Abbreviated edition due to short notice. Make it out to the game if you can. Michigan should take this one. Directions from Union to their field via bus can be found here. Now you have no excuse other than not wanting to be in Ypsilanti at night to keep you from the game.
from easternmichiganeaglesfans
Eastern Michigan
March 17, 2009 – 6pm
Oestrike Stadium
Ypsilanti, MI
Media: Live Stats*
Probable Starters: Michigan TBA vs Jordan Glover (1-1)
Michigan Record vs Opponent: 108-54-2
Last Series/Game: April 2008, Michigan sweeps 2 midweek games 20-5 and 5-3
*stats are through EMU, not CSTV
Overview
Eastern Michigan comes into this game doing rather poorly. Eastern Michigan is currently on an 7 game losing streak, and is 3-13 overall. Boyd’s currently has them at 259 in RPI, but that doesn’t mean we should hold them too lightly–just ask Indiana.
Offense
The EMU hitting attack is lead by junior shortstop Jim Gulliver. Gulliver is currently hitting .361 with 15 runs scored, 6 doubles, and 2 triples, all team highs. He will be seen batting in the 3 hole for the Eagles.
Third baseman Zach Leonard will bat behind Gulliver in the clean up spot. The sophomore is batting .349 on the year with 10 RBIs. He is one of only two Eagles in double digit RBIs this season (as compared to Michigan’s 6). The other is catcher Andrew Marshall, who has been hitting in the 6 hole. Marshall is the team leader in RBIs with 11.
On the base paths, keep an eye on #2 Kyle Rhoad. The center fielder leads off for Eastern and is 7 for 7 for stolen bases this season. Rhoads is a meh hitter, only batting .286, but he does work counts well. He’s earned 11 walks and struck out 15 times.
Pitching
Pitching for the Eagles is Canadian Jordan Glover. The freshman righty has the second lowest ERA for any pitcher throwing at least 10 innings this season. In his 4 appearances (2 starts), he has gone 11 innings, allowing 9 runs (7 earned) on 16 hits, 8 walks, and 5 strikeouts.
Glover’s last appearance was one inning in relief walking one and striking out three at Dayton, so that sounds pretty solid. His last start was the win against Indiana where he threw 6 innings, allowing 7 runs, only three of which were earned. He walked 5 and struck out one in his first career win. I’d classify that as a solid start for a freshman.
His other start, his only other of the season came against then #12 Florida. He only lasted 3 innings giving up 6 earned runs on 8 hits, 2 walks, and 2 strikeouts.
No one stands out as really good in the EMU bullpen currently. None of their numbers any dominating strikeout performers. The best ERA of any bullpen member is 4.05 by Kevin Wammes over 6 innings.
Outlook
I have to imagine Michigan will be looking to show some might after the last few days. I’ve got my reserves about how good Glover may or may not be. I’m hoping we can knock him out of the game early, but you never know with freshmen, much less home openers or mid-week match-ups. Anything can happen.
I’ll update this if I find out who is pitching for Michigan, but as of now its unannounced. I expect Sinnery just because Matt Miller threw a few more innings than he did this weekend. We’ll see.
Posted under Baseball
Tags: eastern michigan