Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, May 8
Kent, Ohio
4 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
16-31, 9-19
5
at
6
Kent State
36-11, 21-7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Mich. | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 0 |
| Kent St. | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 4 |
Carmichael's Gem Not Enough, Baseball Falls to Kent State in Series Opener, 6-5
5/8/2026 8:24:00 PM | Baseball
Eastern took a 5-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth before Kent State scored four runs
KENT, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan University baseball student-athlete John Carmichael pitched a gem against Kent State University in a heartbreaking 6-5 series-opening loss at Schoonover Stadium Friday, May 8.
Eastern took a 5-2 lead into the ninth inning but couldn't withstand the Kent State comeback.
John Carmichael (Destrehan, La./Destrehan/McLennan C.C.) pitched another gem as he went 7.0-plus innings for the second consecutive outing, allowing just two runs off eight hits while striking out a career-high nine with zero walks.
Offensively, Devan Zirwas (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny/VCU) and TJ Williams (Racine, Wis./Racine Horlick/Kansas) each had multi-hit days with one RBI, while Tristan Crane (Berkley, Mich./Brother Rice/Texas A&M Corpus Christi) drove in a pair of runs.
How it Happened
Kent State struck first with a pair of runs in the opening inning, but the Eagles answered in the third when Zirwas singled through the right side to score John Hale (Ashland City, Tenn./Sycamore/Motlow State C.C.), making it 2-1.
The momentum shifted heavily in the favor of EMU in the fifth when Crane produced a clutch single to right, driving in two and giving EMU its first lead. Ty Stecko (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin/Mount St. Mary's) and Zirwas crossed the plate. Williams scored in the sixth on a wild pitch and later delivered an RBI single in the eighth to extend the lead to 5-2.
Carmichael turned in a masterful seven-inning start, fanning a career-high nine and allowing just two runs with no walks, but the bullpen was unable to close it out. Kent State rallied in the ninth with four runs to walk it off, 6-5.
Game Notes
» Eastern's record dropped to 16-31 (9-19 MAC), and Kent State's improved to 36-11 (21-7 MAC).
» Eastern stole five bases, its second consecutive game doing so as it is 2-1 when stealing five or more bases this season. The two-game stretch with five stolen bases marks the first of the 2026 campaign.
» EMU pitching struck out 10 batters for the ninth time this season.
» John Carmichael struck out a career-best nine batters while walking none as he went at least five innings for the 10th time this season, doing so in 10 of his 13 starts. The right-hander tossed 7.0+ innings and struck out eight or more while allowing two runs or less for the second consecutive outing, and sixth time this year. In his last two outings combined, Carmichael has pitched 15.2 innings, allowing three runs, with 17 strikeouts and three walks.
» Devan Zirwas had a 2-for-5 day at the plate with one RBI, marking his team-best 15th multi-hit game as he leads the squad with 48 RBI this season and 101 as an Eagle. He needs three more to break into the program's career leaderboards.
» Tristan Crane drove in two runs on a two-out RBI single in the fifth inning for his fifth multi-RBI game of the season.
» TJ Williams swiped a trio of bags, bringing his season total to a team-high 14 stolen bases. His three stolen bases are the most by an Eagle in one game this season and the most in the MAC. He knocked a pair of hits, marking his 12th game with two hits or more. He drove in an insurance run in the eighth inning for his 39th hit and eighth RBI of the year.
Historical Notes
» Eastern and Kent State met for the 135th time as EMU holds a 49-86 record against the Golden Flashes and a 6-17 mark when facing them on the road since 1999.
» Eastern pitching didn't walk a batter for the first time since the 2024 season in a 3-1 loss at Southern Indiana, Feb. 25.
Up Next
The Eagles and Golden Flashes play the second of three games tomorrow, Saturday, May 9, at 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.
Eastern took a 5-2 lead into the ninth inning but couldn't withstand the Kent State comeback.
John Carmichael (Destrehan, La./Destrehan/McLennan C.C.) pitched another gem as he went 7.0-plus innings for the second consecutive outing, allowing just two runs off eight hits while striking out a career-high nine with zero walks.
