Baseball to Battle Spartans in Midweek Clash

Baseball vs Michigan State (15-9, 3-3 B1G)
Date	Tuesday, April 4
Venue	Ypsilanti, Mich. \| Oestrike Stadium
Game Notes	EMU Notes
Live Stats	emueagles.com
Audio	Eagle All-Access
Twitter	@EMUBaseball

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University baseball team returns home this Tuesday, April 4, for a single midweek contest with in-state foe Michigan State University. First pitch from Oestrike Stadium is set for 6 p.m.
   The action can be tracked live on Twitter by following @EMU_Baseball. Live stats will be available through EMUEagles.com. Fans can also tune in to listen to the game through Eagle All-Access with veteran broadcasters Chad Bush and Greg Steiner on the call.

ALL-TIME VS THE SPARTANS: EMU and MSU have met 135 times since 1949, with MSU holding the series lead 76-57-2. The two schools split a pair of games last season, with EMU winning 4-2, April 5 at Michigan State, while MSU returned the favor at Comerica Park, May 11, with a tight 3-2 victory.

CLASHING WITH THE SPARTANS: Michigan State enters week eight of the baseball season with a 15-9 overall record, including 3-3 in Big Ten play. The Spartans are a stout 10-3 in true road games. They have faced a pair of MAC foes, defeating Central Michigan, 11-2, while losing to Western Michigan, 3-2.
   Offensively, MSU bats .296 as a team, the best mark in the Big Ten and 47th- best in the nation. They are outscoring opponents, 184-106, as well as out-hitting them, 257-216. They wield the power of the long ball often, smacking a conference-best 28 home runs, which is 31st in the nation. They also make things happen on the base paths, stealing 46 bags, ranked 21st overall.
   The pitching is equally as tough, as the Spartans hold a staff ERA of 3.38, a top-50 mark in the country. They allow opponents to hit at a .260 rate, but they pound the strike zone, striking out 190 batters and only walking 68. Tuesday's starter, freshman Mike Mokma, has a 3.18 ERA in 5.2 innings, including one start.

EMU/MSU CONNECTIONS: There are a few program connections when MSU and EMU meet on the diamond Tuesday. Head Coach Mark Van Ameyde was an assistant coach at Michigan State for six seasons (2009-14). He coached under current MSU Head Coach and former EMU head man Jake Boss Jr., who led EMU during the 2008 season, which was Eastern's last time winning the MAC title. Additionally, current EMU assistant Eric Roof was a student-athlete for MSU from 2007-09, and was a volunteer assistant for the Spartans for two seasons from 2013-14. His brother, Jonathan Roof, is in his first season as an assistant coach for Michigan State as well.

COMPLETE GAMES ARE CONTAGIOUS: Junior Brent Mattson pitched the best game of his career, April 2, against Chicago State. The righty threw a complete-game shutout, only allowing two hits while striking out six. It was the first complete game of his career. It was also the second complete game, two-hit shutout in the last five games for EMU, as fellow junior Brad Allen threw one March 25 against Bowling Green.

BIG WEEKEND IN THE WINDY CITY: EMU had a successful non-conference road trip to Chicago, March 31-April 2, winning three of four from Butler and host Chicago State. The Eagles took both from the Cougars, as well as one of two from the Bulldogs. Pitching led the way in the four games, as the staff threw to a 2.50 ERA, striking out 31.

SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST: EMU saved its best baseball for the final inning of the weekend-opening win over Chicago State, March 31. Trailing by one run, 4-3, EMU put a seven spot on the board to storm ahead 10-4 and ultimately hold on for the 10-6 victory. It was the most runs scored in an inning by the Eagles this season. The seven runs is also more runs than the Eagles have scored in 20 entire games this season.

RACKING UP THE K's: Now in his fourth season in the EMU pitching staff, senior Sam Delaplane's high strikeout numbers have now placed him among EMU's elite in the category. His 149 career strikeouts rank 19th in Eastern Michigan laurels. In his start against Chicago State, March 31, he set his career mark for strikeouts in a game with 10 punch outs. Delaplane is also ranked tied for fourth in all-time saves with 10.

GEARING UP ON THE BASEPATHS: Just a year removed from finishing in the top-10 in the nation in steals, EMU has not been able to match that pace this season, but are beginning to ramp up the action. In its last five games, EMU has stolen 12 bags, including a season-best five vs Butler, April 2. EMU now has 33 steals as a team, which is second in the MAC and 63rd in the country.

ALL-TIME AT OESTRIKE: 2017 marks the 47th season at the friendly confines of Oestrike Stadium. In the long standing history of the field, EMU holds a 518-367-2 record at the stadium. Of the 46 previous seasons, 33 have resulted in winning home records for Eastern.

IMPACT FRESHMEN: So far this season, EMU has relied early and often on 'true' freshmen in starting roles. In 27 games, freshmen have combined to make 78 starts in the field and 10 appearances on the mound. Infielder Devin Hager leads the frosh with a .266 batting average in 21 starts. Drake Peggs leads EMU in walks (15) and OBP (.379) and is also second in RBI's (11). Meanwhile, pitcher James Harness has made three starts in seven appearances, and picked up his first collegiate win against Samford, March 19.

REDHAWKS ON THE HORIZON: Eastern has its second straight road weekend and first conference road series of the season this coming weekend, April 8-10, when it heads to Oxford for a three-game set against Miami University. The weekend begins with a 6 p.m. first pitch on Friday.

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Players Mentioned

Brad Allen

Sam Delaplane

Devin Hager

James Harness

Brent Mattson

Drake Peggs

Eastern Michigan Athletics