The Eastern Michigan University baseball team reached a pivotal turning point in their 2026 campaign this past weekend, securing their first Mid-American Conference (MAC) series win of the year. Facing off against the University of Akron for the 64th, 65th, and 66th times in program history, the Eagles overcame an initial setback to finish the "Race the Bases Weekend" with back-to-back victories at Oestrike Stadium. This series win also represented the first MAC series victory for Interim head coach Trevor Beerman, providing a much-needed spark for a squad that now sits at 6-17 overall and 2-7 in conference play.
A rocky start at Oestrike Stadium
The series began on Friday, March 20, with a frustrating 7-3 loss for the Eagles. Despite an early 1-0 lead in the first inning—fueled by a Bruce Jellison single that brought home TJ Williams—Eastern was ultimately outscored 7-2 over the remainder of the contest. Starting pitcher John Carmichael put in a solid effort, throwing five innings and allowing only two earned runs, but was ultimately tagged with the loss as the Akron offense found its rhythm late.
Akron’s Easton Amundson broke a 1-1 tie in the fourth inning with a solo home run, and the Zips further extended their lead with a two-run seventh. While Eastern attempted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh through RBI contributions from Jellison and freshman Demir Heidelberg, Akron responded with three insurance runs in the final two frames to seal the series opener. Despite the loss, TJ Williams continued his consistent performance at the plate, recording his team-leading seventh multi-hit game of the season.
Saturday night fever: Zirwas sparks extra-inning heroics
The momentum shifted dramatically on Saturday, March 21, as Eastern Michigan earned its first home win of the season in a thrilling 9-8 walk-off victory that required 10 innings to decide. The game was a rollercoaster of emotions for the Ypsilanti faithful, beginning with an early 3-0 Eagle lead before Akron erupted for seven runs in the top of the fifth inning.
The hero of the day was undoubtedly Devan Zirwas, who drove in four runs and delivered the game’s most critical swing. With the Eagles trailing 8-6 and down to their final out in the bottom of the ninth, Zirwas launched a towering two-run home run to tie the game and force extra innings. In the bottom of the 10th, the Eagles loaded the bases, allowing TJ Williams to become the hero by being hit by a pitch to force in the winning run.
Sophomore Fischer Hendershot earned his first win of the season on the mound after tossing a scoreless 0.2 innings to keep the Zips at bay in the tenth. This victory was not only a statistical win but a historical one, marking the first time Eastern won on the new field at Oestrike Stadium and the first MAC win of the Beerman era.
Sunday statement: Rutherford shines on the mound
The Eagles carried Saturday’s energy into the series finale on Sunday, March 22, powering past the Zips with a 6-2 victory. The story of the afternoon was starting pitcher Cal Rutherford, who delivered a career-defining performance. Rutherford pitched six innings, allowing only two runs while racking up a career-high eight strikeouts. His eight strikeouts tied for the most by any Eastern pitcher this season, matching a mark set by Carmichael earlier in the year.
Offensively, the Eagles fell behind 2-0 early but responded with six unanswered runs. Demir Heidelberg tied the game in the fourth with a two-run double, followed by a clutch two-run single from Keegan Knupp in the fifth to take the lead for good. Nick Weaver capped the scoring in the seventh with a two-RBI single of his own. Landon Mueller provided stellar relief, retiring the side in order in the ninth to clinch the series win. This victory marked the first time the Eagles have won on a Sunday this season.
Looking ahead: Building momentum in the Beerman era
This series win represents more than just two marks in the win column; it signifies the resilience of a team finding its identity under new leadership. Standout individual performances from Devan Zirwas, who now leads the team with 25 RBIs and 15 extra-base hits, and TJ Williams, who continues to lead the team in multi-hit games, suggest the Eagles have the offensive tools to compete in the MAC.
The Eagles will look to extend their winning streak as they remain at home for "Crayola Night" to face Youngstown State University on Tuesday, March 24, at 3 p.m. Following that, they will host Central Michigan for a three-game "Future Student Weekend" series starting March 27. With the first series victory now under their belts, the Eagles have successfully defended Oestrike Stadium and set a new standard for the remainder of the 2026 season.
