The Eastern Michigan University baseball team traveled to Clarksville, Tenn., this past weekend for a high-stakes three-game non-conference series against Austin Peay State University. In a series defined by dramatic power displays, late-inning resilience, and a grueling 11-inning marathon, the Eagles, who are 2-6, walked away with one victory and two narrow losses. While the weekend ended with a series defeat, the individual performances and the team's ability to fight back from multi-run deficits provided a glimpse into the potential of this 2026 squad.
Friday: Stecko’s power surge ignites comeback win
The series opened Friday, Feb. 20, with a thrilling 7-6 comeback victory for Eastern Michigan, marking their first win against the Governors since 2020. The story of the day was senior Ty Stecko, who recorded multiple home runs for the second time in his NCAA career.
The Eagles jumped out to an early 3-0 lead thanks to a first-inning RBI single and a third-inning solo home run from Devan Zirwas, followed immediately by Stecko’s first blast of the day. However, the defending Atlantic Sun Regular Season Champions responded, chipping away until they held a 4-3 lead by the fifth inning.
The game turned in the eighth inning. With two runners on, Stecko launched a decisive three-run home run to left field, giving EMU a 7-5 lead. On the mound, John Carmichael set a career-high with eight strikeouts over five innings, while the bullpen held firm. Cole Egan earned his first win of the season in relief, and Fischer Hendershot pitched a scoreless ninth.
Saturday: An eleven-inning heartbreaker
Saturday’s contest was a grueling 11-inning affair that saw the Eagles record a season-high 11 hits but ultimately fall 8-7 in a walk-off finish. Eastern proved its resilience, fighting back from two separate multi-run deficits. After falling behind 3-0 early, Zirwas hit a two-run homer—his second in as many days—to spark a rally.
Nathan Borchardt had a breakout performance, leading the offense with three hits, three RBIs, and his first home run as an Eagle. Trailing 7-3 in the fourth, EMU began a slow climb back. Borchardt’s solo shot in the seventh brought the Eagles within one, and Ben Schechterman delivered a clutch, game-tying pinch-hit RBI single in the ninth to force extra innings.
A major highlight of the day was the relief work of Ethan Davis, who threw five scoreless innings, striking out two and allowing only three hits. Freshman Keegan Knupp also impressed, recording his first career multi-hit game with three hits. Despite these efforts, Austin Peay secured the win with a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 11th.
Sunday: Defensive struggle and the finale
The series finale on Sunday, Feb. 22, proved to be a defensive struggle where the Eagles’ bats went cold in a 6-1 loss. Austin Peay’s starting pitcher, Kade Shatwell, dominated the mound, carrying a no-hitter through five and two-thirds innings and finishing with six strikeouts.
The Eagles were held to just one hit on the day—an eighth-inning single by Stecko that broke up the Governors' combined no-hit bid. Nathan Borchardt continued to be a bright spot for the roster, showing elite plate discipline by drawing a career-high three walks. Borchardt accounted for three of Eastern’s four total baserunners and scored the team’s lone run in the seventh inning following a throwing error.
On the pitching side, freshman Tommy Rose provided a strong relief appearance, throwing three innings and allowing only one earned run while striking out two. However, the early 5-0 lead established by Austin Peay proved too much for the Eagles to overcome.
Series analysis and what’s next
Despite the 1-2 series result, the Eagles showcased significant power. With back-to-back multi-homer games on Friday and Saturday, it was the first time the program achieved that feat since May 2025. The bullpen also showed growth, allowing only one run over 7.2 combined innings during Saturday’s marathon.
Individually, Ty Stecko left Clarksville, leading the team with eight hits and three home runs on the season. Nathan Borchardt’s performance over the weekend solidified his role as a middle-of-the-order threat, leading the team in hits and RBIs on Saturday.
The Eagles will look to carry the lessons from this competitive road trip into their next challenge. Eastern Michigan returns to action Friday, Feb. 27, for a four-game series against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in Edwardsville, Ill.
