Following an opening-day loss on Friday, the Eastern Michigan University baseball team returned to Gary Hogan Field this past weekend for a high-stakes doubleheader of action against the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The Eagles, who are now 1-2, experienced the highest of highs on Valentine’s Day with a massive comeback victory, before falling just short in a defensive stalemate on Sunday afternoon.
Saturday: A Valentine’s Day offensive explosion
Saturday’s contest will likely be remembered as a cornerstone moment for the program, as it marked the first win of the season and the first career victory for interim head coach Trevor Beerman. The Eagles showcased remarkable resilience, rallying from a five-run deficit to secure an 11-6 win over the Trojans.
The game did not start in Eastern’s favor. Little Rock utilized the long ball early, jumping to a lead with solo home runs in the second and fourth innings. By the bottom of the fifth, the Trojans had extended their advantage to 5-0 following a two-run triple by Ty Rhoades. However, the Eagles' dugout remained undeterred.
The comeback began at the top of the sixth inning when Ty Stecko launched a two-out, three-run home run to deep left field, cutting the deficit to 5-3. It was Stecko’s 12th career home run in an EMU uniform and provided the spark the offense desperately needed.
In the seventh inning, the Eagles exploded for eight runs. The highlight of the frame was a go-ahead grand slam by Devan Zirwas, his second career grand slam for the Eagles, which flipped the scoreboard to 8-5 in favor of Eastern. The onslaught continued as Bruce Jellison laced a two-run double and Nick Weaver added an RBI single. By the time the third out was recorded, EMU had established an 11-5 lead.
On the mound, Eli Henderson earned the win in his NCAA Division I debut, providing two crucial innings of relief. Emmett Gillies entered in the ninth, striking out two batters to finalize the 11-6 victory. The win was historically significant, as it marked the Eagles' largest margin of victory over Little Rock in program history.
Sunday: Pitchers duel and missed opportunities
With the series tied at one game apiece, the two squads met Sunday for a rubber match that proved to be the polar opposite of Saturday’s game. Despite a strong showing from the pitching staff, the Eagles were unable to find the scoreboard, dropping a tight 2-0 decision to the Trojans.
Senior right-hander Michael Pfeiffer made his first start of the season and kept the Trojans off balance through the first three innings. The only blemish on his outing came in the fourth inning when Little Rock’s Ty Rhoades doubled down the right-field line with two runners on, providing the game's only runs. Pfeiffer finished his day with three strikeouts over four innings of work.
The Eastern bullpen was nearly flawless in relief. Nick Keane and Fischer Hendershot combined for four innings of scoreless baseball, allowing only two hits while striking out four. Hendershot, making his season debut, looked particularly sharp in the seventh and eighth innings.
While the pitching held firm, the Eagles’ offense struggled to find the clutch hit. Eastern threatened throughout the afternoon, leaving 11 base runners stranded. The Eagles loaded the bases at the top of the eighth and got a lead-off single from Kevin Krill in the ninth, but they could not push a run across.
Individual bright spots on Sunday included newcomer Tristan Crane, who recorded his first multi-hit game as an Eagle with two singles. Additionally, Ty Stecko made history on the basepaths, recording two stolen bases in a single game for the first time in his Division I career.
Looking ahead
The weekend split moves Eastern Michigan’s all-time record against Little Rock to 2-3. While the Eagles will be disappointed to have dropped the series, the offensive potential shown on Saturday and the defensive discipline displayed on Sunday provide a solid foundation for the weeks to come.
The road does not get any easier for coach Beerman’s squad. The Eagles now travel to Nashville, Tennessee, for a demanding two-game mid-week series against No. 23 Vanderbilt University. Both games, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 17-18, will be available for streaming on SEC Network+. Fans can also follow live updates via the EMU Athletics website.
