East Michigan News

Eastern Michigan University's baseball team is set to commence its 2025 season with a three-game series against the University of Pittsburgh Panthers in Port Charlotte, Florida. The games will be held at Centennial Park from February 14 to 16, with Friday and Saturday's matches starting at 1 p.m., and Sunday's game beginning at noon.

Fans can access live stats and audio through the EMU baseball schedule page on EMUEagles.com. Updates will also be available on social media via EMU_Baseball on X (formerly Twitter) and emu_baseball on Instagram.

Greg Steiner will provide live commentary for all three games through Eagle All-Access and the Varsity Network App.

This series marks only the second time Eastern Michigan and Pittsburgh have met for a three-game matchup. Their last encounter was in February 2020, also in Florida, where Pitt swept Eastern Michigan with a combined score of 16-8.

Head Coach Robbie Britt enters his second year leading the Eagles. In his overall collegiate coaching career spanning six seasons, Britt has accumulated a record of 139 wins and 86 losses. During his first season with Eastern Michigan, the team finished with a record of 14-38.

The program celebrates its 77th season this year. Historically, Eastern Michigan holds a record of 36 wins and 40 losses in season-opening games since its inception in 1949.

Britt's coaching staff includes Trevor Beerman as recruiting coordinator and outfield coach, Craig Prince as pitching coach, and Andrew DiTullio as offensive coordinator. DiTullio joins the staff this year after serving as hitting coach at Southern New Hampshire University.

Returning key players include senior pitcher Bobby Jones who led various statistics last season including ERA, WHIP, wins, innings pitched, strikeouts, walks allowed by starters, and opposing batting average among starters. Giano Zuccaro returns after posting strong offensive numbers last season along with Logan Hugo who led in home runs.

New additions to the team feature transfers like John Hale from Motlow State Community College who excelled both offensively and defensively; Harrison Travis from Carson-Newman; Tyler Kapa from Davenport University; Michael Pfeiffer from Northwest Shoals Community College; along with freshmen such as Connor Walsh noted for his high school achievements.

Eastern Michigan is predicted to finish tenth out of eleven teams according to MAC preseason polls while Ball State is favored to win both regular-season titles and tournament championships.

Following their opening series against Pitt Panthers in Florida—their first since facing Missouri Tigers back in February 2017—EMU travels next week (February21-23)to play Central Arkansas Bears across four games scheduled within Conway Arkansas area venues before continuing their competitive journey throughout eight different states over fifty total contests planned during upcoming months ahead!