Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Baseball Completes Sweep Over Central Michigan for Sixth Consecutive Win
3/29/2026 5:01:00 PM | Baseball
The six-game win streak is the longest active streak in the MAC and the longest from the program since the 2023 season
Photo Gallery | Devan Zirwas Grand Slam | Celebration Video | Re-watch the Game.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team surged to a 13-7 victory over Central Michigan University Sunday, March 29, at Oestrike Stadium, completing a pivotal Mid-American Conference sweep and extending the win streak to six consecutive games.
Eastern's six-game win streak is the longest active streak in the MAC, tied for the fifth-longest in the nation, and is the program's longest since the 2023 season.
Eastern sophomore Cal Rutherford (Canton, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central) (2-0) got the start and earned his second win of the season as he went a career-long six innings, allowing four earned runs off seven hits while striking out six and walking two. Fellow sophomore Fischer Hendershot (Flushing, Mich./Flint Powers) earned his third save of the season after tossing three relief innings, allowing two runs. Central Michigan's Jared Hanson (1-2) was tagged with the loss.
Senior Devan Zirwas (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny/VCU) led the EMU offense, driving in six runs, four of which came off a third-inning grand slam as he was 3-for-3 from the dish.
How it Happened
Eastern Michigan wasted no time seizing control in the rivalry contest, striking for three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Senior infielder Bruce Jellison (Hartland, Mich./Hartland/Wabash Valley) drove in two with a single to center, then freshman outfielder Demir Heidelberg (Homewood, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) added an RBI single for the early 3-0 lead.
After Central Michigan got on the board with a solo home run in the second, EMU responded with two runs in the bottom half. Leewood Molessa (Pullman, W. Va./Williamstown/UMBC) lofted a sacrifice fly, and Zirwas added a sac fly of his own to make it 5-1.
The game's signature moment came in the third inning. After a bases-loaded walk forced in one, Zirwas launched a grand slam over the right-field wall, clearing the bases and stretching the advantage to 10-1. The Chippewas would use the long ball to close the gap, hitting three home runs in the middle innings, but EMU answered each challenge. Jellison plated another run with a single in the sixth, and Zirwas collected his sixth RBI with a late single. Ty Stecko (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin/Mount St. Mary's) grounded into a double play in the eighth to score the final Eagle run in the eighth.
Hendershot held the Chippewas scoreless in the ninth as the game ended in a 13-7 final.
Game Notes
» Eastern's record improved to 10-17 (5-7 MAC), and Central Michigan's fell to 9-15 (3-9 MAC).
» Eastern has won six consecutive games for the first time under Interim Head Coach Trevor Beerman.
» The six-game winning streak is the longest active in the MAC and tied for the fifth longest in the nation
» Eastern tied a season high with 13 runs and set a season high with 12 RBI. It advanced to 3-1 on the season when scoring 10+ runs. The 11 hits mark the eighth time it has knocked double-digit hits in one game this season.
» Eastern struck out a season-low four times for the second consecutive game.
» Eastern scored at least four runs in one inning for the seventh time this season as it scored five runs in the third inning.
» Eastern pitching issued a season-low two walks, marking the fifth time it's done so this season.
» Bruce Jellison recorded three RBI, his fifth multi-RBI outing of the 2026 campaign, ranking third on the squad. He also had two hits, his third multi-hit game of the season.
» Leewood Molessa drove in two RBI via one walk and one sacrifice fly, marking his second multi-RBI game of the season and series.
»Devan Zirwas tallied six RBI, the most of any Eagle all season. He hit his ninth home run of the season with a grand slam in the fourth inning. His nine homers lead the team, rank second in the MAC, and mark a career high. Zirwas finished the game with a career-high six RBI, the most of any Eagle in one game this season. He is the first Eagle to drive in six since Logan Hugo did so at Albany, April 17, 2025. The six RBI are the second most by an individual in the MAC this season. Zirwas finished the game with three hits, his seventh multi-hit game of the year, the second most on the squad.
» TJ Williams (Racine, Wis./Racine Horlick/Kansas) recorded his team-high 10th multi-hit game with a 2-for-4 day from the dish, including one double, his second of the year.
» Cal Rutherford recorded his second win of the season and fourth of his career. He went a career-long six innings, allowing four earned runs off seven hits while striking out six and walking two.
» Fischer Hendershot earned his third save of the season after pitching three innings. His three saves tie for second in the MAC.
Historical Notes
» Eastern swept Central Michigan in a three-game weekend series for the first time since March 6-7, 1983.
» Eastern has won six consecutive games for the first time since the 2023 regular season, April 23-May 5.
» The sweep against Central Michigan marks the first series sweep for the Eagles since March 7-9, 2025, over Akron.
» The sweep against Central Michigan marks the first time Eastern Michigan swept a home series since May 18-20, 2023, against Northern Illinois.
» The Eagles and Chippewas met for the 188th time. Overall, Eastern holds the lead in the series with a 102-86 all-time record against CMU and a 20-23 record since 1999 when facing it in Ypsilanti.
Up Next
The Eagles will take on the Michigan Wolverines at home on Tuesday, March 31. First pitch at Oestrike Stadium is scheduled for 3 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 surged to a 13-7 victory over Central Michigan University Sunday, March 29, at Oestrike Stadium, completing a pivotal Mid-American Conference sweep and extending the win streak to six consecutive games.
