The 2025 NCAA baseball season is one week in and the Mid-American Conference (MAC) teams have started their non-conference schedules.
There’s a three-way tie for first place and the defending MAC Tournament Champions are off to a rough start.
T1. Akron (2-1, 0-0 MAC)
Despite being selected to finish last in the MAC Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll, Akron is currently tied for first place after going 2-1 against Radford University over the weekend, outscoring them 38 to 25.
Akron outfielder Jack Poist won the MAC Player of the Week award for week one. The fifth-year senior batted .417 with six runs scored, six runs batted in (RBI), five walks and two stolen bases. He also hit a grand slam in the opening game against Radford to help secure the 12-11 win for the Zips.
Akron will continue its non-conference schedule with a three-game weekend series against Jacksonville State.
T1. Ball State (2-1, 0-0 MAC)
Last season’s overall win leader also went 2-1 in week one. The Cardinals lost to UMass Lowell but beat Towson and Maryland, a BIG-10 opponent.
Although the Cardinals’ offense struggled at times, their pitching allowed just 17 runs (tied for ninth in the MAC) and was tied with Akron for the most strikeouts (33).
Ball State will travel to California for an upcoming four-game series against Sacramento State.
T1. Bowling Green (2-1, 0-0 MAC)
The Falcons were the 2024 regular season MAC champions last year before losing in the semifinals of the MAC Tournament. They are once again off to a good start this year, after winning two out of three against Middle Tennessee State (MTSU).
Senior outfielder Gavin Ganun had a monster week for the Orange & Brown, hitting two home runs and driving in four runs against MTSU.
Bowling Green will travel to South Carolina to play two games against USC-Upstate and one game against Presbyterian. Then, they will travel north to Indianapolis to play Butler.
4. Miami (2-2, 0-0 MAC)
Last year’s Redhawks finished the year with a .500 overall record. Miami is picking right back where they left off, splitting the week with two wins against The Citadel and two losses against Charleston Southern.
Miami’s offense clicked throughout week one, especially in their 16-1 beatdown against The Citadel. The Redhawks rattled off 14 hits, three extra-base hits, and a seven-run eighth inning to emerge victorious.
Miami will take on East Tennessee State next in a three-game weekend series before playing their home opener on Tuesday against their southwest Ohio rival, Wright State.
T5. Kent State (1-2, 0-0 MAC)
The Golden Flashes lost two close contests in week one; falling short 9-4 to SIU-Edwardsville and 5-3 to South Alabama. They also beat Eastern Kentucky 4-2.
Kent State’s pitching staff was impressive, giving up the least amount of runs in the conference (14). Ace redshirt sophomore pitcher Gavin Jones led the staff on the mound, giving up just one run on four hits in five innings pitched in his win over Eastern Kentucky.
The Golden Flashes have an upcoming three-game weekend road series against Mercer.
T5. Northern Illinois (1-2, 0-0 MAC)
Northern Illinois (NIU) dropped two out of three games to Nicholls University. The weekend included two-run and eight-run losses before NIU’s offense exploded to a 21-2 third-game victory.
The annihilation was the most runs scored by a MAC team in a game this season. NIU’s pitching was also solid, ending the week off with the best team earned run average (E.R.A.) in the conference (4.13).
The Huskies will travel to Cape Girardeau next to face Southeast Missouri State (SEMO) in a three-game weekend series.
T7. Central Michigan (1-3, 0-0 MAC)
Central Michigan (CMU) started off the 2025 campaign with a 6-0 shutout win over Houston Christian (HCU). However, they were outscored by HCU 29-9 over the next three games, losing all three.
The offense was a big struggle for CMU’s last-place team last season and it hasn’t improved so far this year. They are currently batting .218 (ninth in the MAC) with 15 runs scored (eighth in the MAC).
The Chippewas will go to the Bay next to face San Francisco for a four-game weekend series.
T7. Toledo (1-3, 0-0 MAC)
Despite being tied for seventh place, Toledo probably had the most impressive week in the MAC. The Rockets got a tough draw, having to play the 11th-ranked Oregon Ducks in a four-game opening series.
Toledo won one of the four games, becoming the first MAC team this year to beat a ranked opponent. The win was also the highest-ranked victory in Toledo baseball program history.
On the slab for Toledo’s 5-3 victory over Oregon was MAC Pitcher of the Week, R.J Shunck. The junior threw five scoreless innings and retired the first 10 batters of the game.
Toledo will travel to North Carolina next to face High Point University in a three-game series.
T9. Eastern Michigan (0-3, 0-0 MAC)
Eastern Michigan (EMU) became one of three MAC schools to go winless in week one after getting swept by Pittsburgh.
EMU had the worst pitching performance in week one, giving up the most runs (37) in the conference and accumulating a sky-high 12.43 E.R.A
The Eagles will face Central Arkansas in a three-game battle this upcoming week.
T9. Ohio (0-3, 0-0 MAC)
Ohio had spectacular offense but very poor pitching in week one. The result was unfortunately three straight losses to Wofford.
The Bobcats led the MAC in average (.330) and were second in hits (36), doubles (7) and triples (1). Ohio’s pitching was the complete opposite story, giving up the 10th most runs (33) and earning an 11.03 E.R.A.
Ohio will try to put it all together in their three-game series against West Georgia. They then will face Big 12 foe West Virginia on Tuesday.
11. Western Michigan (0-4, 0-0 MAC)
The 2024 MAC Tournament winner is off to a winless start, albeit to tough opponents, losing two games against Michigan State and two games against Dayton.
The offense batted a mere .198 (10th in the MAC) and the defense had a whopping nine errors (tied with CMU for most in the MAC).
WMU will try to get back on track against ACC powerhouse Louisville, who they play next for three games.
