Baseball Treks to West Virginia for Four Games

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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team is back in action this weekend for a four-game series, as the Eagles make the trek to Morgantown, W. Va. to square off against the West Virginia University Mountaineers.

Game one of the series is scheduled for Friday, March 19, at 3 p.m. at Hawley Field. The two teams will play a doubleheader Saturday afternoon, March 20, with game one beginning at 1 p.m. before wrapping up the series Sunday, March 21, with a game at noon.

EMU VERSUS WEST VIRGINIA: The Mountaineers hold an 8-2 all-time mark versus the Eagles and in their last meeting on March 19, 2006, EMU fell, 7-2, in Morgantown.

THE COACHES: EMU's Jay Alexander enters Friday's contest with a 191-193 career record, including a 30-45 mark in two seasons with the Eagles. West Virginia's Greg Van Zant enters Friday's contest with a 457-371-1 career record in 15 seasons.

LOOKING BACK: The Eagles suffered a 9-6 setback in their home opener to Michigan State, March 17, as EMU committed five errors down in the game that proved too much for the team to overcome. The Eagles out-hit the Spartans, 10-8, in the contest, as junior Matt Skirving finished 4-for-5 at the plate with a home run, while Andrew Marshall went 2-for-4 with a home run.

LOOKING AHEAD: Following four games against the Mountaineers, Jay Alexander makes his return to Detroit when the Eagles square off against the Wayne State Warriors Tuesday, March 23. Alexander coaches the Warriors for six seasons (2003-08) and was twice named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, including the 2008 season where he led WSU to the most wins (34) in the program's history.

AWARD WINNING EAGLES: For the second time this season and the fourth time in his career, Eastern Michigan University junior pitcher Corey Chaffins was named the Mid-American Conference West Division Pitcher of the Week, March 16. Chaffins earned the same honor earlier this season after striking out eight against No. 25 Kansas and leading the Eagles to a 3-1 win, Feb. 22. Junior Zack Leonard was also honored by the MAC, March 11, as he was named the MAC West Player of the Week after a stellar performance at the plate in five games that week.

GOING STREAKING: Senior Todd Graves is currently riding a team-best seven game hitting streak. Senior Aaron Crooks went into EMU's game versus Michigan State, March 17, carrying a 10-game hitting streak, but finished the contest hitless.

RBI MACHINE: Junior Zack Leonard has been on a tear driving in runners so far this season, as he leads the team with 22 RBI. Leonard has tallied four multiple RBI games this season, including three in which the Canton, Ohio native has drove in five runs. Leonard has tallied a team-best nine hits with runners in scoring position this season.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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