Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Insider Podcast - Season 8 - Episode 24
3/9/2026 9:16:00 PM | Baseball, Tennis, General
From Cabo to the Court and Back Home to Oestrike
Click Here to Listen to the Podcast.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Spring break ended across the Eastern Michigan campus. Warmer temperatures and sunshine created a short window for outdoor sports. Episode 24 of Season 8 of the Eastern Insider Podcast Powered by DTE opened with hosts Greg Steiner and Elena Davis setting the stage for a busy stretch in Eastern Michigan athletics. Baseball returned home, winter weather threatened again, and multiple programs moved into postseason or conference play.
"Welcome into another week of the Eastern Insider," Steiner said to open the show. "Spring break officially over across the Eastern Michigan campus, and it feels like it is bright and sunny, so why don't we play a little baseball?"
Eastern Michigan baseball finally returned home after a lengthy start to the season away from Ypsilanti. The Eagles opened the year with 16 straight road contests before preparing for their first appearance at Oestrike Stadium.
"We go outside this week," Steiner said. "Eastern Michigan finally returns home after 16 games on the road, the boys of spring back at Oestrike Stadium."
The home opener arrived earlier than planned. Forecasts of snow and cold temperatures forced a schedule adjustment for the midweek matchup against Michigan State.
The conversation soon shifted toward basketball as the regular season closed for both programs.
Eastern Michigan women's basketball finished its schedule with a road victory at Akron. Davis pointed to a strong individual effort during the comeback.
"Women's basketball gets a win to wrap up their season at Akron," Steiner said. "After falling behind early, they came on late, and Peyton Hill had a tremendous game."
The game also marked the closing chapter for one of the program's most productive players. Forward Sisi Eleko ended her career tied for the program record in double-doubles.
"We also saw Sisi Eleko close out her career, finishing tied for the most double-doubles in Eastern Michigan history, tying Ce'Nara Skanes," Steiner said.
Eleko nearly set the record outright earlier in the week but ran into foul trouble during a game against Ohio.
"Had a chance to pass her, but was in foul trouble earlier in the week against Ohio and couldn't get past that," Steiner said. "But huge congratulations to her."
Attention then turned toward conference awards. Davis made her stance clear regarding freshman guard Peyton Hill.
"If Peyton Hill is not MAC Freshman of the Year, I think that would be a giant travesty," Davis said.
"I agree," Steiner responded.
While the women prepared for the Mid-American Conference Tournament, the men's tournament also approached in Cleveland. Discussion focused on the undefeated Miami RedHawks and the tight margins behind their success.
"Eight games now decided by a single possession," Steiner said.
"That's a crazy stat, and yet they're the only undefeated team," Davis said. "Only undefeated team in the country."
The opening segment also addressed significant news for Eastern Michigan men's basketball. On Sunday afternoon, the university announced head coach Stan Heath and the program agreed to part ways.
"We do have to, of course, the somber news came out on Sunday afternoon that Eastern Michigan Athletics and Stan Heath mutually agreed to part ways," Steiner said.
Heath maintained deep ties to the program as a former player, alumnus, and coach.
"Stan's given everything to this place for the last 40 plus years," Steiner said. "Cannot be more of a class act in him and his staff, and we certainly wish them well moving forward."
Davis echoed the sentiment.
"It's never an easy discussion or decision, and we obviously, as a friend and a coach, we wish him well," she said.
Beyond basketball and baseball, the episode previewed several other events across the department. Eastern Michigan gymnastics competed against nationally ranked teams on the road, while lacrosse opened its outdoor season at home against Cincinnati. Tennis prepared to begin Mid-American Conference play, and the NCAA Zone C Diving Championships took place inside Jones Natatorium.
Davis also described traveling with the gymnastics program and witnessing a rare moment during competition.
"I saw my first perfect 10 in real life, full body chills," she said. "It was crazy."
The opening segment closed with a preview of the episode's featured interviews, including a conversation with interim baseball head coach Trevor Beerman and Davis' sit-down with tennis captain Regina Mendez Carreño.
Segment 1 - Regina Mendez Carreño
The journey from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, to Ypsilanti, Michigan, spans more than 2,000 miles. For Eastern Michigan senior tennis player Regina Mendez Carreño, the path also carries years of discipline, family support, and quiet persistence.
