Eastern Michigan Athletics
Sunday, April 12
Ypsilanti, Mich.
1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
10-24, 0
15
vs
19
UMass
9-17, 0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MASSACHUSETTS | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| Eastern Michigan | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
Hale Knocks Five Extra-Base Hits in Series Finale Against UMass
4/12/2026 6:02:00 PM | Baseball
The senior recorded three doubles and two home runs in the 19-15 loss
Re-Watch the Game
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Senior John Hale recorded five extra-base hits in the Eastern Michigan University baseball team's 19-15 Mid-American Conference loss at the hands of the University of Massachusetts Sunday, April 12, at Oestrike Stadium.
How it Happened
Eastern Michigan and UMass traded blows throughout a four-hour, back-and-forth contest that saw both teams combine for 34 runs and 34 hits.
UMass jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead before the Eagles answered with five runs in the bottom of the second inning, highlighted by a two-run home run from Devan Zirwas (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny/VCU) and a three-run blast from Hale (Ashland City, Tenn./Sycamore/Motlow State C.C.). After taking a 7-5 lead into the sixth, Eastern Michigan's bullpen struggled to contain UMass' bats, surrendering eight runs in the top of the sixth inning, including one grand slam and back-to-back home runs by the Minutemen.
Despite facing a 13-7 deficit, the Eagles mounted a five-run rally in the bottom of the sixth, capped by Hale's second home run of the day and a series of productive at-bats from Leewood Molessa (Pullman, W. Va./Williamstown/UMBC), Zirwas, and Keegan Knupp (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy Orange).
Ty Stecko (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin/Mount St. Mary's) tied the game at 13-13 in the bottom of the seventh with an RBI single. However, UMass responded with two runs in the eighth and four more in the ninth, putting the game out of reach despite late RBI from Knupp and Tristan Crane (Berkley, Mich./Brother Rice/Texas A&M C.C.).
Game Notes
» Eastern's record dropped to 10-24 (5-13 MAC), and UMass' improved to 9-18 (5-13 MAC).
» Eastern tied its season-high with a trio of home runs for the fourth time this season, most recently accomplishing the feat at Ball State, March 15.
» Eastern's 15 runs mark a season-high and are its fifth time scoring in the double-digits this season. It also drove in a season-high 15 runs and walked nine times, its second-highest total of the campaign.
» Eastern's eight extra-base hits tie its season high, its most since it did so at Ball State, March 15.
» Eastern recorded 10+ hits for the 10th time this season. It has a record of 5-4 when doing so. The 15 hits tied for its third-highest total of the year.
» John Hale totaled five hits, all of which went for extra bases as he recorded three doubles and two home runs, all marking career highs for the senior. Hale's three two-baggers and two home runs tied EMU individual season-highs as his three doubles and two homers are both the second-most in one game in the MAC.
» John Hale is the first Eagle this season to have a game with five or more extra-base hits. His five hits tie for the most by an individual Eagle this season and the most in the MAC.
» Devan Zirwas smashed his 11th homer of the season and 38th RBI, both ranking first on the team. His 11 homers tie for first in the MAC, while his 38 RBI slot fourth. Zirwas tallied multiple hits for the eighth time this season and multiple RBI for the ninth occasion, the most on the team.
» John Hale and Devan Zirwas' second-inning homers mark the second time this season EMU has homered twice in one inning. The first came at Austin Peay, Feb. 20, when Zirwas and Ty Stecko did so in the third inning in a 7-6 win.
» Leewood Molessa had three hits, which marked his third multi-hit game of the season. He doubled for the third time this season and recorded his ninth RBI.
» Fischer Hendershot (Flushing, Mich./Flint Powers) threw a career-high 4.1 innings out of the bullpen and recorded a career-high seven strikeouts. His previous career best for both statistics came March 8, 2025, at Akron, where he pitched 3.2 innings and recorded five strikeouts.
» John Hale and TJ Williams (Racine, Wis./Racine Horlick/Kansas) are the first pair of teammates in the MAC each with a game with five or more hits this season.
Historical Notes
» Eastern fell to 0-3 all-time against UMass.
» John Hale's three doubles are the most by an Eagle this season and rank second in the program's single-season leaderboards in the modern statistical era (since 1999). His five hits also rank second since 1999.
Up Next
The Eagles will take a trip down the road to Ann Arbor to face the University of Michigan Wolverines Wednesday, April 15, at 4 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) – Senior John Hale recorded five extra-base hits in the Eastern Michigan University baseball team's 19-15 Mid-American Conference loss at the hands of the University of Massachusetts Sunday, April 12, at Oestrike Stadium.
How it Happened
Eastern Michigan and UMass traded blows throughout a four-hour, back-and-forth contest that saw both teams combine for 34 runs and 34 hits.
UMass jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead before the Eagles answered with five runs in the bottom of the second inning, highlighted by a two-run home run from Devan Zirwas (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny/VCU) and a three-run blast from Hale (Ashland City, Tenn./Sycamore/Motlow State C.C.). After taking a 7-5 lead into the sixth, Eastern Michigan's bullpen struggled to contain UMass' bats, surrendering eight runs in the top of the sixth inning, including one grand slam and back-to-back home runs by the Minutemen.
