Baseball Travels to MAC First Place Kent State This Weekend

Eastern Michigan Baseball at Kent State
Date	Friday-Saturday \| May 8-10
Venue	Schoonover Stadium \| Kent, Ohio
Preview Info	EMU Notes \| Record Book (PDF).
Live Stats	Sidearm Live Stats
Social Media	X: @EMU _Baseball \| @EMUAthletics IG: @emu_baseball \| @emuathletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – With its back against the wall, the Eastern Michigan University baseball team must win its six remaining Mid-American Conference games in order to have a shot at the MAC Tournament, beginning with a three-game set at the conference's premier program, Kent State University, Friday-Sunday, May 8-10, at Schoonover Stadium in Kent, Ohio.

Friday's game begins at 6 p.m., Saturday's starts at 3 p.m., and first pitch Sunday is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Fans can stream all three games live and access live stats on EMUEagles.com, where a post-game recap will be posted. Stay tuned to EMU baseball socials including EMU_Baseball on X and emu.baseball on Instagram for live in-game updates and additional EMU baseball content.

FIRST PITCHES
» The Eagles and Golden Flashes will meet for the 135th-137th times as Eastern is looking to win a series against Kent State for the first time in 38 years.
» Eastern last faced Kent State in the 2025 season, dropping a three-game series, 2-1, May 15-17, earning a pivotal game-one victory to punch their ticket to the MAC Tournament for the first time since 2018.
» Eastern has earned Mid-American Conference individual honors in consecutive weeks. John Carmichael was named MAC Pitcher of the week, May 4, and Ty Stecko was tabbed MAC Player of the Week, April 27.
» Eastern most recently earned a 15-5 non-conference win at Youngstown State, May 6. EMU tied season-highs with 15 runs and 15 RBI.
» Eastern next travels to East Lansing, Mich., for its non-conference finale at Michigan State Tuesday, May 12, at 6:02 p.m.
» Eastern totals 22 newcomers, including seven freshmen and 15 transfers. The Eagles bring back 18 players from the 2025 season.
» Eastern returns key players in Devan Zirwas and Ty Stecko. Zirwas was named a top-150 outfielder by D1 Baseball and Stecko earned Preseason All-MAC honors from Perfect Game.
» Following the departure of Robbie Britt to the Boston Red Sox, former assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Trevor Beerman was promoted to interim head coach for the 2026 season.
» At 30 years old, Interim Head Coach Trevor Beerman is the youngest known coach at the NCAA Division I level.

ALL-TIME AGAINST KENT STATE
The Eagles and Golden Flashes will meet for the 135th-137th times. Overall, Eastern holds a 49-85 record against Kent and a 6-16 mark when facing it on the road in the modern statistical era (1999-present).

IT'S BEEN HOW LONG?
It's been 38 years (1988) since the Eagles beat the Golden Flashes in a series. That year, gas topped out at $0.96/gallon, milk was roughly $2.19/gallon, bread was $0.60/loaf, and Apple stock was just $0.10 apiece compared to the $285 it is today. The top grossing movie was Rain Man, starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise, and the top selling album was Faith by Michael George.

LAST TIME AGAINST KSU
Eastern earned a pivotal win over the Flashes in the series opener, May 15, topping KSU, 12-11 in 12 innings thanks to a Cooper Vance walk-off two-run home run to secure a MAC Tournament appearance for the first time since 2018. Eastern went on to drop the next two games, falling 5-4 in game two despite a pair of home runs from Logan Hugo, May 16. Eastern was run-ruled in the series finale, dropping a 13-2 decision in a game that saw current EMU assistant Harrison Travis hit a first-inning home run, May 17.

LAST TIME AT KENT STATE
Eastern dropped the three-game series, 2-1, April 5-7, 2024, in a series that saw the Golden Flashes outscore the Eagles 41-22. EMU dropped game one, 20-7, April 5, before earning a 13-12 11-inning win in the second game of the series, April 6. Eastern plated just two runs in the series final, falling, 9-2, April 7.

