Eastern Michigan Athletics
Tuesday, March 24
Ypsilanti, Mich.
3 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
7-17
8
vs
7
Youngstown State
3-18
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
8th innning8
9th innning9
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
Youngstown State
0
0
1
0
2
3
1
0
0
7
11
0
Eastern Michigan
0
0
0
1
0
3
0
3
1
8
9
0
Photo by: Savannah Berry
Baseball Walks Off Youngstown State Behind Heidelberg's Four RBI
3/24/2026 7:42:00 PM | Baseball
Eastern came back from down five, scoring four runs in the eighth and ninth innings combined for the win
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team delivered a thrilling comeback win at Oestrike Stadium Tuesday, March 24, rallying past Youngstown State University, 8-7, for a walk-off victory and its third straight win on the heels of Demir Heidelberg's career-high four RBI.
Eastern came back from down five runs, scoring a total of four runs in the eighth and ninth innings for the win.
Greg Kennedy (Ravenna, Ohio/Jonathan Adler/Lake Erie) (1-0) tossed a scoreless two innings out of the bullpen with a career-high three strikeouts to earn the first win of his NCAA Division I tenure.
How it Happened
Youngstown State grabbed an early lead, homering in the third and adding two more in the fifth for a 3-1 advantage. The Penguins pushed the margin to 6-1 in the sixth, capitalizing on extra-base hits and one passed ball. Eastern Michigan's comeback began in the bottom half of the sixth as Tristan Crane (Berkley, Mich./Brother Rice/Texas A&M C.C.) was hit by a pitch to force in a run. Freshman standout Demir Heidelberg (Homewood, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) delivered a clutch two-run single, cutting the deficit to 6-4.
Though the Penguins added one run in the top of the seventh, the Eagles responded in the eighth. Crane's sacrifice fly plated Drew Jones (Cleveland, Ohio/Brush/Ohio State) before Heidelberg again came through, lining a two-run single to left to bring the game level at seven. In the bottom of the ninth, Keegan Knupp (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy Orange) reached and advanced to third, setting the table for a dramatic finish.
Crane drew a bases-loaded walk to force in Knupp for the walk-off, capping Eastern's charge from five down.
Game Notes
» Eastern's record improved to 7-17 (2-7 MAC), and Youngstown State's fell to 3-18 (1-2 Horizon).
» Eastern has won three straight games for the first time this season and first time since it swept the the University of Akron to begin MAC play last season, March 7-9.
» Eastern pitching struck out 10+ batters for the fourth time this season, leading to a 2-4 record.
» Eastern worked a season-high 10 walks, its most since it walked 12 times in a 15-6 win at Albany, April 17, 2025.
» Eastern struck out just five times, tying its season low for the third time this season. EMU is 2-1 when striking out five times or less in 2026.
» Eastern swiped a season-high six bases. The performance marked the second straight setting a season high in the category as its four stolen bases against Akron, March 22, was previously a season high.
» Eastern came back from a deficit of three or more runs for the second time this season. It previously rallied from down five runs to beat Little Rock, 11-6, Feb. 14.
» Two of Eastern's last three games have ended in a bases-loaded walk-off after TJ Williams (Racine, Wis./Racine Horlick/Kansas) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the 10th inning against Akron, March 21.
» Demir Heidelberg extended his hitting streak to six consecutive games. He drove in two runs off a single in the sixth inning, marking his second consecutive multi-RBI outing. He later drove in two more off a single to left field in the eighth, marking his fourth multi-hit game and giving him a career-high four RBI.
» Greg Kennedy put up his second consecutive scoreless outing. He previously allowed zero runs at Notre Dame, March 3. His 2.0 innings pitched tied a career-high while his three strikeouts stand as the most in his career, and he earned his first career win.
» Tristan Crane drove in a career-high three runs off a bases-loaded hit by pitch, sacrifice fly in the eighth, and a bases-loaded walk to end the game in the ninth inning.
» Keegan Knupp knocked a pair of hits for his third multi-hit game of the season, as he has recorded multiple hits in consecutive games for the first time in his career.
