Softball Hosts Toledo in Midweek #MACtion

Softball vs. Toledo
Date	Wednesday, April 12
Venue	Ypsilanti, Mich. \| Varsity Field
Game Notes	EMU Notes
Audio	EMU Eagle All-Access
Live Stats	Live Stats
Twitter	@EMUSoftball \| @EMUAthletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - Eastern Michigan University's softball team welcomes the Rockets of the University of Toledo to Varsity Field, Wednesday, April 12, for the season finale between the Mid-American Conference foes. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. from Ypsilanti.
Live stats will be available for the MAC West clash between the Eagles and Rockets. Links can be found on the schedule page of EMUEagles.com. Additionally, fans can follow the action through Twitter by following @EMUSoftball.

TALE OF THE TAPE: Eastern Michigan and Toledo will meet on the diamond for the 108th time in series history when the Rockets travel north on US-23 for this week's midweek clash. The Eagles hold a 57-51 lead in the all-time series, but the Rockets have had the Eagles' number as of late. UT has posted a 7-4 mark against EMU since the 2013 season, and looks to complete the season sweep when the two teams square off on Wednesday.
The Rockets took the first two games of this season's series, 6-4 and 5-4, stunning the Eagles with a pair of comebacks.

WHERE SHE STANDS: Over the course of her career, Michelle Kriegshauser has proven to be one of the most dynamic players in Eastern Michigan history. She entered her senior season ranked inside EMU's top-10 in a plethora of categories, and has continued her ascent this season. Take a look at where she stands...

Category	Number	Rank
Batting Average	.354	1st
Doubles	51	1st
Home Runs	26	2nd
Hits	192	5th
RBIs	102	6th
Runs	98	7th

RETURNING TO FORM: Amanda Akles entered Mid-American Conference play with a batting average hovering at .176. Since the start of league play, Akles is hitting a healthy .343 at the plate, with three doubles, four home runs, and 12 RBIs. She ranks second on the team for doubles over the stretch, and has hit all but one of the Eagles' home runs since March 24. Additionally, her 12 RBIs not only rank top on the squad over the past 13 games, but she has more than double the number of the next closest Eagle.

ONE INNING SPURNS EAGLES IN SERIES AGAINST FALCONS: One inning decided the outcome of each of EMU's games against Bowling Green, April 8-9, as the Eagles left Meserve Field without a win. In the series opener, the Green and White could not overcome a five run second inning, falling 5-0. EMU dropped the second game of the twin bill, 3-2, after surrendering three runs in the third inning. Finally, in the series finale, EMU yielded three runs in the fifth to come away winless on the weekend after a 3-1 defeat.

FINDING THE POWER: After tying for the team lead with seven home runs in 2016, Amanda Akles has find her power as of late. She has hit a home run in four consecutive series to begin MAC play.

STEPPING UP [TO THE PLATE]: Coming into the season, Sam Saporito did not expect to see much playing time behind home plate. With Taylor Wagner healthy, Saporito spent a lot of the offseason honing her craft as an outfielder. This week, Saporito is set to make her 14th consecutive start at backstop for the Eagles, as injuries lifted her into the starting lineup.
   Having to replace a veteran catcher is hard enough, but when you're filling the shoes of one of the top catchers in the conference it only becomes harder. Since taking over the starting job, March 24, Saporito has thrown out eight baserunners.

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 130-141-2 record at its home field, while the Eagles sit at 2-4 on their home field this season.

SLOW START TO LEAGUE PLAY: The Eagles have struggled at the plate to begin conference play, hitting just .227 at the dish as a team. Meanwhile, opponents are hitting a healthy .312 at the plate, and have out-hit the Eagles 91-62 through six games. To make matters worse, the Green and White have been outscored by a 63-27 tally and own a 4.98 team earned run average.

EMU AGAINST THE MAC: Eastern Michigan owns a 396-499-2 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, 57-51, 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 (21-32), Ball State (38-59), Bowling Green (42-58), 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 9-6 in one-run games this season, a vast improvement over last year's mark of 3-9 in games decided by one run.

DEPENDS ON THE DAY: Through its first 36 games, Eastern Michigan has pieced together a 14-22 overall record.
   In wins, the Green and White are outscoring opponents 76-39, and own a .334 team batting average. EMU has cranked out 125 hits in wins, while holding opponents to 96. Additionally, the Eagles' hurlers hold a 2.14 ERA in wins.
   On the flip side, EMU has seen its struggles at the plate in losses. The Eagles are hitting just .221 as a team in their 22 setbacks this season, and have been outscored 129-38. In the circle, Eastern's pitching has seen its ERA jump to 5.31 in losses, while opposing pitchers are credited with a 1.50 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 11-2 this season when they outhit opponents, compared to 2-14 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 16 of the Eagles' 22 losses, the Green and White have not plated more than two runs. Conversely, when the Eagles score at least three runs, they boast an 13-6 record.

ON DECK: Eastern Michigan hits the road once again, this time traveling to Muncie, Ind. for a three-game set against the Cardinals of Ball State, April 14-15. The series gets underway Friday with a 3 p.m. first pitch, before the weekend wraps up with a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday.

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Players Mentioned

Amanda Akles

Michelle Kriegshauser

Sam Saporito

Taylor Wagner

Eastern Michigan Athletics