MAC TOURNAMENT PUSH
With six conference games remaining, Eastern will have to win out and get help from multiple teams above them to make the cut. Six more wins would put the Eagles at 15-18 in MAC play, one game better than Ball State, who currently sits in the sixth and final spot at 14-13. If Ball State wins one more conference game, Eastern will likely be eliminated from playoff contention. Ball State swept EMU in the second MAC series of the season in Muncie, Ind., March 13-15.

MOST RECENTLY: AT YOUNGSTOWN STATE
Devan Zirwas led Eastern in a ferocious offensive performance, driving in four runs off five hits as the Eagles erupted for 15 runs on 14 hits to defeat Youngstown State, 15-5, in a non-conference game Wednesday, May 6, at 717 Credit Union Field at Eastwood. Eastern homered three times as the bullpen complemented the offense, tossing a scoreless 6.2 innings with senior right-hander Michael Pfeiffer (2-4) earning the win. He pitched two scoreless outings in the third and fourth innings.

Notables
» Eastern set season-highs with 15 runs and 15 RBI, figures first reached against UMass, April 12. Eastern finished with 14 hits, its fourth-highest total of the year and 16th time with double-digit knocks. The Green and White also tied a season-high with three home runs.
» Eastern scored eight runs in the fourth inning, tying for its highest single-inning total this season. EMU first scored eight runs in one inning in the second game of the season, a 11-6 win at Little Rock, Feb. 14. Overall, Eastern has 15 innings scoring four or more runs this season.
» Drew Jones homered for the second time this season with a three-run blast in the Eagles' eight-run fourth inning. Collecting a season-high three RBI on one swing of the bat, Jones is up to four multi-RBI games in 2026.
» Devan Zirwas had a 4-for-5 day at the plate with one double, one home run, and five RBI, marking his team-best 14th multi-hit game and 11th contest with multiple RBI.
» Devan Zirwas' ninth-inning home run was his 13th of the season, leading the team and ranking second in the MAC. His 15 home runs are the most by an Eagle since the 2023 season when St. Louis Cardinals prospect Josh Kross hit 15.
» Michael Pfeiffer (2-4) earned his second win of the season as he tossed a scoreless 2.0 innings while allowing just one hit.
» The Eastern bullpen pitched well as Pfeiffer, Emmett Gillies, Ethan Rowland, and Henry Slaby allowed zero runs over 6.2 innings of work with six strikeouts and four walks. Both Rowland and Slaby struck out a career-best three batters.
» Bruce Jellison hit his career-best third home run of the season with a three-run long ball in the sixth inning. Jellison finished the day with a career-high four RBI, marking the senior's seventh multi-RBI game this season.
» Ty Stecko stole a career-best three bases, the most from an Eagle in one game this year and fourth-most in the MAC. Stecko also recorded two hits and one RBI, marking his 13th game with multiple hits and 97th career RBI.

CARMICHAEL MAC PITCHER OTW
Junior right-hander John Carmichael was named MAC Pitcher of the Week, May 4. Carmichael nearly tossed a complete game in a 6-1 win against Bowling Green, May 1. He went a career-long 8.2 innings, allowing just one run off three hits while striking out a career-high eight, walking three, and limiting batters to a .107 average. The right-hander added a 0.73 WHIP as his 8.2 innings pitched were the most by a MAC arm last weekend. Carmichael earned the honor for the first time as his 8.2 innings pitched are the longest by an Eagle this season and the longest since Nick Chittum tossed a complete game shutout against Western Michigan in the second game of a doubleheader, March 24, 2024. Carmichael was in large part responsible for EMU allowing a season-low one run off a season-low three hits.

CONSECUTIVE WEEKLY MAC HONORS
Eastern has earned Mid-American Conference individual honors in consecutive weeks. John Carmichael was named MAC Pitcher of the week, May 4, and Ty Stecko was tabbed MAC Player of the Week, April 27. The awards mark the first time EMU collected consecutive weekly honors since Drew Beckner and Tyler Kapa did so with respective pitcher of the week accolades, April 14 and April 21, 2025. EMU is one of three MAC teams to earn a weekly honor in consecutive weeks, joining Kent State and Ball State.

STECKO TRENDING UP
Following a rocky start to the season, Ty Stecko has settled in and become a leading bat in the lineup.

Stecko's Last 10 Games
.366 BA, 15 H, 2 2B, 6 HR, 17 RBI, 1.258 OPS

Over the last 10 games, the senior's 17 RBI, six home runs, eight extra-base hits, .854 slugging percentage, and 15 hits leads the Eagles while his .366 batting average ranks second.

Stecko Before 10-Game Stretch (32 Games)
.275 BA, .904 OPS, 33 H, 15 XBH, 5 HR, 21 RBI

Stecko has surpassed his extra-base hit total from 2024, totaling 23 (11 doubles, one triple, 11 home runs) compared to 19 last season. His 38 RBI are one more than his 2025 mark (37) while he has become a threat on the base paths, posting 13 stolen bases, including a career-high three, the most from an Eagle in one game this season in the 15-5 win at Youngstown State, May 6. Stecko notched just three swiped bags last season.

LOW-SCORING SERIES VS. BOWLING GREEN
Pitching and defense shined throughout the weekend as a total of just 20 runs were scored, 14 coming from EMU in the 2-1 series win against Bowling Green, May 1-3. Eastern held BGSU to three or fewer runs in all three games of the series. The last time it did so in three straight games against any team was May 1-7, 2021, in 13-2, 13-2, and 8-0 wins over St. Bonaventure, Toledo, and Bowling Green, respectively.

CARTER THE STARTER
Junior left-hander Carter White has earned a Sunday start in each of the last two weekend series, producing solid outings both times. White started for the first time in his Division I career at Northern Illinois, April 29, pitching a season-long 3.2 innings, allowing one run or less for the sixth time while striking out and walking three batters. Most recently against Bowling Green, May 3, White pitched 4.2 innings, a career high, allowing six hits and two runs, striking out three batters along the way. As a starter, White holds a 3.24 ERA with 8.1 innings pitched, allowing three earned runs off 10 hits with six strikeouts and five walks. Notably, just one of his 10 hits allowed has gone for extra bases (one double).

FACING THE OLD COLLEGE COACH
Last weekend's series against Bowling Green brought familiar faces together as EMU Interim Head Coach Trevor Beerman faced off against his collegiate head coach in BGSU's Kyle Hallock. Beerman played for Hallock at Malone University from 2015-17. During Beerman's time there, Hallock helped rebuild the program by focusing on elite pitching development. Malone went from a losing record before his arrival to four straight winning seasons, posting a 124-83 record across his tenure. The pitching staff became one of the best in the region, finishing in the top two in conference ERA three times and ranking inside the top 25 nationally twice.

NEW BULLPEN BRIGHT SPOTS
Eastern has seen new contributors rise in the bullpen, as Jack Angus and Brian Henson have emerged as productive arms. Angus most recently tossed his sixth scoreless outing of the season and third consecutively against Bowling Green, May 3. He has not allowed a run since his season-long 3.1-inning appearance at Northern Illinois, April 24, where he relinquished just one. He was credited with the win for his first victory of the season against the Falcons. Henson recently earned his first save of the season, forcing a flyout to center field to slam the door on the Falcons, May 3. He has allowed just one earned run in his last three outings as three of his last five appearances have been of the scoreless variety. The bullpen carried over its success to the Eagles' midweek 15-5 win at Youngstown State, May 6. Michael Pfeiffer, Emmett Gillies, Ethan Rowland, and Henry Slaby allowed zero runs over 6.2 innings of work with six strikeouts and four walks. Both Rowland and Slaby struck out a career-best three batters.

THE SWINGMAN
Ty Stecko homered in four consecutive games with five home runs in the four-game span, April 22-26. He is the first Eagle to homer in four straight games since program career home runs leader Ryan Goleski (2001-03) did so from May 17-19 in the 2002 season. He homered once more in the 7-3 win against Bowling Green, giving him six home runs in his past nine games. The stretch has elevated the senior to a career-best 11 home runs this season, tying his mark from 2025. Stecko's 11 bombs rank second on the team and fourth in the conference by value. He totals 22 career home runs in 87 career games as an Eagle, tying for 14th by value in program history.

STECKO'S NUMBERS, APRIL 22-26
In 18 at-bats against Oakland, April 22, and Northern Illinois, April 24-26, Stecko recorded a .500 batting average and 1.968 OPS. He had nine hits, seven of which went for extra bases (two doubles and five home runs), equaling 10 RBI and 26 total bases.

STECKO MAC POTW/NCAA HONORS
Ty Stecko was named MAC Player of the Week, April 27, and was the designated hitter on NCAA Baseball's Lineup of the Week, April 28, after his five-home run week that saw him drive in 10 runs off a .500 batting average and 1.968 OPS. The honor marked Stecko's first player of the week award in his collegiate career and EMU baseball's first of the season.

TWO WITH 10+ HOMERS
Eastern's Devan Zirwas (13) and Ty Stecko (11) each have recorded double-digit home runs this season, making EMU one of four MAC schools with multiple players with 10+ homers. Miami leads the way with three as Tommy Harrison has 13, Evan Appelwick has 12, and Ryan Novak totals 11. Akron's Easton Amundson has hit 12 home runs and Brody Chrisman boasts 10, while NIU's Caden Robertson leads the conference with 14 long balls and Gavin Baldwin has 10.

CRANE'S INCREASED PRODUCTION
Seeing an increased role lately, Tristan Crane has been productive as a catcher and shortstop, starting 12 of the last 14 games he's played in. In those 12 contests, Crane is batting a team-best .388 (19-of-49) with three home runs, five doubles, and 12 RBI. Prior to the stretch, Crane batted .140 (6-of-43) in 17 games played (12 starts), with one double, one homer, and five RBI while striking out 16 times and walking three. 2026 serves as Crane's first year playing as a full-time position player as he was a two-way player last season at Texas A&M Corpus Christi, totaling just 32 at-bats for the Islanders.

TWO NUKE NATE
Nathan Borchardt went yard twice in the game against Washington, April 28. The game marked his first two-homer game as an Eagle as he is the fourth of the season to record two home runs in a game, joining Ty Stecko, Nick Weaver, and John Hale. Borchardt finished the day 2-for-3 at the plate for his 10th multi-hit game of the season and fifth consecutive game doing so. He also matched a career high with four RBI for the second straight game.

BORCHARDT'S EYE
Junior Nathan Borchardt has excelled in working walks as of late. He has earned at least one base-on-balls in nine of the last 14 games, highlighted by a career-best four walks against UMass, April 11, the second-most in one game by an individual Eagle since 1999 and the second-most in the MAC. He also notched a three-walk game in the 15-5 win at Youngstown State, May 6. Overall, Borchardt has walked 16 times in the previous 14 contests, producing a team-best .525 on-base percentage. Borchardt's 29 walks leads the Eagles and ranks 11th in the MAC by value.

BORCHARDT'S BIG WEEK/CONSISTENCY
Nathan Borchardt had his best offensive week as an Eagle in one game against Oakland and a three-game series at Northern Illinois, April 22-26. Borchardt recorded multiple hits in all four games, marking the longest multi-hit streak of his career. He also doubled in all four games and recorded RBI in 3-of-4, including a season-high four RBI in the 9-7 win at Northern Illinois, April 26. He has recorded at least one hit in seven of his last 10 games with six of them being of the multi-hit variety.

OUCH!
Eastern was hit by seven pitches in the 11-10 win at Oakland, April 22, tying for the most by an EMU team in the modern statistical era (1999-present). The total ranks third in the MAC single-game leaderboards this season and fifth in the nation. The figure tied EMU's program record set in a 5-4 loss at Arizona State, March 5, 2016. EMU has been hit by 71 pitches this season, ranking fifth in program history. John Hale has been beaned 14 times, ranking fourth in program history by value and seventh in the MAC.

