Eagles Look for Season Sweep of the Spartans in Wednesday Clash

Baseball at Michigan State (24-19, 7-9 B1G)
Date	Wednesday, May 10 \| 4:05 p.m.
Venue	East Lansing, Mich. \| McLane Stadium
Game Notes	EMU Notes
Live Stats	MSUSpartans.com
Audio	Eagle All-Access
Video	BTN Plus ($)
Twitter	@EMUBaseball

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University baseball team heads to East Lansing this Wednesday, May 10, for the road game of a home and home series with in-state foe Michigan State University. First pitch against the Spartans from McLane Stadium is set for 4:05 p.m.
The action can be tracked live on Twitter by following @EMU_Baseball. Live stats will be available through MSUSpartans.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 136 times since 1949, with MSU holding the series lead 76-58-2. EMU won the first meeting this season at Oestrike Stadium, April 4, with a 4-3 victory. Eastern has now won three of the last five meetings since Head Coach Mark Van Ameyde took over prior to the 2015 season.

CLASHING WITH THE SPARTANS: Since the two teams last met, MSU is 9-9 putting their overall record at 24-19, and 7-9 in the Big Ten. The Spartans are 8-7 at McLane Stadium this season.
The offense hits .286 as a team, which is third in the Big Ten. They out-score opponents, 282-196, and out-hit them, 425-379. The Spartans hold solid doubles power, clubbing 97 of them this year, which is 31st in the nation. They are also active on the base paths, ranking 19th in stolen bases with 79.
Defensively, the staff has a 3.65 ERA, also the third best in the B1G. MSU's pitchers hold opponents to a .261 batting average, and have struck out 349 batters to 129 walks. Wednesday's projected starter, freshman Mike Mokma, has a 3.94 ERA in 16 innings, including four starts.

BULLYING THE BIG TEN: In 2017, EMU has played three midweek games against Big Ten competition, coming away with wins over Michigan State and Ohio State, and dropping a 2-1, 13-inning game to No. 13 Michigan. In the three games, EMU pitching has allowed just six total runs, for a staff ERA of 1.78. They have also held the Big Ten foes to just a .216 batting average.

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.

DELAPLANE DELIVERING THE GOODS: Senior Sam Delaplane is putting together a fine final season in the Green and White. The closer turned Friday night starter leads EMU with a 2.80 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 16 appearances (eight starts) and 64.1 innings. His ERA ranks fourth in the conference, while his strikeout total is second in the MAC and 93rd in the nation. His 192 career strikeouts rank 11th in Eastern Michigan laurels. In his last six outings, Delaplane has recorded at least six K's in all six starts, totaling 53 overall. Delaplane is also ranked tied for fourth in all-time saves with 10.

MIODUSZEWSKI REWRITING THE RECORD BOOK: Redshirt senior Mike Mioduszewski has been one of EMU's top offensive threats in his four years at EMU, and he is beginning to see it pay off by seeing his name etched in the EMU record book in multiple offensive categories. Currently he ranks in the top-25 for hits (24th, 184), RBIs (t-19th, 106), doubles (t-21st, 33), and home runs (25th, 16). He has done this in the 11th most at bats in EMU history with 698.

MASHING MONTGOMERY: Senior John Montgomery has been the spark plug in the EMU offense in his final season, leading EMU in six offensive categories. He is also the team leader with 12 multi-RBI games and six three-hit contests, and had a 22-game reached base streak. Additionally, Montgomery is tied for fourth in the MAC with nine home runs.

GOTTA EARN THOSE RUNS: Since entering MAC play, Matthew Beaton has been almost unhittable. The senior relief pitcher has not allowed an earned run in 10.1 MAC innings, the highest inning total without yielding an earned run in conference this season. For his career, Beaton holds a 3.36 ERA in 101.2 innings pitched.

RUN EAGLES RUN: Just a season after finishing in the top-5 in steals in the country, EMU has not equaled that output this season, but are still in the top half of the nation in steals. Currently, EMU ranks second in the MAC and 77th in the nation with 54 stolen bases. Leading the way is redshirt senior Marquise Gill, who is fourth in the MAC with 13 steals. His 58 career steals ranks 10th in EMU history.

TAKE YOUR BASE: Thus far on the season, EMU has taken what the opposing pitching staffs have offered, drawing 192 walks as a team, which ranks fifth in the MAC and 91st in the country. The Eagles have already shattered last year's walk total, as EMU had just 175 bases on balls in 2016. The program record for walks in a single season is 286, set by the 1982 team.

IMPACT FRESHMEN IN THE INFIELD: This season, EMU has often relied on 'true' freshmen in starting roles. In 48 games, freshmen have combined to make 130 starts in the infield, led by Nick Jones, who has 37 starts at third base and catcher.

HUSKIES ON THE HORIZON: EMU will play its final road MAC series of the season when it travels to DeKalb, Ill. for a three-game set against Northern Illinois University. The crucial MAC West series begins with a 4 p.m. first pitch, Friday, May 12.

Eagles Look for Season Sweep of the Spartans in Wednesday Clash

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Players Mentioned

Matthew Beaton

Sam Delaplane

Marquise Gill

Nick Jones

Mike Mioduszewski

John Montgomery

Eastern Michigan Athletics