Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, March 28
Ypsilanti, Mich.
3 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
9-17, 0
12
vs
11
Central Michigan
9-14, 0
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
8th innning8
9th innning9
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
Central Michigan
2
7
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
11
11
2
Eastern Michigan
0
5
0
0
0
5
0
0
2
12
12
0
Photo by: Joey Wolter
Baseball Rallies From Nine Down, Walks Off CMU in 12-11 Thriller
3/28/2026 8:28:00 PM | Baseball
Ty Stecko played hero in EMU's fifth consecutive win and largest comeback victory since 2011
Photo Gallery | Ty Stecko Walk-Off Double | Bruce Jellison Sixth-Inning Homer | Ty Stecko Walk-Off Cinematic Clip
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team stormed back from a nine-run hole to defeat rival Central Michigan University, 12-11, in a walk-off thriller thanks to Ty Stecko's two-run double in the bottom of the ninth inning Saturday, March 28, at Oestrike Stadium.
Eastern's comeback is the largest since the 2011 season as it won its fifth-consecutive game and walked off its opponent for the third straight contest.
Cole Egan (Pittsburgh, Pa./West Allegheny/George Mason) (2-1) earned the win after tossing two scoreless innings while Stecko, Bruce Jellison (Hartland, Mich./Hartland/Wabash Valley), and Leewood Molessa (Pullman, W. Va./Williamstown/UMBC) each drove in multiple runs for EMU.
How it Happened
The rivalry matchup started with Central Michigan seizing early momentum, plating two runs in the first before erupting for seven more in the second to take a 9-0 lead. The Eagles responded in the bottom half as Molessa delivered a bases-clearing double, fueling a five-run frame that trimmed the deficit to 9-5.
Trailing 11-5 after a Chippewas home run in the fifth, the Eagles mounted another surge in the sixth. Devan Zirwas (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny/VCU) and Stecko added RBI singles before Jellison blasted a three-run home run, pulling EMU within one.
The bullpen steadied the game as Greg Kennedy (Ravenna, Ohio/Jonathan Alder/Lake Erie College), Landon Mueller (Fremont, Neb./Fremont/Omaha), and Egan combined to silence the Chippewas across the final 4.1 innings. In the ninth, Drew Jones (Cleveland, Ohio/Brush/Ohio State) and TJ Williams (Racine, Wis./Racine Horlick/Kansas) reached base ahead of Stecko, who delivered a two-run walk-off double down the left field line to complete the comeback and spark a home celebration.
Game Notes
» Eastern's record improved to 9-17 (4-7 MAC), and Central Michigan's fell to 9-14 (3-8 MAC).
» Eastern has won five consecutive games for the first time this season and first time since it won six consecutive games in the 2023 regular season, April 23-May 5. The five-game winning streak is the longest active streak in the MAC.
» Eastern walked off its opponent for the third consecutive game and fourth time this season. Eastern's four walk-off wins tie for the second most in the nation.
» Eastern scored at least four runs in one inning for the fifth time this season as it scored five runs in the second inning. It accomplished the feat again with five runs in the sixth inning.
» The Eagles advanced to 1-1 on the season when scoring 10+ runs, hits, and RBI. It first accomplished the feat against Ball State, March 13.
» Eastern struck out just four times, its lowest total of the season.
» Eastern came back from down nine runs. The comeback win marks its fourth of the season and is the largest of the year thus far.
» EMU improved to 6-2 in one-run games.
» Ty Stecko's three hits marked his sixth multi-hit showing of the season and a season high. His three RBI marked his fifth game of the season with multiple RBI and second with three or more. He doubled twice to bring his two-bagger total to five.
» Cole Egan earned his second win of the season as he held his opponent scoreless for the seventh time this season and did so for the third consecutive outing.
» Demir Heidelberg (Homewood, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) put on a three-hit performance, his fifth multi-hit game of the season.
» Leewood Molessa knocked in three RBI off a three-run double in the second inning. His three RBI are a season high, marking his first multi-RBI game as an Eagle. His double was also his first extra-base hit of the season.