Eastern's six-game win streak is the longest active streak in the MAC, tied for the fifth-longest in the nation, and is the program's longest since the 2023 season.
Eastern sophomore Cal Rutherford (Canton, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central) (2-0) got the start and earned his second win of the season as he went a career-long six innings, allowing four earned runs off seven hits while striking out six and walking two. Fellow sophomore Fischer Hendershot (Flushing, Mich./Flint Powers) earned his third save of the season after tossing three relief innings, allowing two runs. Central Michigan's Jared Hanson (1-2) was tagged with the loss.
Senior Devan Zirwas (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny/VCU) led the EMU offense, driving in six runs, four of which came off a third-inning grand slam as he was 3-for-3 from the dish.
How it Happened
Eastern Michigan wasted no time seizing control in the rivalry contest, striking for three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Senior infielder Bruce Jellison (Hartland, Mich./Hartland/Wabash Valley) drove in two with a single to center, then freshman outfielder Demir Heidelberg (Homewood, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) added an RBI single for the early 3-0 lead.
After Central Michigan got on the board with a solo home run in the second, EMU responded with two runs in the bottom half. Leewood Molessa (Pullman, W. Va./Williamstown/UMBC) lofted a sacrifice fly, and Zirwas added a sac fly of his own to make it 5-1.
The game's signature moment came in the third inning. After a bases-loaded walk forced in one, Zirwas launched a grand slam over the right-field wall, clearing the bases and stretching the advantage to 10-1. The Chippewas would use the long ball to close the gap, hitting three home runs in the middle innings, but EMU answered each challenge. Jellison plated another run with a single in the sixth, and Zirwas collected his sixth RBI with a late single. Ty Stecko (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin/Mount St. Mary's) grounded into a double play in the eighth to score the final Eagle run in the eighth.
Hendershot held the Chippewas scoreless in the ninth as the game ended in a 13-7 final.
Game Notes
» Eastern's record improved to 10-17 (5-7 MAC), and Central Michigan's fell to 9-15 (3-9 MAC).
» Eastern has won six consecutive games for the first time under Interim Head Coach Trevor Beerman.
» The six-game winning streak is the longest active in the MAC and tied for the fifth longest in the nation
» Eastern tied a season high with 13 runs and set a season high with 12 RBI. It advanced to 3-1 on the season when scoring 10+ runs. The 11 hits mark the eighth time it has knocked double-digit hits in one game this season.
» Eastern struck out a season-low four times for the second consecutive game.
» Eastern scored at least four runs in one inning for the seventh time this season as it scored five runs in the third inning.
» Eastern pitching issued a season-low two walks, marking the fifth time it's done so this season.
» Bruce Jellison recorded three RBI, his fifth multi-RBI outing of the 2026 campaign, ranking third on the squad. He also had two hits, his third multi-hit game of the season.
» Leewood Molessa drove in two RBI via one walk and one sacrifice fly, marking his second multi-RBI game of the season and series.
»Devan Zirwas tallied six RBI, the most of any Eagle all season. He hit his ninth home run of the season with a grand slam in the fourth inning. His nine homers lead the team, rank second in the MAC, and mark a career high. Zirwas finished the game with a career-high six RBI, the most of any Eagle in one game this season. He is the first Eagle to drive in six since Logan Hugo did so at Albany, April 17, 2025. The six RBI are the second most by an individual in the MAC this season. Zirwas finished the game with three hits, his seventh multi-hit game of the year, the second most on the squad.
» TJ Williams (Racine, Wis./Racine Horlick/Kansas) recorded his team-high 10th multi-hit game with a 2-for-4 day from the dish, including one double, his second of the year.
» Cal Rutherford recorded his second win of the season and fourth of his career. He went a career-long six innings, allowing four earned runs off seven hits while striking out six and walking two.
» Fischer Hendershot earned his third save of the season after pitching three innings. His three saves tie for second in the MAC.
Historical Notes
» Eastern swept Central Michigan in a three-game weekend series for the first time since March 6-7, 1983.
» Eastern has won six consecutive games for the first time since the 2023 regular season, April 23-May 5.
» The sweep against Central Michigan marks the first series sweep for the Eagles since March 7-9, 2025, over Akron.
» The sweep against Central Michigan marks the first time Eastern Michigan swept a home series since May 18-20, 2023, against Northern Illinois.
» The Eagles and Chippewas met for the 188th time. Overall, Eastern holds the lead in the series with a 102-86 all-time record against CMU and a 20-23 record since 1999 when facing it in Ypsilanti.
Up Next
The Eagles will take on the Michigan Wolverines at home on Tuesday, March 31. First pitch at Oestrike Stadium is scheduled for 3 p.m.
Follow Us
Keep up with all things Eastern baseball by following the team on X @EMU Baseball, and on Instagram @emu_baseball.
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/ BaseballBaseball Completes Sweep Over Central Michigan for Sixth Consecutive Win
Sunday, March 29
Sweeps are fun!
Sunday, March 29
NO DOUBTER‼️
Sunday, March 29
vs. Central Michigan
Sunday, March 29