Kalamazoo Valley C.C.), John Hale (Ashland City, Tenn./Sycamore/Motlow State C.C.), and a walk by Nathan Borchardt (Stanley, N.C./East Lincoln/King) to cut the deficit to 7-6.
After Akron added an insurance run in the top of the ninth to make it 8-6, Zirwas delivered the game's most pivotal swing. With two outs, he launched a towering two-run home run to tie the game and send it to extra innings. In the bottom of the 10th, the Eagles loaded the bases and Williams was hit by a pitch to force in the winning run, completing the comeback.
Game Notes
» Eastern's record improved to 5-17 (1-7 MAC), and Akron's fell to 10-11 (4-4 MAC).
» Eastern played its second extra-innings contest of the season, securing its first win in such games. It previously went to extras at Austin Peay, Feb. 21, losing, 8-7. It marked the first walk-off win for the team since it walked off Kent State in 12 innings, 12-11, May 15, 2025.
» The Eagles recorded 13 total hits, their fifth time with double-digit hits this season. Eastern out-hit its opponent for the fifth time this season with 13 hits to Akron's 11. It moved to 2-3 when outhitting opponents.
» Eastern worked eight walks and drove in nine runs, both of which are the second most for EMU in one game this season.
» Devan Zirwas hit his eighth home run of the season in the form of a two-out game-tying shot in the bottom of the ninth. The eight homers match his total from last season and rank second in the MAC. He drove in four runs, tying his career high set against Ball State, March 15, the most from an individual Eagle in one game this season. Zirwas recorded one triple and one homer in the game, elevating his extra-base hit total to a team-high 15.
» Devan Zirwas logged his seventh total multi-RBI game of the season, knocking in four runs. Zirwas leads the squad in RBIs, totaling 25 on the season.
» TJ Williams secured his team-best eighth multi-hit game of the season with a 2-for-6 showing at the dish. He has knocked at least two hits in three of his last four games.
» Demir Heidelberg (Homewood, Ill./Homewood Flossmor) recorded the third multi-hit game of his freshman campaign. This marks the first time in his career with back-to-back multi-hit performances. He extended his hitting streak to four straight games, a career-long streak.
» John Hale (Ashland City, Tenn./Sycamore/Motlow State) had two hits, which marked his fourth multi-hit game of the season, and 18th as an Eagle. In addition, he knocked in his 10th RBI of the season.
» Bruce Jellison reached base for the eighth consecutive game, which is currently the longest streak on the team. He had one hit and one RBI to bring his totals to nine hits and six RBI.
» Tommy Rose (Plymouth, Mich./Plymouth) tossed at least three innings for the fourth time this season. He allowed zero runs for the first time in his career.
» Aidan Norris (Platte City, Mo./Platte County) tossed his fourth scoreless appearance of the season, marking his third consecutive scoreless outing.
» Fischer Hendershot earned his first win of the season on the mound as he tossed a scoreless 0.2 innings.
Historical Notes
» Interim Head Coach Trevor Beerman earned his first home and Mid-American Conference win.
» Eastern won for the first time on the new field at Oestrike Stadium.
» The Eagles met Akron for the 79th time. Eastern holds a 49-30 record all-time against the Zips and an 11-14 mark when facing it at Oestrike Stadium since 1999.
Up Next
The Eagles and Zips will play again tomorrow, March 22, 12 p.m. for the rubber match of the series.
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: Hendershot, Fischer (1-1)
L: Garrett Groce (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Gabe Mathison 1 ; Henry Hayman 1 ; Bowen, Blake 1 ; Austin Lafferty 1
RBI: Gabe Mathison 1 ; Brody Chrisman 1 ; Brennan Morgan 1 ; Henry Hayman 1 ; Bowen, Blake 1 ; Easton Amundson 1 ; Ryan Jones 1
SH: Tucker Biehl 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Kelton Phillips 1 ; Gabe Mathison 1 ; Brody Chrisman 1 ; Brennan Morgan 1 ; Henry Hayman 1 ; Ryan Jones 1 ; Austin Lafferty 1 ; Tucker Biehl 1
SB: Kyle McConachie 1
HBP: Kelton Phillips 1 ; Brennan Morgan 1 ; Henry Hayman 1 ; Ryan Jones 1
Batting:
2B: Borchardt, Nathan 1 ; Jellison, Bruce 1 ; Heidelberg, Demir 1
3B: Zirwas, Devan 1
HR: Zirwas, Devan 1
RBI: Williams, TJ 1 ; Borchardt, Nathan 1 ; Zirwas, Devan 4 ; Jellison, Bruce 1 ; Krill, Kevin 1 ; Hale, John 1
SH: Krill, Kevin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Williams, TJ 2 ; Borchardt, Nathan 1 ; Zirwas, Devan 2 ; Jellison, Bruce 1 ; Heidelberg, Demir 1 ; Jones, Drew 1 ; Weaver, Nick 1
HBP: Williams, TJ 1 ; Borchardt, Nathan 1 ; Hale, John 1
Game Leaders
AB
6
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
6
R
2
H
2
RBI
4
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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Thursday, March 12
vs. Michigan State
Tuesday, March 10