» Aidan Norris (Platte City, Mo./Platte County/Iowa Western C.C.) tossed his fourth consecutive scoreless outing. Out of his seven total appearances, he has held his opponent scoreless in five of his seven outings.
» After recording his first collegiate hit against Akron, March 22, Phillip Thigpen (Chicago, Ill./Kenwood Academy) now has a hit in consecutive games as he singled up the middle to leadoff the third inning. He added a double in the left-center gap in the eighth for his first extra-base hit and multi-hit day.
» Nick Weaver (Streamwood, Ill./Streamwood/Elgin C.C.) extended his hitting streak to five straight games with a single through the right side to get Eastern going in its three-run sixth inning.
» Drew Jones tied a career-high with three walks. It's the first time he's walked three times in one game in nearly two years as he last did so against Butler, May 16, 2024.
Historical Notes
» Eastern has won three consecutive games for the first time under Interim Head Coach Trevor Beerman. The win also marked the first non-conference home win under Beerman.
» The Eagles and Penguins met for the sixth time. Eastern holds a 3-3 record all-time against YSU and 2-1 clip when facing it at home. Eastern has won consecutive games against the Penguins for the first time in program history.
» Eastern faced a current Horizon League team for the 99th time. It is 59-40 all-time against the fellow mid-major conference.
Up Next
Eastern hosts Central Michigan University for a three-game MAC series Friday-Sunday, March 27-29. The series will take place at Oestrike Stadium in Ypsilanti, Mich.
Follow Us
Keep up with all things Eastern baseball by following the team on X @EMU_Baseball, and on Instagram @emu_baseball.
Eastern came back from down five runs, scoring a total of four runs in the eighth and ninth innings for the win.
Greg Kennedy (Ravenna, Ohio/Jonathan Adler/Lake Erie) (1-0) tossed a scoreless two innings out of the bullpen with a career-high three strikeouts to earn the first win of his NCAA Division I tenure.
How it Happened
Youngstown State grabbed an early lead, homering in the third and adding two more in the fifth for a 3-1 advantage. The Penguins pushed the margin to 6-1 in the sixth, capitalizing on extra-base hits and one passed ball. Eastern Michigan's comeback began in the bottom half of the sixth as Tristan Crane (Berkley, Mich./Brother Rice/Texas A&M C.C.) was hit by a pitch to force in a run. Freshman standout Demir Heidelberg (Homewood, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) delivered a clutch two-run single, cutting the deficit to 6-4.
Though the Penguins added one run in the top of the seventh, the Eagles responded in the eighth. Crane's sacrifice fly plated Drew Jones (Cleveland, Ohio/Brush/Ohio State) before Heidelberg again came through, lining a two-run single to left to bring the game level at seven. In the bottom of the ninth, Keegan Knupp (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy Orange) reached and advanced to third, setting the table for a dramatic finish.
Crane drew a bases-loaded walk to force in Knupp for the walk-off, capping Eastern's charge from five down.
Game Notes
» Eastern's record improved to 7-17 (2-7 MAC), and Youngstown State's fell to 3-18 (1-2 Horizon).
» Eastern has won three straight games for the first time this season and first time since it swept the the University of Akron to begin MAC play last season, March 7-9.
» Eastern pitching struck out 10+ batters for the fourth time this season, leading to a 2-4 record.
» Eastern worked a season-high 10 walks, its most since it walked 12 times in a 15-6 win at Albany, April 17, 2025.
» Eastern struck out just five times, tying its season low for the third time this season. EMU is 2-1 when striking out five times or less in 2026.
» Eastern swiped a season-high six bases. The performance marked the second straight setting a season high in the category as its four stolen bases against Akron, March 22, was previously a season high.
» Eastern came back from a deficit of three or more runs for the second time this season. It previously rallied from down five runs to beat Little Rock, 11-6, Feb. 14.
» Two of Eastern's last three games have ended in a bases-loaded walk-off after TJ Williams (Racine, Wis./Racine Horlick/Kansas) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the 10th inning against Akron, March 21.