100 RBI
Devan Zirwas reached the 100 career RBI mark as he drove in two runs against Western Michigan, April 18. The left-handed bat totals 100 RBI as an Eagle and 107 in his collegiate tenure after driving in seven at VCU in the 2024 season. He is the first Eagle to reach the mark this season as Ty Stecko and Nathan Borchardt are the next Eagles slated to reach the milestone, both totaling 97 in their collegiate tenure.

CLIMBING CAREER LEADERBOARDS
With Devan Zirwas' ninth-inning homer against Youngstown State, May 6, he totals 21 home runs as an Eagle, tying for 15th by value in program history. Joining him is Ty Stecko, who is up to 22 homers as an Eagle, ranking 14th. He also compiles a .587 slugging clip, ranking fifth in program history and needs two more hits to reach 100 in his EMU career. Zirwas has 33 doubles as an Eagle, ranking 18th in program history as he needs four RBI to break into the career leaderboards in runs driven in, holding 100 as an Eagle.

STRIKING OUT ONE OF THE NATION'S BEST
EMU struck out Western Michigan's Tanner Mally twice in the series finale against the Broncos, April 19, making EMU and Miami the only teams to strikeout the nation's batting average (.468) and on-base percentage (.580) leader twice as Mally went down on strikes twice in the series final against the RedHawks, May 3. Mally ranks third in the nation in toughest to strikeout as he fans once every 19.2 at-bats. Mally had struck out just three times prior as Fischer Hendershot K'd the right-handed bat on a 2-2 count in the fourth inning before Brian Henson caught him looking on a 2-2 breaking ball to end the WMU half of the seventh.

SUCCESS WITH LESS STRIKEOUTS
EMU has success when striking out five times or less this season, holding a 6-2 record when doing so. Eastern most recently struck out five times or less with five strikeouts in the 15-9 loss at NIU, April 24, losing for just the second time when doing so. Conversely, the Eagles are 7-26 when striking out six times or more. EMU won when striking out more than five times for the seventh time this season in the 15-5 victory at Youngstown State, May 6.

ALL HALE JOHN
John Hale has been seeing the ball well over his last 19 games. He is batting .324 while ranking second on team in hits (23) and ranking among the team leaders in runs (15), doubles (seven), and extra-base hits (10), with a .549 slugging percentage and .975 OPS. With seven games remaining, the center fielder has already eclipsed his extra-base hit total from 2025, as he has 18 compared to 13 while also eclipsing his walk total from last year with 23 after walking 19 times in 2025. Hale is six hits from tying the 49 he had last season and eight knocks from reaching 100 as an NCAA Division I student-athlete.

TWO WITH FIVE HITS
Both John Hale (vs. UMass, April 12) and TJ Williams (vs. Central Michigan, March 27) have recorded five-hit games this season, making EMU the only MAC team with two players who have each knocked five hits in a game in 2026. Furthermore, the achievement marks EMU's first time having two players with five-hit games in one season since 2013, when Sam Ott did so against Ohio, March 31, and John Rubino tallied five hits against Northern Illinois, May 12.

TWO HOMERS IN ONE INNING
Both Devan Zirwas and John Hale went yard in the second inning in the series finale against UMass, April 12. The outburst marked 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.

MORE INNINGS, MORE STRIKES
Fischer Hendershot threw a career-high 4.1 innings out of the bullpen and recorded a career-high seven strikeouts against UMass, April 12. The performance continues Hendershot's improvement in his second season as he has increased his strikeout total by 12, totaling 30 after recording 18 in 2025. He has cut his walks in half, issuing just eight this season after handing out 16 free passes last year. Hendershot has also improved on his save total, posting four thus far this season, the third-most in the conference by value and one more than he had in 2025. He most recently earned a save with a scoreless 1-2-3 ninth inning in the win over WMU, April 17.