» Bruce Jellison hit a sixth inning, three-run home run which marked his first of the season and second of his Eastern career. His four RBI tied a career-high and marked his fourth multi-RBI game of the year.
Historical Notes
» The comeback win is the largest since Eastern beat Michigan State, 17-15, April 26, 2011, after falling behind 10-0 in the second inning.
» Eastern's four walk-off wins are the most it's had in one season since 2019 when it accomplished the feat three times.
» Eastern has won five consecutive games for the first time under Interim Head Coach Trevor Beerman.
» Ty Stecko's walk-off double was Eastern's first walk-off hit since May 16, 2024, in a 12-11 win over Kent State.
» Eastern has won consecutive series for the first time this season and first time since it swept Akron to start MAC play in 2025, March 7-9, and took 2-of-3 games from Western Michigan, March 14-15.
» Ty Stecko reached 100 career hits with his multi-hit outing. He is the second Eagle to hit the mark this season after Devan Zirwas (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny/VCU) accomplished the feat.
» The Eagles and Chippewas met for the 187th time. Overall, Eastern holds the lead in the series with a 101-86 all-time record against CMU and a 19-23 record when facing it in Ypsilanti since 1999.
Up Next
The Eagles continue their series against Central Michigan Sunday, March 29. First pitch at Oestrike Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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 stormed back from a nine-run hole to defeat rival Central Michigan University, 12-11, in a walk-off thriller thanks to Ty Stecko's two-run double in the bottom of the ninth inning Saturday, March 28, at Oestrike Stadium.
Eastern's comeback is the largest since the 2011 season as it won its fifth-consecutive game and walked off its opponent for the third straight contest.
Cole Egan (Pittsburgh, Pa./West Allegheny/George Mason) (2-1) earned the win after tossing two scoreless innings while Stecko, Bruce Jellison (Hartland, Mich./Hartland/Wabash Valley), and Leewood Molessa (Pullman, W. Va./Williamstown/UMBC) each drove in multiple runs for EMU.
How it Happened
The rivalry matchup started with Central Michigan seizing early momentum, plating two runs in the first before erupting for seven more in the second to take a 9-0 lead. The Eagles responded in the bottom half as Molessa delivered a bases-clearing double, fueling a five-run frame that trimmed the deficit to 9-5.
Trailing 11-5 after a Chippewas home run in the fifth, the Eagles mounted another surge in the sixth. Devan Zirwas (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny/VCU) and Stecko added RBI singles before Jellison blasted a three-run home run, pulling EMU within one.
The bullpen steadied the game as Greg Kennedy (Ravenna, Ohio/Jonathan Alder/Lake Erie College), Landon Mueller (Fremont, Neb./Fremont/Omaha), and Egan combined to silence the Chippewas across the final 4.1 innings. In the ninth, Drew Jones (Cleveland, Ohio/Brush/Ohio State) and TJ Williams (Racine, Wis./Racine Horlick/Kansas) reached base ahead of Stecko, who delivered a two-run walk-off double down the left field line to complete the comeback and spark a home celebration.
Game Notes
» Eastern's record improved to 9-17 (4-7 MAC), and Central Michigan's fell to 9-14 (3-8 MAC).
» Eastern has won five consecutive games for the first time this season and first time since it won six consecutive games in the 2023 regular season, April 23-May 5. The five-game winning streak is the longest active streak in the MAC.
» Eastern walked off its opponent for the third consecutive game and fourth time this season. Eastern's four walk-off wins tie for the second most in the nation.
» Eastern scored at least four runs in one inning for the fifth time this season as it scored five runs in the second inning. It accomplished the feat again with five runs in the sixth inning.
» The Eagles advanced to 1-1 on the season when scoring 10+ runs, hits, and RBI. It first accomplished the feat against Ball State, March 13.
» Eastern struck out just four times, its lowest total of the season.
» Eastern came back from down nine runs. The comeback win marks its fourth of the season and is the largest of the year thus far.
