Softball Set for Midweek Clash Against No. 19 Michigan

Softball at No. 17 Michigan
Date	Wednesday, March 22 \| 4 p.m.
Venue	Alumni Field \| Ann Arbor, Mich.
Game Notes	EMU Notes
Live Stats	Fan Stats
Twitter	@EMUSoftball \| @EMUAthletics

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - Amid a three-game win streak and its best start to the season since 2011, the Eastern Michigan University softball team will make the quick trip to Alumni Field at the Wilpon Complex Wednesday, March 22, for a midweek clash with Washtenaw County rival, the University of Michigan. First pitch between the Eagles and No. 19 Wolverines is set for 4 p.m.
   Live stats will be available for EMU's game against Michigan, and can be found on EMUEagles.com. Additionally, fans can follow the action through Twitter by following @EMUSoftball.

ANOTHER ADDITION TO THE 100-CLUB: With seven RBIs at the Mercer Bear Classic, March 17-19, senior Michelle Kriegshauser moved into sixth-place all-time on EMU's career RBI chart. The New Lenox, Ill. native has driven in 100 over the course of her career, becoming just the sixth Eagle to break the 100-RBI barrier. Additionally, she is the first player to break into the club since Nellie Coquillard did so in 2013. Kriegshauser currently trails Jenny Scherer, the program record holder, by 31 RBIs.

TALE OF THE TAPE: Wednesday's midweek clash with the Wolverines marks the 65th meeting between the Washtenaw County rivals all-time. Eastern trails in the series 56-8, most recently falling, 14-1, in last season's meeting. The last time the Green and White topped UM came during the 1994 campaign when the two squads split a doubleheader.

WINNING THE CLOSE ONES: Eastern Michigan has seen more than its fair share of one-run games this season. In fact, exactly half of EMU's games this season have been decided by one run. The Green and White are 8-3 in one-run games this season, a vast improvement over last year's mark of 3-9 in games decided by one run.

SPLIT DOWN THE MIDDLE: The Eagles are 11-11 on the season after a 3-2 weekend at the Mercer Bear Classic, marking the first time since 2011 the Green and White have been .500-or-better through the first 22 games of the season.

RETURNING TO OLD STOMPING GROUNDS: Head Coach Melissa Gentile will lead the Eagles against her alma mater Wednesday when the Green and White tangle with No. 17 Michigan. A NFCA Second Team All-America selection in 1998, Gentile is one of 11 players in UM's history to be named to the NCAA College World Series All-Tournament Team. Gentile suited up for the Maize and Blue from 1997-2000. A four-year letterwinner for the University of Michigan, Gentile finished her tenure as the career (28) and single-season (13) home run record holder, which stood until 2004. Additionally, she played on the USA Women's National Team from 1996-2000 before graduating from UM with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology in 2000.
Wednesday's game marks the third time Gentile's EMU squad will take on UM since she took over the program in 2014. The Eagles dropped last season's meeting, 14-1, in five innings.

GETTING BETTER WITH AGE: After injury kept her sidelined for a majority of 2016, senior Taylor Wagner is taking full advantage of her senior go-around and is amid one of the best seasons of her career. Currently, Wagner boasts a team-best batting average of .439, the second-best in the conference and 60th-ranked in the country. She's also slotted inside the top-100 in on-base percentage as her mark of .507 ranks 85th overall, as well as second in the MAC. In addition to cranking out hits, Wagner is also one of the best sacrifice hitters in the country. In fact, she is second in the league and second in the country with .41 sacrifices per game.

DINGERS FOR DAYS: The Eagles had only hit three home runs prior to the Mercer Bear Classic, March 17-19. A trip to Georgia seemed to get EMU's bats going as the Green and White registered seven homers, including three by Michelle Kriegshauser, two by Brandice Olmos, and one by both Olivia Logan and Amanda Akles.