As the Eagles close nonconference play and prepare for Mid-American Conference competition, Mendez Carreño enters the final chapter of a collegiate career shaped by growth on and off the court.
Looking back, the moment feels surreal.
"I mean, it's an achievement already," Mendez Carreño said. "It's just crazy how fast it goes, but also how slow. I go back sometimes looking at pictures and everything and I'm like, wow, the people, everything has changed a lot."
Her route to Eastern Michigan began in Mexico, where college tennis in the United States once felt distant. Mendez Carreño grew up in Guadalajara before moving to Cabo San Lucas. There, competitive tennis opportunities existed but often came with financial and travel barriers.
"I didn't think about coming to the U.S.," she said. "I always thought of just staying in Mexico."
Her father helped change that plan. Determined to find opportunities for his daughter, he connected with an advising organization called the University Sports Program, which helps international athletes pursue recruitment in the United States.
"I only put credit to my parents and this program," Mendez Carreño said. "Without them, I would never get into it, like getting here."
Eastern Michigan soon appeared on her radar. After researching the university and connecting with coaches, the fit felt immediate.
"I saw Eastern and I was like, oh my God, this is a perfect place for me," she said.
Adjusting to life in the United States brought challenges, but language never stood among them. Mendez Carreño attended bilingual schools growing up, learning English alongside Spanish from an early age.
"My school was bilingual, so I learned English since I was in kindergarten," she said. "That was something really helpful."
The biggest adjustments arrived in other forms. Cabo's warm climate gave way to Michigan winters. The food also felt different.
"The food was a big thing for me," she said with a laugh. "There are Mexican restaurants here, but it's not the same."
Despite the changes, one constant remains. Tennis has shaped her life since childhood. Her father loved the sport but lacked opportunities to pursue competition himself. He introduced the game to his daughter before she even knew whether she would embrace it.
"He was even getting me tennis clothes before they knew if I was a girl or boy," Mendez Carreño said.
She picked up a racket at age four and never let go. Alongside tennis, she spent years performing flamenco, a dance style rooted in Spanish culture. Her mother taught the art form.
"It was tennis and flamenco my whole life," she said.
At Eastern Michigan, Mendez Carreño found a program built on international diversity. Every member of the current roster hails from outside the United States, which created a shared experience for players navigating life abroad.
"I really love the international dynamic," she said. "We are all in the same position of coming from another country, so it really feels like a family."
That sense of connection shaped her leadership during her senior season. Coaches and teammates often point to her composure on the court.
During a challenging match earlier this season against nationally ranked North Florida, Mendez Carreño delivered Eastern Michigan's lone point. She credits preparation and a problem solving mindset.
"One thing that was really important for me is playing the way I play," she said. "My problem solving mentality was crucial. I found a weakness and went for it every single time."
Her mindset also reflects lessons learned during her early seasons. As a freshman and sophomore, playing opportunities remained limited. Instead of focusing on lineup decisions, she shifted toward personal growth.
"Tennis is really up and down," she said. "You might win playing ugly, or you might lose playing the best way possible."
Today, she measures success through improvement.
"I always compare myself with my last match," she said. "I want to do better than the last time I practiced."
As conference play approaches, Mendez Carreño hopes fans notice the spirit of the Eagles roster.
"We have great attitudes, great body language," she said. "We never give up. These girls are fighters."
When her career eventually closes, one memory stands above the rest.
"The people I have met all the way," Mendez Carreño said. "This place feels like a family."
Segment 2 - Trevor Beerman
After more than three weeks on the road, Eastern Michigan baseball finally returned home. For Interim Head coach Trevor Beerman, the change brings relief and a fresh opportunity for a team tested early in the season.
Speaking with Greg Steiner on the Eastern Insider Podcast Powered by DTE, Beerman described the long stretch away from Ypsilanti as both exhausting and valuable for a roster still learning itself.
"I know it feels good to finally sleep in your own bed after sleeping the hotel beds for a while," Beerman said. "But I think it's good to get back and play on the new field for the first time… and the opportunity to come home and play in front of our home crowd."
Eastern opened the year with a demanding non-conference schedule that included regional participant Little Rock, 40 win Austin Peay, and defending Mid-American Conference champion Miami. The results produced a 4 and 12 record, though Beerman believes the experience has prepared his team for league play.
"Would you rather be ready for MAC play or feel good going into MAC play?" Beerman said. "I think we're ready for MAC play."
