In a back-and-forth battle under the lights of Ray Fisher Stadium, Eastern Michigan University's baseball team pulled off a stunning 9-8 upset over the University of Michigan on Tuesday night, snapping an eight-game losing streak in Ann Arbor and earning its first road win over a Power Four opponent since 2018.
The victory marks Eastern’s first triumph in Ann Arbor since April 15, 2015.
Eastern Michigan wasted no time setting the tone. In the top of the first inning, Devan Zirwas delivered a two-run triple that brought home Ben Schechterman and Logan Hugo. Bruce Jellison followed with a groundout RBI to plate Zirwas, giving the Eagles an early 3-0 advantage.
The Wolverines answered immediately, tying the game with three runs in the bottom of the first. But the Eagles continued to swing freely, regaining the lead in the second with a solo home run by Harrison Travis.
The fourth inning saw a burst of offense from EMU, with Jordan Krill scoring on a wild pitch and Chase Vance crossing the plate on a double play, extending the lead to 6-3. The Eagles showcased a diverse offensive attack, tallying a double, triple, and home run in the same game for the first time this season.
The Wolverines rallied with a four-run sixth inning to take a 7-6 lead, but EMU responded in the seventh. Pinch-hitter Brendan Kleiman tied the game at 7-7 with a clutch RBI single.
Michigan reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the seventh on a sacrifice fly, setting the stage for a dramatic ninth-inning comeback by the Green and White.
Gianno Zuccaro stepped up with a go-ahead RBI double to give EMU an 8-7 lead. A passed ball later allowed another run to score, pushing the advantage to 9-7. Though Michigan plated two runs in the bottom of the ninth, the Eagles held firm, with right-hander Ethan Davis slamming the door shut to seal the win.
On the mound, Eastern’s bullpen delivered. Despite giving up nine hits and six earned runs over 8.1 innings, the staff struck out 11 — the second-highest total in a game this season. Colin Milligan and Davis each threw 1.1 hitless innings of relief, with Davis earning the win and recording two strikeouts.
“You’re not always going to have success, but if you focus on the right things and stay consistent, good things are going to happen,” said EMU head coach Robbie Britt. “It was great to see Gianno step up today. It’s been a rough year for him, but he stayed concentrated, had good hits and made a big impact for us. That’s the type of player that he is.”
Britt emphasized that the win was a true team effort.
“It was a total team effort today. You saw different guys step up, from the bullpen to the bench guys who came in and made some contributions. This win was a team effort, and that’s what makes it so special.”
Davis, who has anchored EMU’s bullpen throughout the season, credited his teammates for their defensive support.
“Getting the first-pitch strike is important,” Davis said. “The defense bailed me out today, and that was the difference.”
Zuccaro, whose key ninth-inning double proved decisive, spoke to the team’s collective mindset.
“It’s just the next man up,” he said. “We all have each other’s backs, and when we play as a team, we’re tough to beat.”
As the Eagles turn their attention back to conference play, the road victory is a much-needed confidence boost ahead of a three-game weekend series at Ohio University.
“We will enjoy this one for a little bit, but the biggest thing is to keep practicing and stay focused on what’s in front of us,” Britt said.
Eastern Michigan travels to Athens, Ohio, for a series with the Bobcats beginning Friday, March 28, 2025. The first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m., and all three games will be streamed live on ESPN+.