CONSISTENT CARMICHAEL
John Carmichael has provided consistency in his first year as an Eagle. The McLennan C.C. transfer has gone at least five innings in nine of his 12 starts with his longest being his most recent start, a near complete game as he went 8.2 innings, allowing just three hits and one earned run while striking out eight and walking three in a 6-1 win against Bowling Green, May 1. Among qualified pitchers, Carmichael has issued the ninth-fewest walks in the conference (19) and allowed the sixth-fewest doubles (9). Overall, he posts a 6.41 ERA and has 51 strikeouts compared to 19 walks this season.

BREAKOUT BRUCE
After struggling in the season's early going, Bruce Jellison has found his rhythm. In the last 21 games, he is batting .338 with 26 hits, one double, three home runs, with a .935 OPS and 21 RBI while working 10 walks with 12 strikeouts. He has added more power compared to last season, knocking seven extra-base hits through 42 games to tie his 2025 season total of seven in 49 games.

Jellison First 21 Games of the Season
.158 BA, .525 OPS, 9 Hits, 3 XBH, 6 RBI, 14 SO, 12 BB

Jellison Last 21 Games
.338 BA, .935 OPS, 26 Hits, 3 HR, 21 RBI, 12 SO, 10 BB

CONFERENCE-ONLY STANDINGS
The Eagles are at or near the top in a number of statistics in conference games. Eastern boasts the third-most hits (279), fourth-most doubles (62), fifth-best batting average (.289), while posting the sixth-most walks (120) and seventh-most total bases (429). Pitching wise, EMU hurlers have 217 strikeouts, the sixth-most in the MAC. On defense, Eastern has the most runners caught stealing with 19 and totals the fifth-most putouts (710). Individually, Devan Zirwas is tied for third in MAC play with seven homers and eighth in RBI with 27. Nathan Borchardt places fifth with 10 doubles while Ty Stecko, John Hale, and Zirwas all slot sixth with nine. Hale also ranks sixth in hits (35).and Borchardt's 17 walks rank 10th.

CARDIAC EAGLES
Eastern has four walk-off wins, tying for the fourth-most nationally by value, the most by a MAC team, and the most in one season since EMU walked off its opponent five times in the 2011 campaign. TJ Williams wore a bases-loaded hit by pitch to lift EMU to victory over Akron, 9-8 (10), March 21, before Tristan Crane worked a bases-loaded walk to seal the comeback against Youngstown State, 8-7, March 24. Leewood Molessa hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Drew Jones from third base in the 15-inning series opener against CMU, ending the game in a 9-8 final, March 27. Ty Stecko possesses the most recent walk-off with a two-run double down the left-field line in game two against the Chippewas, concluding the contest in a 12-11 decision, March 28.

LETHAL ARM BEHIND THE PLATE
Nick Weaver continues to rank among the top defensive catchers in college baseball entering the game against Youngstown State. Weaver has thrown out 23 runners attempting to steal in 53 attempts. That total places him tied for third nationally by value in caught stealing, ranking first in the MAC. The national leader, LaSalle's Jayden Novak, sits at 29. Weaver most recently caught at least one runner stealing each game against Bowling Green, May 1-3, as he caught three Falcons, May 2, tying for the second-most in one game in program history in the modern statistical era (1999-present). His 23 CSB are the most by an Eagle in one season since Tony Dielo caught 33 in the 2015 campaign.

FIVE-HIT TJ
TJ Williams had five hits against Central Michigan, March 27. The five knocks are the second most in a single game for the Eagles since 1999. His five hits are a season-high for the team, tie for the most by a MAC player in one game this season, and stand second nationally.

ONE-RUN DUBS
Eastern thrives in close games as it is 8-3 in one-run games this season. It dropped its last one-run contest with a 2-1 loss at the hands of Bowling Green, May 2. The eight one-run victories are the most since it put up seven in the 2021 season. It last recorded nine or more in the 2011 campaign, a season that saw EMU post a 12-6 record in such contests. Eastern's eight one-run wins rank second in the MAC as Akron paces the conference with nine one-run victories. The 11 one-run contests ranks third in the league behind Akron and Western Michigan's 14.

