2011 (Junior): Started 39 games, mostly in right field … struggled through a dismal first half of the season before changing his batting stance and experiencing a renaissance of sorts in the second half … was second on the team with a .347 batting average over the final 28 games of the season … also smashed three home runs and collected three doubles, one triple, 12 RBI and 14 runs scored over that 28-game stretch … finished the season with a .289 batting average, four home runs, 22 RBI and 20 runs scored ... compiled a team-best 13-game hitting streak from April 16 – May 7 … batted .455 (4-for-11) with two home runs, four RBI and three runs scored in a crucial conference sweep over Morehead State in mid-April … hit .375 (3-for-8) with a double and a run scored in the OVC Tournament.
2010 (Sophomore): Batted .249 on the season while starting 51 games in right field … tied for the team lead with 15 doubles and 27 walks … fourth on the team in home runs (seven) and RBI (43) … provided one of the most dramatic moments of the season when he crushed a game-winning grand slam with two outs in the top of the 10th at SEC foe Tennessee to give the Colonels an 8-7 upset win (March 3) … batted 5-for-12 with six RBI and a home run in a three-game series with Bowling Green State (March 19-20) … went 5-for-10 with four RBI, three runs scored and a home run during a two-game set with East Tennessee State (April 6-7) … went 2-for-4 with three RBI, two runs scored and a home run against OVC foe Austin Peay (April 11) … batted 2-for-4 with a home run in another key conference game against Murray State (May 9).
2009 (Freshman): Named to the OVC All-Freshman team following the season … started 42 games, mostly in right field, during his rookie season … batted .311 with 28 runs scored and 18 RBI … led all freshmen and was fourth on the team with five home runs … went 3-for-4 with two RBI, a run scored and a home run against in-state rival Western Kentucky (March 18) … batted 5-for-12 with three runs scored, three RBI and two home runs in a three-game conference series with Austin Peay (March 21-22) … picked up three hits, two RBI and two runs scored in a win over OVC foe Morehead State (March 29) … blasted another home run at Jacksonville State (April 25) … delivered the game-winning RBI double in the bottom of the ninth of an epic 14-13 come-from-behind victory over conference opponent Southeast Missouri (May 9) … came up with one of the best defensive plays of the season for the Colonels the very next game as he, with two outs and two men on, caught a fly ball on a dead sprint, flipped over the right field fence and held onto the ball …committed only two errors in right field all season.
High School Accomplishments: Played at south Florida powerhouse Christopher Columbus High School ... a teammate of current Colonel Richie Rodriguez ... carried a batting average of .351 his senior year with five home runs ... hit .353 as a junior with six home runs and 27 RBI.
Personal: Born Dec. 5, 1989 ... son of Gene and Maggie Garcia ... majoring in sports management.
Get to Know Michael Garcia ...
What is your favorite inspirational quote: Whatever Coach Stein has up as the Quote of the Day
Favorite movie: Gladiator
Favorite food: Anything at upstairs Powell
Three things on your “bucket list” are: Teach Jayson Langfels how to sing, make Matt Harris show some emotion and play more hours of Call of Duty 2: Modern Warfare with Anthony Bazzani
What has been the biggest highlight of your EKU career: My walk-off double against SEMO at home freshman year
What do you want to accomplish before your career at EKU is over: Win the OVC and make it to a regional
Watch Garcia win it with a grand slam in the top of the 10th inning against Tennessee in 2010:
