Baseball Drops Series-Finale to Central Michigan

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team fell in a nail-biting back-and-forth Mid-American Conference series-finale to Central Michigan University, 7-6 Sunday, May 11, at Keilitz Field at Theunissen Stadium.

Eastern took a 6-4 advantage into the bottom of the eighth inning before Central Michigan loaded the bases with no outs and scored three runs to secure the series-win over the Eagles.

The loss sets up a pivotal MAC series to end the 2025 regular season as Eastern's series against Kent State University, May 15-17, will have massive implications on the Eagles' odds to make the conference tournament.

Bruce Jellison (Hartland, Mich./Hartland/Wabash Valley) paced the Eagles' offense as he set an NCAA career-high with four RBI, putting together three hits in five trips to the plate. Junior right-hander Michael Pfeiffer (Brownsboro, Ala./Huntsville/Northwest-Shoals C.C.) was a bright spot out of the bullpen, striking out a career-high six batters while walking just one and allowing two runs off two hits in three innings of work.

Sophomore righty Emmett Gillies (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Hartley/Akron) got the start on the mound and went two innings on the Eagles' bullpen day, striking out and walking two while allowing three runs off three hits. Central Michigan's Cayden Smith (2-3) earned the win while EMU junior right-hander Ethan Davis (Brownstown, Ind./Brownstown Central/Marian/Frontier C.C.) (2-3) was tagged with the loss.

After the result, Eastern's record went to 19-26 (11-16 MAC) while Central's improved to 19-32 (11-16 MAC). Currently, EMU holds the sixth and final playoff spot in the MAC, qualifying them for the MAC Tournament, May 21-25.

How it Happened
The Eastern offense got to work right away as it took a 1-0 lead in the first inning courtesy of Jellison's RBI-single to right field, scoring senior Logan Hugo (Essexville, Mich./Essexville Garber) who originally reached base off a walk.

The Chippewas responded in the second inning, scoring three runs off three hits to take a 3-1 lead into the third.

Junior right-hander Drew Norris (Leawood, Kan./Blue Valley/Utah/Johnson C.C.) entered the game to start the bottom of the third, relieving Gillies after two innings of work.

Norris tossed a scoreless two innings, allowing just two hits and three base runners overall before Pfeiffer came in to take over pitching duties to start the home half of the fifth. The former junior college standout retired the side in order to complete his first inning on the bump.

Eastern's offense complemented Pfeiffer's pitching as the Eagles regained the lead at 4-3 in the top of the sixth. Freshman Connor Walsh's (Mattawan, Mich./Mattawan) two-out first-pitch two-RBI double highlighted the inning.

The two rivals traded punches as CMU answered again the in the ensuing half inning, scoring one run off an RBI-double to right field, its lone hit of the inning, before EMU scored two of its own in the top of the seventh with Jellison collecting his third hit, and RBIs number two and three of the day, doubling down the left field line to score Hugo and Harrison Travis (Soddy Daisy, Tenn./Soddy Daisy/Carson-Newman), putting the Eagles back on top, 6-4.

Davis relieved Pfeiffer after facing one batter in the eighth as he exited with a career-best six strikeouts. He struggled to find his command, allowing a single, followed by a wild pitch and a walk that forced another EMU pitching change, this time bringing freshman Henry Slaby (Avon, Ohio/St. Edward) to the mound in a bases-loaded no-out situation. The Chippewas would score three in the frame off two sacrifice flies and one wild pitch, taking a 7-6 lead into the ninth.

Eastern was unable to match CMU's total as the game ended in a 7-6 win for Central Michigan.

Game Notes
» With 10 hits, Eastern reached the 10-hit mark for the 25th time this season. It is 16-9 when doing so. The Eagles also out-hit the Chippewas, 10-8, marking the 26th they have out-hit their opponent, posting a 17-9 in such scenarios.
» The Green and White scored at least six runs for the 29th time this season, it is 18-11 when doing so.
» Despite the loss, Eastern still holds a positive record on the road as it is 15-13. Its 15 road wins ranks second in the MAC.
» Eastern Michigan's highest scoring inning was the sixth when it pushed three runs across.
» Eastern Michigan went 5-for-12 (.417) with runners in scoring position.
» Eastern Michigan pitchers faced 36 Central Michigan hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and six fly balls while striking out eight.
» Pfeiffer struck out an NCAA career-best six batters in three innings of work and retired the side in order once.
» Jellison drove in an NCAA career-high four runs as he posted his 13th multi-hit game of the season and first with three hits in a 3-for-5 day from the plate. One of his hits went for two bases, marking his sixth double of the season, seventh extra-base hit, and first in exactly one month as he last went for at least two bases in a 7-2 loss to the University of Toledo, April 11.
» With a 2-for-4 showing from the dish, Hugo tabbed his 16th multi-hit game of the season and fifth in his last ten games, the second most on the team, bringing his hit total to a career-best 57 on the season. He also scored multiple runs for the 10th time in 2025, elevating his season run total to a team and career-high 45.
» Hugo stole his team-high 16th base of the season, a total that ranks him fourth in the MAC. He is two stolen bases away from tying his career-best 18 set in the 2024 campaign.
» Hugo drew one walk, marking his 30th of the season which serves as a team and career-high for the right-handed hitter.
» Walsh drove in two runs, marking his fifth multi-RBI showing of the year and elevating his RBI total to 21 on the season. He also knocked his fifth two-bagger, marking his sixth extra-base knock.
» Travis recorded his eighth double and 17th extra-base hit of the year. He also scored two or more runs for the seventh time as an Eagle as he has done so in consecutive games for the first time in his NCAA Division I career with his two runs scored in yesterday's 9-7 win over CMU, May 10. Travis has scored 27 runs total.
» Devan Zirwas (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny/VCU) furthered his hitting streak to 12 games, currently serving as the longest on the team. He needs one hit in his next game to reach 13 consecutive games with a hit, which would mark the longest hitting streak from an Eagle this season. He also reached base for the 14th consecutive game, the longest streak of reaching base for the Eagles at the moment.
» Brendan Kleiman (Olney, Md./Sherwood/Frederick C.C.) posted one hit, his 42nd of the season. He needs 13 more to reach 100 in his NCAA career.
» Eastern lost after entering the eighth inning with a lead for the fourth time this season.

Historical Notes
» Sunday's game marked the 185th all-time between the Eagles and Chippewas. After the result, EMU holds a 99-86 all-time record against CMU and a 13-30 record when facing it in Mount Pleasant in the modern statistical era (1999-present).

Up Next
Eastern's final regular-season non-conference game is on the horizon as it will travel to South Bend, Ind., for a tilt against the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame Tuesday, May 13, 4:30 p.m.

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For all things EMU Baseball, be sure to check out the team's social media accounts, including EMU_Baseball on X (formerly Twitter) and emu_baseball on Instagram.

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Team Stats

Bruce Jellison

Logan Hugo

Harrison Travis

Devan Zirwas

Players Mentioned

Ethan Davis

Emmett Gillies

Logan Hugo

Bruce Jellison

Brendan Kleiman

Drew Norris

Michael Pfeiffer

Henry Slaby

Harrison Travis

Connor Walsh

Devan Zirwas

Players Mentioned

Ethan Davis

Emmett Gillies

Logan Hugo

Bruce Jellison

Brendan Kleiman

Drew Norris

Michael Pfeiffer

Henry Slaby

Harrison Travis

Connor Walsh

Devan Zirwas

Eastern Michigan Athletics