BATS ARE BACK
After struggling offensively in the season's early-going, the Eastern bats have heated up significantly since.

EMU Offense Prior to BSU Series (17 games)
.193 BA , .336 SLG%, .323 OB%, .659 OPS

EMU Offense Since the BSU Series (29 games)
.292 BA, .450 SLG%, .394 OB%, .844 OPS

The improvement features a 99-point increase in batting average, 114-point jump in slugging percentage, 71-point surge in on-base percentage, and a 185-point advancement in OPS. The EMU offense had one of its best weekends of the season at NIU, April 24-26, batting .340 with 53 hits, 15 doubles, one triple, and seven home runs, totaling 35 RBI and 91 total bases with a .973 OPS in the 2-1 series loss.

ZIRWAS' INCREASED POWER
After knocking 20 doubles and eight home runs last season (fifth in program history), Devan Zirwas has added even more power to his bat in 2026. He leads the Eagles and ranks second in the MAC with 13 bombs, surpassing his season total from 2025 just 27 games into the 2026 slate as he has five more long balls than last season. The left-handed bat homered for the 13th time this season against Youngstown State, May 6, as his 13 homers are the most by an Eagle in one season since St. Louis Cardinals' prospect Josh Kross had 15 in 2023, a year that saw him earn MAC Freshman of the Year and Freshman All-American status from the CBN.

MUELLER OUT OF THE PEN
Junior righty Landon Mueller has excelled out of the bullpen in 11 of his last 12 outings, excluding his appearance against Central Michigan, March 28. Outside of his appearance against the Chippewas, he totals 21.2 innings pitched out of the pen, posting a 6.23 ERA while allowing 15 earned runs off 28 hits and striking out 26 opposing batters while walking 13. As a starter in his first three outings of the season, Mueller went 5.2 innings with a 17.47 ERA while striking out five and walking eight.

POWER PRODUCTION
Eastern Michigan has hit 49 home runs through 46 games, ranking fifth in the Mid-American Conference. Devan Zirwas and Ty Stecko lead the way with 13 and 11 home runs, respectively, as Stecko hit five home runs from April 22-26. John Hale has five, while Tristan Crane and Nathan Borchardt each have four after Borchardt homered twice in the game against Washington, April 28. Nick Weaver and Bruce Jellison each have a trio of bombs, with Jellison's third coming in the 15-5 win at Youngstown State, May 6.

STRONG PLATE DISCIPLINE
The Eagles have drawn 217 walks in 46 games. That total ranks fifth in the Mid-American Conference. Forty-six games into the season, Nathan Borchardt's 29 walks lead the Eagles and ranks 11th in the MAC by value.

TEAM-LEADING ZIRWAS
Devan Zirwas leads the roster with 28 extra-base hits (13 doubles, two triples, and 13 home runs), 47 RBI, 105 total bases, two triples, and 41 runs. He currently ranks second in the MAC in home runs (13) and third in triples (two), while slotting sixth in doubles (13) and fifth in RBI (47). Zirwas looks to build off a season where he totaled 69 hits, 20 doubles (fifth in program history), eight homers, and 53 RBI off a .337 batting average and .997 OPS.

ON THE HORIZON
Eastern next travels to East Lansing, Mich., for its non-conference finale at Michigan State Tuesday, May 12, at 6:02 p.m. The game will take place at Jeff Ishbia Field inside McLane Stadium.

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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Players Mentioned

Jack Angus

Drew Beckner

Nathan Borchardt

John Carmichael

Tristan Crane

Emmett Gillies

John Hale

Fischer Hendershot

Brian Henson

Logan Hugo

Bruce Jellison

Drew Jones

Tyler Kapa

Leewood Molessa

Landon Mueller

Michael Pfeiffer

Ethan Rowland

Henry Slaby

Ty Stecko

Cooper Vance

Nick Weaver

Carter White

TJ Williams

Devan Zirwas

Eastern Michigan Athletics