East Michigan News

Eastern Michigan University secured a decisive 14-4 victory over Youngstown State University on Tuesday in a non-conference baseball game at Oestrike Stadium. The Eagles took the lead early with a strong performance from Harrison Travis, who delivered a grand slam as part of his five RBI day. Travis's grand slam came in the second inning, marking his seventh home run of the season.

Freshman pitcher Fischer Hendershot started on the mound for EMU, pitching two scoreless innings and striking out four. Nick Keane later earned his first NCAA Division I win, pitching a scoreless fifth inning with two strikeouts. Youngstown State's Phil Brennaman took the loss.

The game began with an RBI single from Travis, bringing in Giano Zuccaro. The Eagles then expanded their lead with five runs in the second inning, including a bases-loaded walk by Logan Hugo and Travis's grand slam.

Hendershot was relieved by Eric Boothe in the third inning, who continued the Eagles' dominance. Cooper Vance contributed with a three-run homer, further increasing the lead. Eastern Michigan scored five more runs by the fourth inning, highlighted by a two-run shot from Devan Zirwas and an RBI double from John Hale.

Keane maintained the Eagles' momentum by retiring the side in the fifth inning. Youngstown State attempted a comeback with four runs in the sixth but could not close the gap. The game ended after seven innings due to the 10-run rule.

Following this win, EMU improved to a 17-18 record overall. Notably, the victory marked Eastern Michigan's eighth non-conference win of the season, compared to five in 2024. The team's 14 runs represented the sixth time they scored 14 or more in a game this season.

The Eagles now prepare for a three-game series against Bowling Green State University from April 25-27. For continued updates, fans can follow the team's social media.