Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, April 18
Ypsilanti, Mich.
3 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
11-25, 6-14
7
vs
12
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Western Michigan
18-16, 13-7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Michigan | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 12 | 1 |
| Eastern Michigan | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 11 | 1 |
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Zirwas Reaches 100 Career RBI in Loss to Western Michigan
4/18/2026 7:43:00 PM | Baseball
Zirwas has driven in 93 runs as an Eagle after totaling seven RBI at VCU in 2024
Re-Watch the Game | Photo Gallery
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan University baseball student-athlete Devan Zirwas reached the 100 career RBI mark as the Eagles dropped a 12-7 decision to rival Western Michigan University Saturday, April 18, in Mid-American Conference action at Oestrike Stadium.
Zirwas (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny/VCU) totals 93 RBI as an Eagle while he drove in seven at VCU in the 2024 season.
How it Happened
The scoring started early, with the Broncos pushing a run across in the top of the first inning. Eastern Michigan answered immediately in the bottom half when junior Nathan Borchardt (Stanley, N.C./East Lincoln/Elgin C.C.) hit an RBI double to score senior Bruce Jellison (Hartland, Mich./Hartland/Wabash Valley) and tie the game at one.
Western Michigan broke the game open in the third inning, scoring five runs highlighted by a pair of home runs to take a 6-1 lead. The Eagles fought back in their half of the frame, plating three runs. Zirwas launched a two-run homer, and senior Drew Jones (Cleveland, Ohio/Brush/Ohio State) added an RBI single to cut the deficit to 6-4.
The Broncos extended their lead with three runs in the seventh inning. Eastern Michigan mounted another rally in the eighth, scoring three times to make it a 9-7 game. Sophomore Tristan Crane (Berkley, Mich./Brother Rice/Texas A&M Corpus Christi), freshman Keegan Knupp (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy Orange) and senior John Hale (Ashland City, Tenn./Sycamore/Motlow State C.C.) each drove in a run. However, Western Michigan added three insurance runs in the top of the ninth to secure the 12-7 victory.
Game Notes
» Eastern's record dropped to 11-25 (6-14 MAC), and Western's improved to 18-16 (13-7 MAC).
» Eastern recorded 11 hits marking its 11th time with double-digit hits this season.
» Eight of the nine EMU starters reached base safely via a hit.
» Nathan Borchardt drove in his 13th run of the season with a double to left field in the first inning. The two-bagger marked his eighth of the season.
» Devan Zirwas recorded his career-best and team-leading 12th homer of the season with a two-run shot to right field in the third inning. Zirwas' 12 homers rank second in the MAC as he is up to 40 RBI this season, ranking fourth in the conference.
» Bruce Jellison had a productive 3-for-5 day at the plate, marking his seventh multi-hit performance of the season. His three hits tie a season high previously set in a win over Central Michigan, March 27.
» Ty Stecko (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin/Mount St. Mary's) went 2-for-5 at the plate for his ninth multi-hit outing of the season. He doubled in the fifth inning, marking his career-best ninth of the season, surpassing the eight he hit in 2025.
» Drew Jones reached base safely for the seventh consecutive game, tying for the longest streak in his career as he reached in seven straight contests in the 2024 season.
» Carter White (Shelby County, Ky./Shelby County/Lincoln Memorial) tossed a season-long 2.2 scoreless innings with two strikeouts and one walk. He's up to 18 strikeouts and 10 walks this season.
Historical Notes
» EMU and WMU met for the 200th time as it holds a 100-100 record against the Broncos.
» Western Michigan is EMU's most frequent opponent as the two programs have met 200 times, five more than the 195 meetings with Bowling Green.
» Devan Zirwas' third-inning homer marked his 20th as an Eagle, ranking 15th by value in program history. The home run also put him at 100 RBI in his collegiate baseball career.
Up Next
The Eagles and Broncos conclude the series with the rubber match tomorrow, Sunday, April 19, at 1:05 p.m.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan University baseball student-athlete Devan Zirwas reached the 100 career RBI mark as the Eagles dropped a 12-7 decision to rival Western Michigan University Saturday, April 18, in Mid-American Conference action at Oestrike Stadium.
Zirwas (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny/VCU) totals 93 RBI as an Eagle while he drove in seven at VCU in the 2024 season.
How it Happened
The scoring started early, with the Broncos pushing a run across in the top of the first inning. Eastern Michigan answered immediately in the bottom half when junior Nathan Borchardt (Stanley, N.C./East Lincoln/Elgin C.C.) hit an RBI double to score senior Bruce Jellison (Hartland, Mich./Hartland/Wabash Valley) and tie the game at one.