Long road trips often build chemistry, and Beerman said the Eagles benefited from the time spent together away from campus.
"You're really isolated from campus," he said. "When you're on the road for 16 days… you're just spending time talking baseball with your teammates, living together, eating breakfast in the hotel lobby. That's when you really get to learn about each other."
That environment also revealed emerging leaders on a roster that includes many new faces.
"It's been cool to see some guys evolve from a leadership perspective," Beerman said. "Some guys who were on the quiet side start to come out of their shell."
Beerman himself has adjusted to a new role after stepping into the interim head coaching position. While responsibilities changed, the program's philosophy did not.
"Our mission as a team is still the same," Beerman said. "Attack each day and try to go 1 and 0."
Several players have helped stabilize the lineup. Transfer Nathan Borchardt quickly established himself as a centerpiece of the offense.
"The tools have been there," Beerman said. "But the discipline in the box and the confidence he portrays when he steps in there has been the highlight for me."
Veterans Ty Steko and Devan Zirwas also provide power and experience, while TJ Williams adds speed and versatility.
"He's super tough to defend," Beerman said of Williams. "He can bunt, slash, slap… once his speed gets on base, he's a threat."
Behind the plate, multiple catchers rotate while providing leadership for the pitching staff. Beerman praised the group's ability to guide a bullpen that has emerged as one of the team's strengths.
"Our bullpen has been really good," he said.
Senior Emmett Gillies and sophomore Fischer Hendershot anchor that effort. Gillies allowed only one run early in the season while pitching with a renewed mindset.
"He knows he's got one year left," Beerman said. "He's got nothing to lose."
Even with improvement, the Eagles still search for consistency. Early innings occasionally created trouble, though Beerman believes the pieces for success already exist.
"We have not played our best brand of baseball yet," he said. "But we've been in every single series."
Eastern's home opener came against Michigan State, led by head coach Jake Boss Jr., who once guided the Eagles to a MAC title. The matchup added a historical layer to the first game at the renovated Oestrike Stadium.
"The last time winning a title was in 2008 with Coach Boss," Beerman said. "Sometimes you've got to live with the history of the program."
For Beerman, the early results matter less than the progress his team shows as the season unfolds.
"When this team takes off and we get there," he said, "you're going to see what this group can actually do."
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Spring break ended across the Eastern Michigan campus. Warmer temperatures and sunshine created a short window for outdoor sports. Episode 24 of Season 8 of the Eastern Insider Podcast Powered by DTE opened with hosts Greg Steiner and Elena Davis setting the stage for a busy stretch in Eastern Michigan athletics. Baseball returned home, winter weather threatened again, and multiple programs moved into postseason or conference play.
"Welcome into another week of the Eastern Insider," Steiner said to open the show. "Spring break officially over across the Eastern Michigan campus, and it feels like it is bright and sunny, so why don't we play a little baseball?"
Eastern Michigan baseball finally returned home after a lengthy start to the season away from Ypsilanti. The Eagles opened the year with 16 straight road contests before preparing for their first appearance at Oestrike Stadium.
"We go outside this week," Steiner said. "Eastern Michigan finally returns home after 16 games on the road, the boys of spring back at Oestrike Stadium."
The home opener arrived earlier than planned. Forecasts of snow and cold temperatures forced a schedule adjustment for the midweek matchup against Michigan State.
The conversation soon shifted toward basketball as the regular season closed for both programs.
Eastern Michigan women's basketball finished its schedule with a road victory at Akron. Davis pointed to a strong individual effort during the comeback.
"Women's basketball gets a win to wrap up their season at Akron," Steiner said. "After falling behind early, they came on late, and Peyton Hill had a tremendous game."
The game also marked the closing chapter for one of the program's most productive players. Forward Sisi Eleko ended her career tied for the program record in double-doubles.
"We also saw Sisi Eleko close out her career, finishing tied for the most double-doubles in Eastern Michigan history, tying Ce'Nara Skanes," Steiner said.
Eleko nearly set the record outright earlier in the week but ran into foul trouble during a game against Ohio.
"Had a chance to pass her, but was in foul trouble earlier in the week against Ohio and couldn't get past that," Steiner said. "But huge congratulations to her."
Attention then turned toward conference awards. Davis made her stance clear regarding freshman guard Peyton Hill.
"If Peyton Hill is not MAC Freshman of the Year, I think that would be a giant travesty," Davis said.