TAKING ON THE MITTEN: The Eagles have squared off against schools hailing from the state of Michigan 401 times ahead of this week's tilt with No. 17 Michigan. The Green and White have been most successful against Detroit, holding a 48-8 lead in the all-time series while clashing with Western Michigan most often. In 109 all-time meetings, the Broncos hold a 66-42-1 edge over the Eagles. EMU owns winning records against Grand Valley (2-0) and Oakland (17-6-1) but trail in the all-time series with Michigan (8-56), Michigan State (14-29), and Central Michigan (31-72-1).
In her two seasons in charge of the Eagles, Head Coach Melissa Gentile has compiled a 4-13 record against in-state competition, highlighted by a win over Michigan State last year. This season's slate includes 12 games against teams that also call Michigan home - Michigan, Michigan State, Detroit, Central Michigan, Oakland, and Western Michigan.

DEPENDS ON THE DAY: Through its first 22 games, Eastern Michigan has pieced together an 11-11 overall record.
   In wins, the Green and White are outscoring opponents 64-33, and own a .347 team batting average. EMU has cranked out 104 hits in wins, while holding opponents to 78. Additionally, the Eagles' hurlers hold a 2.46 ERA in wins.
   On the flip side, EMU has seen its struggles at the plate in losses. The Eagles are hitting just .227 as a team in their 11 setbacks this season, and have been outscored 62-18. In the circle, Eastern's pitching has seen its ERA jump to 5.00 in losses, while opposing pitchers are credited with a 1.25 ERA.

AGAINST THE NATIONALLY RANKED: The Eagles are in search of their first win over a nationally ranked opponent since the 2009 campaign. Since its last win over a top-25 team, EMU is 0-16 against ranked opponents. Eastern knocked off No. 23 Louisville during the 2009 season, upending the Cardinals, 3-2, Feb. 22, 2009.

THE THREE MUSKETEERS: Eastern Michigan is the only team in the Mid-American Conference to have three players ranked inside the league's top-15 in batting average. Taylor Wagner paces the Eagles, hitting a team-best .439, which ranks second in the conference. Michelle Kriegshauser comes in sixth, hitting .397, while Lucy Lopez is slotted 15th with an average of .360.

MOTHER NATURE FORCES SCHEDULE CHANGE: With rain in the forecast for this weekend, Eastern Michigan's Mid-American Conference opening series against Kent State has been changed. The two squads will now play a doubleheader Friday, March 24, and close out the series with a single game on Saturday, March 25.

DOUBLING UP ON THE DINGERS: Senior Michelle Kriegshauser tagged the Savannah State pitchers for two home runs in EMU's run-rule win, March 19. Kriegshauser belted two round-trippers for the second time this season, becoming just the second player to accomplish the feat since 2013.

RECORD REWRITE: Senior Michelle Kriegshauser ripped a leadoff double to open EMU's game against Long Beach State, March 9, registering the 45th two-bagger of her career to break McKenna Russ' previous program standard and become the EMU record holder.

JUST HUNNIDS: Sophomore Nicolle Miranda became the second Eagle this season to eclipse the century mark in career strikeouts, ringing up the final batter of the game in EMU's game against San Diego State, March 11. Miranda joins junior Trisha Trujillo who broke into the 100 strikeout club at the EMU Madeira Beach Invitational, Feb. 24-26. Entering the final day of the weekend with 94 career K's, Trujillo struck out seven to lead the Eagles to a pair of wins.

ON DECK: Following a quick trip into Ann Arbor, the Eagles will open the home portion of the slate this weekend, March 24-25, with a three-game series against Mid-American Conference East Division foe, Kent State. The MAC rivals will play a doubleheader Friday, before wrapping up the three-game set with a 3 p.m. pitch on Saturday.

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Players Mentioned

Amanda Akles

Michelle Kriegshauser

Olivia Logan

Lucy Lopez

Nicolle Miranda

Brandice Olmos

Trisha Trujillo

Taylor Wagner

Eastern Michigan Athletics