Softball Returns Home for Three-Game MAC Series Versus Akron

Softball vs. Akron
Date	Saturday-Sunday, April 1-2
Venue	Varsity Field \| Ypsilanti, Mich.
Game Notes	EMU Notes
Audio	Eagle All-Access
Live Stats	Fan Stats
Twitter	@EMUSoftball \| @EMUAthletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University softball team returns to Mid-American Conference play this weekend, April 1-2, for a three-game series against the Zips of the University of Akron. The three-game set, originally scheduled to open on Friday, will be now begin with a doubleheader on Saturday, followed by the series finale on Sunday. Saturday's twin bill gets underway with a 1 p.m. first pitch, while the rubber match will also start at 1 p.m. at Varsity Field.
   Live stats will be available for all three of EMU's games against Akron, and can be found on EMUEagles.com, while Saturday's contests will also be broadcast on Eagle All-Access, where Sean Hostetter will call the action. Additionally, fans can follow the action through Twitter by following @EMUSoftball.

SCHEDULE CHANGES GALORE: In addition to the change in this weekend's schedule, EMU Head Coach Melissa Gentile announced an adjustment to next week's slate. Instead of playing a doubleheader against Detroit, April 5, the Green and White will battle the Titans in a lone game. The Wednesday afternoon showdown is set for 3 p.m. in the Motor City.

TALE OF THE TAPE: The Eagles play host to the Zips for this weekend's three-game set, looking to improve on the overall series tally. Akron leads Eastern by a 30-20 margin all-time, while EMU has held the edge as of late. After dropping the series opener, 4-3, last season, the Eagles swept the doubleheader, 11-5 and 3-1, to take the series, 2-1. Amanda Akles led the way, going 5-for-7 at the plate with nine RBI's and two runs scored over the final two games. Meanwhile, Nicolle Miranda and Abbie Minsker picked up wins in the circle behind complete game efforts.

SHE'S STREAKING!: With a 1-for-2 day at the plate against Notre Dame, March 29, junior Brandice Olmos extended her career-best hit streak to 10 games. The Riverside, Calif. native has gone 12-for-33 over the 10-game span, with six RBI's, four runs scored, a double, and two home runs. Olmos' season batting average currently stands at .367 for the season, more than 100 points better than her previous career-best.

LACE UP 4 PEDIATRIC CANCER: The Eagles will fight back against Pediatric Cancer this weekend, April 1-2, in their conference series against Akron. Eastern Michigan will sport gold shoe laces in support of the cause, while the Eagles will also accept cash donations at the game.

SCOUTING THE ZIPS: Akron makes the trip to Ypsilanti with hopes of snapping a three-game losing streak. The Zips sit at 12-17 on the season, and 1-2 in the conference, through one week of the grueling MAC slate.
   Offensively, Akron holds a .279 team batting average, and has outhit opponents, 197-186, this season. Three Zips boast batting averages north of .300, led by Ashley Sims .368 clip. Sims leads UA with 32 hits in 87 at bats, while Savannah Fruin paces the Zips with 27 RBIs.
   In the circle, Akron has utilized the services of four hurlers, all the while compiling a team ERA of 3.76. Lexie Handley has positioned herself as the team's ace, tossing 113.1 innings. Handley owns a 10-9 record and a 2.84 earned run average, both of which are the best on the team. She has also fanned 101, while walking 46.

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 as of the latest run of MAC stats. Taylor Wagner paces the Eagles, ranking second in the conference. Michelle Kriegshauser comes in 14th, while Brandice Olmos is slotted 15th.

HOME COOKING: Like most northern-based programs, Eastern Michigan was forced to head towards warmer weather for the early part of the season, resulting in a 23-game road trip to begin the 2017 campaign. Since the 1998 season, EMU has compiled a 129-139-2 record at its home field, while the Eagles sit at 1-2 on their home field this season.

RISING IN RELIEF: Sophomore Nicolle Miranda has entered the circle in relief in three of EMU's past four games and has done an outstanding job in her appearances when entering mid-game. The Wilmington, Calif. native has allowed just three hits over 14.1 innings, while compiling a 1.47 earned run average. The streak began against No. 19 Michigan, March 22, when Miranda allowed just two runs over 3.1 innings. Since then, she has been tagged for just four hits and has yielded one run in four relief appearances.

EMU AGAINST THE MAC: Eastern Michigan owns a 392-491-2 all-time record against teams in the Mid-American Conference, and has been a member of the league since 1982. The Eagles have been the most successful against Ohio, Miami, and Toledo. The Green and White lead the series with the Rockets, 57-49, while holding 50-34 and 44-39 edges in series with Ohio and Miami, respectively. Meanwhile, EMU trails in the all-time series with Akron (20-30), Ball State (38-59), Bowling Green (39-54), Kent State (33-50), Northern Illinois (25-38), and Western Michigan (42-66-1).

WINNING THE CLOSE ONES: Eastern Michigan has seen more than its fair share of one-run games this season. In fact, roughly half of EMU's games this season have been decided by one run. The Green and White are 9-4 in one-run games this season, a vast improvement over last year's mark of 3-9 in games decided by one run.

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 .431, the second-best in the conference and 52nd-ranked in the country. She's also slotted inside the top-100 in on-base percentage as her mark of .482 ranks 136th 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 fourth in the league and ninth in the country with .33 sacrifices per game.

DEPENDS ON THE DAY: Through its first 27 games, Eastern Michigan has pieced together an 12-15 overall record.
   In wins, the Green and White are outscoring opponents 70-38, and own a .338 team batting average. EMU has cranked out 111 hits in wins, while holding opponents to 86. Additionally, the Eagles' hurlers hold a 2.51 ERA in wins.
   On the flip side, EMU has seen its struggles at the plate in losses. The Eagles are hitting just .213 as a team in their 15 setbacks this season, and have been outscored 88-26. In the circle, Eastern's pitching has seen its ERA jump to 5.38 in losses, while opposing pitchers are credited with a 1.40 ERA.

BASED ON THE BATS: Eastern Michigan's success this season has relied heavily on the Eagles bats and EMU's ability to manufacture hits. The Eagles are 9-2 this season when they outhit opponents, compared to 2-9 when the opposition leads in the hit column. Additionally, scoring three-or-more runs has become a true tale sign of EMU's success. In 11 of the Eagles' 15 losses, the Green and White have not plated more than two runs. Conversely, when the Eagles score at least three runs, they boast an 11-4 record.

AKLES BREAKS OUT: After struggling to find consistency at the plate in the early part of the season, sophomore Amanda Akles may have found her stride in the Eagles' Mid-American Conference-opening series, March 24-25. Akles finished the weekend 3-for-9 with six RBI's, a double, and a home run. The La Habra, Calif. native doubled her previous season RBI total, and has now driven in runs in three of the Eagles past four games.

ON DECK: After wrapping up the weekend against Akron, the Eagles hit the road for the beginning of a six-game road trip that spans five days. EMU takes on MAC West Division foe Toledo Tuesday, April 4, in the Glass City. The twin bill is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Softball Returns Home for Three-Game MAC Series Versus Akron

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Players Mentioned

Amanda Akles

Michelle Kriegshauser

Abbie Minsker

Nicolle Miranda

Brandice Olmos

Taylor Wagner

Eastern Michigan Athletics