Oestrike Stadium named after EMU Hall of Fame Coach Ron Oestrike, was built in 1971, the year following Eastern Michigan's NAIA Collegiate National Championship and four years before its back-to-back NCAA Worlds Series appearances.
Improvements to Oestrike Stadium have been ongoing since 1988, starting with the addition of the press box behind home plate. The following year, an inning-by-inning scoreboard with a message center was installed behind the left-field fence. In 1990, four permanent batting cages were added along Hewitt Road behind the left-field fence.
The 1992 season marked the beginning of the field improvements, starting with a new outfield fence and practice infield. In 1995, an outfield drainage system and sprinkling system were installed.
The playing surface was the focus in 1988 when a new infield surface, pitching mound and bullpen mounds were completed. In the summer of 2001, the dugouts were expanded and drinking fountains were installed.
The aesthetics of Oestrike Stadium have been addressed, beginning in 2000 with the addition of lights. The first-ever night game at Oestrike stadium was played May 3, 2000, against the University of Michigan. Today, most Mid-American conference games are played under the lights at Oestrike.
The commemorative bricks that line the grandstand section continue to be installed and in the fall of 2006, the infield drainage system was replaced, as was the infield surface.
In 2007, the entire infield was ripped out and replaced with Pro Grass, thanks to several individuals that donated their time and money to make the project a reality.
Oestrike Stadium has received several critical upgrades in recent years, including an all-new brick facade around the stadium, a new fence surrounding the outfield and a completely remodeled locker room with brand new locker stations for each player.
Finally, renovations to the stadium were made prior to the 2017 season. New turf, replacing the surface installed in 2007, features the “Script E” behind home plate and “Eastern Michigan” around the edge of the infield. In addition to the new playing surface, the bullpens were expanded to include three mounds. The field also got a facelift, with new coats of paint in the dugouts, as well as on the outfield fence. This is in addition to the renovations to the scoreboard to honor the 1975 and 1976 College World Series teams.