Despite facing a 13-7 deficit, the Eagles mounted a five-run rally in the bottom of the sixth, capped by Hale's second home run of the day and a series of productive at-bats from Leewood Molessa (Pullman, W. Va./Williamstown/UMBC), Zirwas, and Keegan Knupp (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy Orange).
Ty Stecko (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin/Mount St. Mary's) tied the game at 13-13 in the bottom of the seventh with an RBI single. However, UMass responded with two runs in the eighth and four more in the ninth, putting the game out of reach despite late RBI from Knupp and Tristan Crane (Berkley, Mich./Brother Rice/Texas A&M C.C.).
Game Notes
» Eastern's record dropped to 10-24 (5-13 MAC), and UMass' improved to 9-18 (5-13 MAC).
» Eastern tied its season-high with a trio of home runs for the fourth time this season, most recently accomplishing the feat at Ball State, March 15.
» Eastern's 15 runs mark a season-high and are its fifth time scoring in the double-digits this season. It also drove in a season-high 15 runs and walked nine times, its second-highest total of the campaign.
» Eastern's eight extra-base hits tie its season high, its most since it did so at Ball State, March 15.
» Eastern recorded 10+ hits for the 10th time this season. It has a record of 5-4 when doing so. The 15 hits tied for its third-highest total of the year.
» John Hale totaled five hits, all of which went for extra bases as he recorded three doubles and two home runs, all marking career highs for the senior. Hale's three two-baggers and two home runs tied EMU individual season-highs as his three doubles and two homers are both the second-most in one game in the MAC.
» John Hale is the first Eagle this season to have a game with five or more extra-base hits. His five hits tie for the most by an individual Eagle this season and the most in the MAC.
» Devan Zirwas smashed his 11th homer of the season and 38th RBI, both ranking first on the team. His 11 homers tie for first in the MAC, while his 38 RBI slot fourth. Zirwas tallied multiple hits for the eighth time this season and multiple RBI for the ninth occasion, the most on the team.
» John Hale and Devan Zirwas' second-inning homers mark the second time this season EMU has homered twice in one inning. The first came at Austin Peay, Feb. 20, when Zirwas and Ty Stecko did so in the third inning in a 7-6 win.
» Leewood Molessa had three hits, which marked his third multi-hit game of the season. He doubled for the third time this season and recorded his ninth RBI.
» Fischer Hendershot (Flushing, Mich./Flint Powers) threw a career-high 4.1 innings out of the bullpen and recorded a career-high seven strikeouts. His previous career best for both statistics came March 8, 2025, at Akron, where he pitched 3.2 innings and recorded five strikeouts.
» John Hale and TJ Williams (Racine, Wis./Racine Horlick/Kansas) are the first pair of teammates in the MAC each with a game with five or more hits this season.
Historical Notes
» Eastern fell to 0-3 all-time against UMass.
» John Hale's three doubles are the most by an Eagle this season and rank second in the program's single-season leaderboards in the modern statistical era (since 1999). His five hits also rank second since 1999.
Up Next
The Eagles will take a trip down the road to Ann Arbor to face the University of Michigan Wolverines Wednesday, April 15, at 4 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: Jack Niedringhaus (1-1)
L: Norris, Aidan (0-1)
S: Brandon Wingenroth (1)
Batting:
2B: Matt Travisano 1 ; Jack Beverly 1
HR: Gavin O'Brien 2 ; Braden Sullivan 2
RBI: Anthony Tirado 1 ; Gavin O'Brien 8 ; Reece McCarthy 1 ; Braden Sullivan 2 ; Jack Beverly 6
SF: Jack Beverly 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Anthony Tirado 2 ; Ty Fox 4 ; Gavin O'Brien 2 ; Reece McCarthy 2 ; Braden Sullivan 5 ; Matt Travisano 2 ; Jack Beverly 1 ; Will Briggs 1
SB: Ty Fox 1 ; Braden Sullivan 1 ; Matt Travisano 1
HBP: Ty Fox 1 ; Will Briggs 1
Batting:
2B: Hale, John 3 ; Molessa, Leewood 1 ; Zirwas, Devan 1
HR: Hale, John 2 ; Zirwas, Devan 1
RBI: Hale, John 5 ; Borchardt, Nathan 1 ; Stecko, Ty 1 ; Molessa, Leewood 1 ; Zirwas, Devan 4 ; Knupp, Keegan 2 ; Crane, Tristan 1
SH: Crane, Tristan 1
SF: Borchardt, Nathan 1 ; Zirwas, Devan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hale, John 4 ; Jellison, Bruce 1 ; Borchardt, Nathan 1 ; Stecko, Ty 1 ; Molessa, Leewood 2 ; Zirwas, Devan 2 ; Jones, Drew 2 ; Schechterman, Ben 1 ; Thigpen, Phillip 1
SB: Molessa, Leewood 2 ; Jones, Drew 1
HBP: Jellison, Bruce 1 ; Stecko, Ty 1 ; Jones, Drew 1 ; Schechterman, Ben 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
2
H
3
RBI
1
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
4
ph/1b
AB
2
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
UTIL
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballINF
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseballvs. UMass
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