Western Michigan broke the game open in the third inning, scoring five runs highlighted by a pair of home runs to take a 6-1 lead. The Eagles fought back in their half of the frame, plating three runs. Zirwas launched a two-run homer, and senior Drew Jones (Cleveland, Ohio/Brush/Ohio State) added an RBI single to cut the deficit to 6-4.
The Broncos extended their lead with three runs in the seventh inning. Eastern Michigan mounted another rally in the eighth, scoring three times to make it a 9-7 game. Sophomore Tristan Crane (Berkley, Mich./Brother Rice/Texas A&M Corpus Christi), freshman Keegan Knupp (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy Orange) and senior John Hale (Ashland City, Tenn./Sycamore/Motlow State C.C.) each drove in a run. However, Western Michigan added three insurance runs in the top of the ninth to secure the 12-7 victory.
Game Notes
» Eastern's record dropped to 11-25 (6-14 MAC), and Western's improved to 18-16 (13-7 MAC).
» Eastern recorded 11 hits marking its 11th time with double-digit hits this season.
» Eight of the nine EMU starters reached base safely via a hit.
» Nathan Borchardt drove in his 13th run of the season with a double to left field in the first inning. The two-bagger marked his eighth of the season.
» Devan Zirwas recorded his career-best and team-leading 12th homer of the season with a two-run shot to right field in the third inning. Zirwas' 12 homers rank second in the MAC as he is up to 40 RBI this season, ranking fourth in the conference.
» Bruce Jellison had a productive 3-for-5 day at the plate, marking his seventh multi-hit performance of the season. His three hits tie a season high previously set in a win over Central Michigan, March 27.
» Ty Stecko (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin/Mount St. Mary's) went 2-for-5 at the plate for his ninth multi-hit outing of the season. He doubled in the fifth inning, marking his career-best ninth of the season, surpassing the eight he hit in 2025.
» Drew Jones reached base safely for the seventh consecutive game, tying for the longest streak in his career as he reached in seven straight contests in the 2024 season.
» Carter White (Shelby County, Ky./Shelby County/Lincoln Memorial) tossed a season-long 2.2 scoreless innings with two strikeouts and one walk. He's up to 18 strikeouts and 10 walks this season.
Historical Notes
» EMU and WMU met for the 200th time as it holds a 100-100 record against the Broncos.
» Western Michigan is EMU's most frequent opponent as the two programs have met 200 times, five more than the 195 meetings with Bowling Green.
» Devan Zirwas' third-inning homer marked his 20th as an Eagle, ranking 15th by value in program history. The home run also put him at 100 RBI in his collegiate baseball career.
Up Next
The Eagles and Broncos conclude the series with the rubber match tomorrow, Sunday, April 19, at 1:05 p.m.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: CARLISLE, Sam (4-2)
L: Rutherford, Cal (2-2)
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Batting:
2B: MALLY, Tanner 2
HR: HUMS, Cooper 1 ; THIELMAN, Avery 1
RBI: MALLY, Tanner 3 ; HUMS, Cooper 2 ; MALONEY, Michael 1 ; THIELMAN, Avery 3 ; POLUBINSKI, Josh 3
SH: PILARSKI, Mason 1
Base Running:
RUNS: MALLY, Tanner 1 ; HUMS, Cooper 2 ; MENNECKE, Mark 1 ; MALONEY, Michael 3 ; THIELMAN, Avery 2 ; PILARSKI, Mason 1 ; POLUBINSKI, Josh 2
CS: MALLY, Tanner 1
HBP: MALLY, Tanner 1 ; THIELMAN, Avery 1 ; ROWOLD, Jacob 1 ; ZAJAC, Nolan 1
Batting:
2B: Stecko, Ty 1 ; Borchardt, Nathan 1
HR: Zirwas, Devan 1
RBI: Hale, John 1 ; Zirwas, Devan 2 ; Borchardt, Nathan 1 ; Jones, Drew 1 ; Crane, Tristan 1 ; Knupp, Keegan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jellison, Bruce 2 ; Zirwas, Devan 1 ; Stecko, Ty 1 ; Borchardt, Nathan 1 ; Jones, Drew 1 ; Crane, Tristan 1
SB: Weaver, Nick 1
CS: Stecko, Ty 1
HBP: Jones, Drew 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
2
H
3
RBI
0
AB
5
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
C
/ Baseball
UTIL
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INF
/ Baseball
UTIL
/ Baseball
INF
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LHP
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