Offensively, Devan Zirwas (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny/VCU) and TJ Williams (Racine, Wis./Racine Horlick/Kansas) each had multi-hit days with one RBI, while Tristan Crane (Berkley, Mich./Brother Rice/Texas A&M Corpus Christi) drove in a pair of runs.
How it Happened
Kent State struck first with a pair of runs in the opening inning, but the Eagles answered in the third when Zirwas singled through the right side to score John Hale (Ashland City, Tenn./Sycamore/Motlow State C.C.), making it 2-1.
The momentum shifted heavily in the favor of EMU in the fifth when Crane produced a clutch single to right, driving in two and giving EMU its first lead. Ty Stecko (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin/Mount St. Mary's) and Zirwas crossed the plate. Williams scored in the sixth on a wild pitch and later delivered an RBI single in the eighth to extend the lead to 5-2.
Carmichael turned in a masterful seven-inning start, fanning a career-high nine and allowing just two runs with no walks, but the bullpen was unable to close it out. Kent State rallied in the ninth with four runs to walk it off, 6-5.
Game Notes
» Eastern's record dropped to 16-31 (9-19 MAC), and Kent State's improved to 36-11 (21-7 MAC).
» Eastern stole five bases, its second consecutive game doing so as it is 2-1 when stealing five or more bases this season. The two-game stretch with five stolen bases marks the first of the 2026 campaign.
» EMU pitching struck out 10 batters for the ninth time this season.
» John Carmichael struck out a career-best nine batters while walking none as he went at least five innings for the 10th time this season, doing so in 10 of his 13 starts. The right-hander tossed 7.0+ innings and struck out eight or more while allowing two runs or less for the second consecutive outing, and sixth time this year. In his last two outings combined, Carmichael has pitched 15.2 innings, allowing three runs, with 17 strikeouts and three walks.
» Devan Zirwas had a 2-for-5 day at the plate with one RBI, marking his team-best 15th multi-hit game as he leads the squad with 48 RBI this season and 101 as an Eagle. He needs three more to break into the program's career leaderboards.
» Tristan Crane drove in two runs on a two-out RBI single in the fifth inning for his fifth multi-RBI game of the season.
» TJ Williams swiped a trio of bags, bringing his season total to a team-high 14 stolen bases. His three stolen bases are the most by an Eagle in one game this season and the most in the MAC. He knocked a pair of hits, marking his 12th game with two hits or more. He drove in an insurance run in the eighth inning for his 39th hit and eighth RBI of the year.
Historical Notes
» Eastern and Kent State met for the 135th time as EMU holds a 49-86 record against the Golden Flashes and a 6-17 mark when facing them on the road since 1999.
» Eastern pitching didn't walk a batter for the first time since the 2024 season in a 3-1 loss at Southern Indiana, Feb. 25.
Up Next
The Eagles and Golden Flashes play the second of three games tomorrow, Saturday, May 9, at 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.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Caden Leonard (3-2)
L: Mueller, Landon (2-4)
Batting:
2B: Weaver, Nick 1
RBI: Zirwas, Devan 1 ; Crane, Tristan 2 ; Williams, TJ 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hale, John 1 ; Stecko, Ty 1 ; Zirwas, Devan 1 ; Sydlowski, Kriss 1 ; Williams, TJ 1
SB: Hale, John 1 ; Sydlowski, Kriss 1 ; Williams, TJ 3
HBP: Jellison, Bruce 1 ; Sydlowski, Kriss 1
Batting:
2B: Luke Matthews 1 ; Ripken Reese 1
HR: Sawyer Solitaria 1
RBI: Brody Williams 1 ; Sawyer Solitaria 2 ; Brady Marshall 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Luke Matthews 1 ; Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe 1 ; Sawyer Solitaria 1 ; Alejandro Covas 1 ; Matt Thompson 1 ; Grady Mee 1
SB: Luke Matthews 1 ; Brady Marshall 1
CS: Nolan Belcher 1
HBP: Brody Williams 1
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
RHP
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