» Demir Heidelberg extended his hitting streak to six consecutive games. He drove in two runs off a single in the sixth inning, marking his second consecutive multi-RBI outing. He later drove in two more off a single to left field in the eighth, marking his fourth multi-hit game and giving him a career-high four RBI.
» Greg Kennedy put up his second consecutive scoreless outing. He previously allowed zero runs at Notre Dame, March 3. His 2.0 innings pitched tied a career-high while his three strikeouts stand as the most in his career, and he earned his first career win.
» Tristan Crane drove in a career-high three runs off a bases-loaded hit by pitch, sacrifice fly in the eighth, and a bases-loaded walk to end the game in the ninth inning.
» Keegan Knupp knocked a pair of hits for his third multi-hit game of the season, as he has recorded multiple hits in consecutive games for the first time in his career.
» Aidan Norris (Platte City, Mo./Platte County/Iowa Western C.C.) tossed his fourth consecutive scoreless outing. Out of his seven total appearances, he has held his opponent scoreless in five of his seven outings.
» After recording his first collegiate hit against Akron, March 22, Phillip Thigpen (Chicago, Ill./Kenwood Academy) now has a hit in consecutive games as he singled up the middle to leadoff the third inning. He added a double in the left-center gap in the eighth for his first extra-base hit and multi-hit day.
» Nick Weaver (Streamwood, Ill./Streamwood/Elgin C.C.) extended his hitting streak to five straight games with a single through the right side to get Eastern going in its three-run sixth inning.
» Drew Jones tied a career-high with three walks. It's the first time he's walked three times in one game in nearly two years as he last did so against Butler, May 16, 2024.
Historical Notes
» Eastern has won three consecutive games for the first time under Interim Head Coach Trevor Beerman. The win also marked the first non-conference home win under Beerman.
» The Eagles and Penguins met for the sixth time. Eastern holds a 3-3 record all-time against YSU and 2-1 clip when facing it at home. Eastern has won consecutive games against the Penguins for the first time in program history.
» Eastern faced a current Horizon League team for the 99th time. It is 59-40 all-time against the fellow mid-major conference.
Up Next
Eastern hosts Central Michigan University for a three-game MAC series Friday-Sunday, March 27-29. The series will take place at Oestrike Stadium in Ypsilanti, Mich.
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: Kennedy, Greg (1-0)
L: ULRICH, Sloan (1-2)
Batting:
2B: BECKLEY, Nathan 1 ; CUTTING, Garrett 1 ; KURIGER, Brayden 1
3B: KURIGER, Brayden 1
HR: RUFFNER, Teddy 2
RBI: CUTTING, Garrett 1 ; KURIGER, Brayden 2 ; RUFFNER, Teddy 2
Base Running:
RUNS: BECKLEY, Nathan 1 ; CUTTING, Garrett 2 ; KURIGER, Brayden 1 ; URIEPERO, Misael 1 ; RUFFNER, Teddy 2
SB: URIEPERO, Misael 1
CS: JANG, Alex 1
HBP: CUTTING, Garrett 1
Batting:
2B: Thigpen, Phillip 1
RBI: Heidelberg, Demir 4 ; Crane, Tristan 3
SH: Knupp, Keegan 1 ; Weaver, Nick 1
SF: Crane, Tristan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Williams, TJ 1 ; Zirwas, Devan 1 ; Knupp, Keegan 1 ; Weaver, Nick 1 ; Jones, Drew 2 ; Thigpen, Phillip 2
SB: Williams, TJ 1 ; Zirwas, Devan 2 ; Knupp, Keegan 1 ; Jones, Drew 2
HBP: Heidelberg, Demir 1 ; Crane, Tristan 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
4
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
UTIL
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
UTIL
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballVictory Monday🏆
Monday, March 23
Have a day Cal Rutherford🔥
Sunday, March 22
vs. Akron
Sunday, March 22
Big time players 🤝 big time plays
Sunday, March 22