"I agree," Steiner responded.
While the women prepared for the Mid-American Conference Tournament, the men's tournament also approached in Cleveland. Discussion focused on the undefeated Miami RedHawks and the tight margins behind their success.
"Eight games now decided by a single possession," Steiner said.
"That's a crazy stat, and yet they're the only undefeated team," Davis said. "Only undefeated team in the country."
The opening segment also addressed significant news for Eastern Michigan men's basketball. On Sunday afternoon, the university announced head coach Stan Heath and the program agreed to part ways.
"We do have to, of course, the somber news came out on Sunday afternoon that Eastern Michigan Athletics and Stan Heath mutually agreed to part ways," Steiner said.
Heath maintained deep ties to the program as a former player, alumnus, and coach.
"Stan's given everything to this place for the last 40 plus years," Steiner said. "Cannot be more of a class act in him and his staff, and we certainly wish them well moving forward."
Davis echoed the sentiment.
"It's never an easy discussion or decision, and we obviously, as a friend and a coach, we wish him well," she said.
Beyond basketball and baseball, the episode previewed several other events across the department. Eastern Michigan gymnastics competed against nationally ranked teams on the road, while lacrosse opened its outdoor season at home against Cincinnati. Tennis prepared to begin Mid-American Conference play, and the NCAA Zone C Diving Championships took place inside Jones Natatorium.
Davis also described traveling with the gymnastics program and witnessing a rare moment during competition.
"I saw my first perfect 10 in real life, full body chills," she said. "It was crazy."
The opening segment closed with a preview of the episode's featured interviews, including a conversation with interim baseball head coach Trevor Beerman and Davis' sit-down with tennis captain Regina Mendez Carreño.
Segment 1 - Regina Mendez Carreño
The journey from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, to Ypsilanti, Michigan, spans more than 2,000 miles. For Eastern Michigan senior tennis player Regina Mendez Carreño, the path also carries years of discipline, family support, and quiet persistence.
As the Eagles close nonconference play and prepare for Mid-American Conference competition, Mendez Carreño enters the final chapter of a collegiate career shaped by growth on and off the court.
Looking back, the moment feels surreal.
"I mean, it's an achievement already," Mendez Carreño said. "It's just crazy how fast it goes, but also how slow. I go back sometimes looking at pictures and everything and I'm like, wow, the people, everything has changed a lot."
Her route to Eastern Michigan began in Mexico, where college tennis in the United States once felt distant. Mendez Carreño grew up in Guadalajara before moving to Cabo San Lucas. There, competitive tennis opportunities existed but often came with financial and travel barriers.
"I didn't think about coming to the U.S.," she said. "I always thought of just staying in Mexico."
Her father helped change that plan. Determined to find opportunities for his daughter, he connected with an advising organization called the University Sports Program, which helps international athletes pursue recruitment in the United States.
"I only put credit to my parents and this program," Mendez Carreño said. "Without them, I would never get into it, like getting here."
Eastern Michigan soon appeared on her radar. After researching the university and connecting with coaches, the fit felt immediate.
"I saw Eastern and I was like, oh my God, this is a perfect place for me," she said.
Adjusting to life in the United States brought challenges, but language never stood among them. Mendez Carreño attended bilingual schools growing up, learning English alongside Spanish from an early age.
"My school was bilingual, so I learned English since I was in kindergarten," she said. "That was something really helpful."
The biggest adjustments arrived in other forms. Cabo's warm climate gave way to Michigan winters. The food also felt different.
"The food was a big thing for me," she said with a laugh. "There are Mexican restaurants here, but it's not the same."
Despite the changes, one constant remains. Tennis has shaped her life since childhood. Her father loved the sport but lacked opportunities to pursue competition himself. He introduced the game to his daughter before she even knew whether she would embrace it.
"He was even getting me tennis clothes before they knew if I was a girl or boy," Mendez Carreño said.
She picked up a racket at age four and never let go. Alongside tennis, she spent years performing flamenco, a dance style rooted in Spanish culture. Her mother taught the art form.
"It was tennis and flamenco my whole life," she said.
At Eastern Michigan, Mendez Carreño found a program built on international diversity. Every member of the current roster hails from outside the United States, which created a shared experience for players navigating life abroad.
"I really love the international dynamic," she said. "We are all in the same position of coming from another country, so it really feels like a family."
