Central Michigan University Athletics
Baseball Prepares For Weekend Series At Ohio
3/21/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 21, 2001
ON DECK FOR CMU BASEBALL
Friday, March 23 - at Ohio* - 3 p.m.Saturday, March 24 - at Ohio* (DH) - 1 p.m.
Sunday, March 25 - at Ohio* - Noon
Tuesday, March 27 - vs Wayne State - 2 p.m.
Friday, March 30 - vs Akron* - 3 p.m.
Saturday, March 31 - vs Akron* (DH) - 1 p.m.
Sunday, April 1 - vs Akron* - Noon
Wednesday, April 4 - at Oakland DH) - 1 p.m.
Friday, April 6 - Eastern Michigan* - 3 p.m.
Saturday, April 7 - Eastern Michigan (DH)* - 1 p.m.
Sunday, April 8 - Eastern Michigan* - Noon
CHIPPEWA BASEBALL LAUNCHES MAC SEASON MOUNT PLEASANT - Riding the crest of a seven-game winning streak, the Central Michigan University baseball team begins Mid-American Conference (MAC) play this weekend with a four-game series at Ohio University.
The Chippewas are now 9-7 for the season, posting wins over Oakland (8-3 and 7-3) and over Saginaw Valley (11-3) on Monday and Tuesday of this week.
The seven-game streak comes on the heels of a six-game losing skid that saw CMU drop two games at Minnesota, three at Florida and one at Rollins College.
"We're getting better, slowly but surely," third-year CMU mentor Judd Folske said. "All the talk recently has been about the start of the MAC season and getting ready
to play an excellent and veteran team in Ohio.
"We've shown the ability to hit and score runs and now our pitching and defense seem to be coming around. However, with Ohio's offense and our young pitching staff, I wouldn't be surprised to see some high scoring games down there."
The Bobcats, who split a four-game set with Michigan State this past weekend, are 6-7 for the season. OU split with Pittsburgh on Tuesday, losing 2-1 and winning 10-7.
Ohio scored 41 runs in the four games with Michigan State.
Two Chippewa sophomores have been sidelined with injuries and are doubtful for the Ohio series - infielder Tim Groves (Mount Pleasant/Sacred Heart) with a high ankle sprain and outfielder Ryan Krueger (Alpena) with a back problem. Groves missed the three games this week while Krueger has been out for 10 games already.
Senior shortstop Jason Helps (Wyoming, Ont./St. Clair CC) has been on a power terror this season after belting four homers and driving in 22 runs all of last season. The left-handed hitter leads the team with six homers and 25 RBI, slugging one in each of the three games this week.
"Jason has the whole package now," Folske said. "He's always been an outstanding shortstop and now he's become an excellent hitter with power."
Junior catcher/DH Brad Reid (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont./Rudyard) leads the Chippewa hitters with an impressive .396 batting average. The left-handed hitter has a homer and 16 RBI.
The Chippewa pitching staff has shown positive signs during the seven-game
winning streak. CMU has an ERA of 4.13 in that stretch to lower the team ERA to 6.28.
Junior right-hander Gavin Gillette (DeWitt/St. Clair CC) has been outstanding in relief this season after coming off elbow surgery. He's pitched 6.2 innings, allowing two hits and no runs. He's fanned 10 and walked just two.
"We have an awfully young pitching staff but they finished strong in Florida and have been effective in the three games in Michigan," Folske said. "We developing some depth and I'm encouraged with their performance."
CMU will be home for five games next week, playing a nine-inning contest against Wayne State on Tuesday, March 27, before hosting Akron for a four-game MAC set on the weekend.
