The Eastern Michigan University baseball team faced a daunting midweek road test on Feb. 17-18, 2026, traveling to Nashville, Tennnesse to take on Vanderbilt University. Played at Hawkins Field, the two-game set proved to be a trial for the Eagles against a powerhouse SEC opponent. While the results on the scoreboard favored the Commodores, who swept the series with 13-2 and 16-2 victories, the Eagles saw several newcomers record significant career milestones and witnessed a record-breaking pitching performance in relief.
Game one: Vanderbilt 13, Eastern Michigan 2
The series opener on Tuesday, Feb. 17, saw the Commodores take control immediately. Vanderbilt started the action in the bottom of the first inning with a three-run home run to right-center field, establishing a lead they would hold for the remainder of the evening. The Eagles' starting pitcher, Ethan Davis, made the first start of his NCAA career but struggled against the potent Vanderbilt lineup, ultimately taking the loss after allowing three runs in one inning of work.
Vanderbilt added three more runs by the end of the third inning to extend their lead to 6-0. However, Eastern Michigan found a spark in the top of the fourth. Kevin Krill reached base after being hit by a pitch, and Ty Stecko followed with a fielder's choice. Tristan Crane then delivered a base hit up the middle to drive in Krill, marking Crane's first career RBI as an Eagle. The momentum continued when Nathan Borchardt singled down the right-field line to score Stecko. This hit was a double milestone for Borchardt, representing his first hit and first RBI in an Eastern Michigan uniform.
Despite cutting the lead to 6-2, the Eagles could not contain the Commodore offense. Vanderbilt responded in the bottom of the fourth with their second three-run home run of the game. They continued to add runs in the sixth and seventh frames, including a two-run homer by Brodie Johnston, to end the game in seven innings via a 13-2 decision. The contest also saw the EMU debuts of Greg Kennedy, Brian Henson, and Aidan Norris.
Game two: Vanderbilt 16, Eastern Michigan 2
The series finale on Wednesday, Feb. 18, followed a similar pattern of early offensive dominance by the Commodores. Vanderbilt’s bats were relentless in the first inning, plating nine runs to effectively decide the game's outcome early. Landon Mueller started for the Eagles but took the loss after facing five batters without recording an out. Jack Angus made his first appearance as an Eagle in relief during the opening frame as the lead ballooned to 13-1 by the end of the second inning.
Eastern Michigan’s first run of the finale came in the second inning when Nick Weaver drew a walk and eventually crossed the plate on a wild pitch. The most notable performance for the Eagles came from the bullpen, courtesy of Carter White. White entered the game and dominated the Vanderbilt hitters, striking out six of the nine batters he faced over two scoreless innings. This total set a new NCAA Division I career-high for White and stood as the highest single-game strikeout total for any Eastern Michigan pitcher in the early 2026 season.
The Eagles also received solid relief work from Fischer Hendershot and Emmett Gillies, both of whom tossed scoreless innings to maintain their perfect 0.00 ERAs through the start of the season. EMU added a final run at the top of the seventh when Keegan Knupp—scoring the first run of his collegiate career—was driven in after Ty Stecko was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. The RBI for Stecko was the 41st of his career at Eastern Michigan. The game concluded in seven innings with a final score of 16-2.
Series outlook and historical context
With the sweep, Eastern Michigan’s season record shifted to 1-4, while Vanderbilt improved to 3-2. Historically, this trip to Nashville furthered a difficult trend for the Eagles against the Commodores; Eastern is now 0-3 all-time against Vanderbilt and has lost the last three matchups dating back to 2024.
The Eagles will look to bounce back as they continue their southern road trip, shifting their focus to a three-game weekend series against Austin Peay in Clarksville, Tenn., scheduled for Feb. 20-22. All games in the upcoming series are slated to be streamed on ESPN+.