That sense of connection shaped her leadership during her senior season. Coaches and teammates often point to her composure on the court.
During a challenging match earlier this season against nationally ranked North Florida, Mendez Carreño delivered Eastern Michigan's lone point. She credits preparation and a problem solving mindset.
"One thing that was really important for me is playing the way I play," she said. "My problem solving mentality was crucial. I found a weakness and went for it every single time."
Her mindset also reflects lessons learned during her early seasons. As a freshman and sophomore, playing opportunities remained limited. Instead of focusing on lineup decisions, she shifted toward personal growth.
"Tennis is really up and down," she said. "You might win playing ugly, or you might lose playing the best way possible."
Today, she measures success through improvement.
"I always compare myself with my last match," she said. "I want to do better than the last time I practiced."
As conference play approaches, Mendez Carreño hopes fans notice the spirit of the Eagles roster.
"We have great attitudes, great body language," she said. "We never give up. These girls are fighters."
When her career eventually closes, one memory stands above the rest.
"The people I have met all the way," Mendez Carreño said. "This place feels like a family."
Segment 2 - Trevor Beerman
After more than three weeks on the road, Eastern Michigan baseball finally returned home. For Interim Head coach Trevor Beerman, the change brings relief and a fresh opportunity for a team tested early in the season.
Speaking with Greg Steiner on the Eastern Insider Podcast Powered by DTE, Beerman described the long stretch away from Ypsilanti as both exhausting and valuable for a roster still learning itself.
"I know it feels good to finally sleep in your own bed after sleeping the hotel beds for a while," Beerman said. "But I think it's good to get back and play on the new field for the first time… and the opportunity to come home and play in front of our home crowd."
Eastern opened the year with a demanding non-conference schedule that included regional participant Little Rock, 40 win Austin Peay, and defending Mid-American Conference champion Miami. The results produced a 4 and 12 record, though Beerman believes the experience has prepared his team for league play.
"Would you rather be ready for MAC play or feel good going into MAC play?" Beerman said. "I think we're ready for MAC play."
Long road trips often build chemistry, and Beerman said the Eagles benefited from the time spent together away from campus.
"You're really isolated from campus," he said. "When you're on the road for 16 days… you're just spending time talking baseball with your teammates, living together, eating breakfast in the hotel lobby. That's when you really get to learn about each other."
That environment also revealed emerging leaders on a roster that includes many new faces.
"It's been cool to see some guys evolve from a leadership perspective," Beerman said. "Some guys who were on the quiet side start to come out of their shell."
Beerman himself has adjusted to a new role after stepping into the interim head coaching position. While responsibilities changed, the program's philosophy did not.
"Our mission as a team is still the same," Beerman said. "Attack each day and try to go 1 and 0."
Several players have helped stabilize the lineup. Transfer Nathan Borchardt quickly established himself as a centerpiece of the offense.
"The tools have been there," Beerman said. "But the discipline in the box and the confidence he portrays when he steps in there has been the highlight for me."
Veterans Ty Steko and Devan Zirwas also provide power and experience, while TJ Williams adds speed and versatility.
"He's super tough to defend," Beerman said of Williams. "He can bunt, slash, slap… once his speed gets on base, he's a threat."
Behind the plate, multiple catchers rotate while providing leadership for the pitching staff. Beerman praised the group's ability to guide a bullpen that has emerged as one of the team's strengths.
"Our bullpen has been really good," he said.
Senior Emmett Gillies and sophomore Fischer Hendershot anchor that effort. Gillies allowed only one run early in the season while pitching with a renewed mindset.
"He knows he's got one year left," Beerman said. "He's got nothing to lose."
Even with improvement, the Eagles still search for consistency. Early innings occasionally created trouble, though Beerman believes the pieces for success already exist.
"We have not played our best brand of baseball yet," he said. "But we've been in every single series."
Eastern's home opener came against Michigan State, led by head coach Jake Boss Jr., who once guided the Eagles to a MAC title. The matchup added a historical layer to the first game at the renovated Oestrike Stadium.
"The last time winning a title was in 2008 with Coach Boss," Beerman said. "Sometimes you've got to live with the history of the program."
For Beerman, the early results matter less than the progress his team shows as the season unfolds.
"When this team takes off and we get there," he said, "you're going to see what this group can actually do."
Players Mentioned
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RHP
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RHP
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INF
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INF
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