» EMU improved to 6-2 in one-run games.
» Ty Stecko's three hits marked his sixth multi-hit showing of the season and a season high. His three RBI marked his fifth game of the season with multiple RBI and second with three or more. He doubled twice to bring his two-bagger total to five.
» Cole Egan earned his second win of the season as he held his opponent scoreless for the seventh time this season and did so for the third consecutive outing.
» Demir Heidelberg (Homewood, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) put on a three-hit performance, his fifth multi-hit game of the season.
» Leewood Molessa knocked in three RBI off a three-run double in the second inning. His three RBI are a season high, marking his first multi-RBI game as an Eagle. His double was also his first extra-base hit of the season.
» Bruce Jellison hit a sixth inning, three-run home run which marked his first of the season and second of his Eastern career. His four RBI tied a career-high and marked his fourth multi-RBI game of the year.
Historical Notes
» The comeback win is the largest since Eastern beat Michigan State, 17-15, April 26, 2011, after falling behind 10-0 in the second inning.
» Eastern's four walk-off wins are the most it's had in one season since 2019 when it accomplished the feat three times.
» Eastern has won five consecutive games for the first time under Interim Head Coach Trevor Beerman.
» Ty Stecko's walk-off double was Eastern's first walk-off hit since May 16, 2024, in a 12-11 win over Kent State.
» Eastern has won consecutive series for the first time this season and first time since it swept Akron to start MAC play in 2025, March 7-9, and took 2-of-3 games from Western Michigan, March 14-15.
» Ty Stecko reached 100 career hits with his multi-hit outing. He is the second Eagle to hit the mark this season after Devan Zirwas (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny/VCU) accomplished the feat.
» The Eagles and Chippewas met for the 187th time. Overall, Eastern holds the lead in the series with a 101-86 all-time record against CMU and a 19-23 record when facing it in Ypsilanti since 1999.
Up Next
The Eagles continue their series against Central Michigan Sunday, March 29. First pitch at Oestrike Stadium is scheduled for 1 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: Egan, Cole (2-1)
L: Kenny Keller (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Logan Keilen 1 ; Nathan Ball 1 ; Zach Knowlton 1
HR: Joey Milto 1
RBI: Harrison Bowman 1 ; Joey Milto 2 ; Logan Keilen 3 ; Brady Krzciok 1 ; Miguel Correa Jr. 1 ; Nathan Ball 2 ; Zach Knowlton 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bryson Webb 2 ; Harrison Bowman 3 ; Joey Milto 1 ; Logan Keilen 1 ; Brady Krzciok 1 ; Miguel Correa Jr. 1 ; Zach Knowlton 1 ; Drew Loikits 1
HBP: Harrison Bowman 1 ; Logan Keilen 1 ; Brady Krzciok 1 ; Drew Loikits 1
Batting:
2B: Molessa, Leewood 1 ; Stecko, Ty 2 ; Hale, John 1
HR: Jellison, Bruce 1
RBI: Molessa, Leewood 3 ; Zirwas, Devan 1 ; Stecko, Ty 3 ; Jellison, Bruce 4 ; Knupp, Keegan 1
SH: Williams, TJ 1
SF: Jellison, Bruce 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Williams, TJ 2 ; Molessa, Leewood 1 ; Jones, Drew 1 ; Zirwas, Devan 1 ; Stecko, Ty 2 ; Jellison, Bruce 1 ; Heidelberg, Demir 1 ; Knupp, Keegan 1 ; Hale, John 2
SB: Stecko, Ty 1
CS: Williams, TJ 1
HBP: Williams, TJ 1 ; Jellison, Bruce 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
1
H
3
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
UTIL
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballTY STECKO CALLS GAME‼️
Sunday, March 29
Big bang from Bruce⚾️💥
Sunday, March 29
Baseball Rallies From Down Nine to Knock Off CMU, 12-11
Saturday, March 28
vs. Central Michigan
Saturday, March 28