Central Michigan University Athletics
Baseball Takes On Oakland And Eastern Michigan
4/2/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 2, 2001
ON DECK FOR CMU BASEBALL
Wednesday, April 4 - at Oakland (DH) - 2 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
Tuesday, April 10 - at Detroit - 2 p.m.
Saturday, April 14 - Hillsdale - 2 p.m.
Monday, April 16 - Northwood - 3 p.m.
Tuesday, April 17 - Detroit - 2 p.m.
Thursday, April 19 - at Notre Dame - 5 p.m.
Friday, April 20 - at Northern Illinois* - 3 p.m.
Saturday, April 21 - at Northern Illinois (DH)* - 1 p.m.
Sunday, April 22 - at Northern Illinois* - Noon
CHIPPEWA BASEBALL FACES BUSY WEEK
MOUNT PLEASANT - Central Michigan University's baseball team, winners of two straight Mid-American Conference (MAC) series, have six games on the docket for this week.
The Chippewas will play a non-league doubleheader at Oakland University (2-19) on Wednesday, April 4, before hosting Eastern Michigan for four MAC games this weekend. The Eagles are 8-17 for the season and 5-2 in conference action.
"Eastern got off to a rough start this season but sure has been playing well of late," Folske said, pointing to EMU's four-game MAC sweep of Northern Illinois last weekend.
"Eastern has some great arms and plays solid defense. It should be a great series."
Coach Judd Folske's Chippewas are 15-10 for the season and 6-2 in MAC play after taking three-of-four games from Akron this past weekend at home.
CMU lost the opener to Akron, 6-4, but then won the next three by scores of 8-7
(nine innings), 11-1 and 21-4.
"We showed good character by battling back the way we did after not getting it done on Friday," Folske said. "We just didn't come up with the big hit in the first game with Akron."
CMU had plenty of "big" hits in the remaining three outings, though.
Sophomore Mike Galloway (St. Thomas, Ont.) had his share. The third baseman ripped a single up the middle in the bottom of the ninth in the first game with Akron for a 8-7 win. He drove in seven runs on eight hits in the final three games of the series.
Junior right-hander Gavin Gillette (DeWitt) was virtually unhittable against the Zips in the 8-7 win. He went three and two-third innings of scoreless ball, allowing one hit and striking out nine for the win.
The Chippewas took control early in Saturday's second game and rode the shutout hurling of sophomore right-hander Dan Horvath (Allen Park). He went six innings, allowing three hits and fanning eight. The game was suspended because of darkness and Horvath did not finish the game on Sunday.
CMU took advantage of 16 walks and four hit-batsmen in the 21-4 victory in the finale. Junior right-hander Chad Pleiness (Scottville) went the first six innings and struck
out 12 batters to even his record at 1-1.
Central Michigan will play only twice next week - at Detroit on April 10 and home against Hillsdale on April 14.
CHIPPEWA NOTESSenior shortstop Jason Helps (Wyoming, Ont.) was named National "Player of the Week" by Louisville Slugger for the week of March 19-25. Helps slammed five homers, scored nine runs and drove in 16 to help CMU post a 6-1 record. He was also perfect in 40 chances in the field.
Helps had an 11-game hitting streak end in the 21-4 win over Akron on Sunday.
Junior catcher/DH Brad Reid (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont./Rudyard) has hit safely in 22-of-24 games this season and stands second on the team in batting at .349.
Central hurlers fanned 48 Akron batters in the four-game series. Junior Chad Pleiness (Scottville), the 6-6 right-hander who starts as a forward for the Chippewa basketball team, whiffed 12 in six innings while junior right-hander Gavin Gillette (DeWitt) fanned nine in 3.2 innings and sophomore right-hander Dan Horvath (Allen Park) eight in six.
"Our pitching staff continues to get better," CMU head coach Judd Folske said. "We're getting some depth. Now, we need to shore up the defense."
Centerfielder Matt Crowley (Grand Rapids/Creston) has 14 hits in his last 33 at-bats with four homers and 15 RBI to raise his average to .347 and RBI tally to 23.
Junior right-hander Gavin Gillette (DeWitt/St. Clair CC) continues to shine in his closer role. He's collected two wins and a save in seven outings, allowing just five hits and no earned runs in 14.1 innings. He's struck out 22 against just six walks.
CMU had only eight homers in its first 16 games. However, the Chippewas slammed 18 in the next nine - four each by Mike Gates (Flushing/So.) and Crowley.
Chiuppewas with big weeks: Mike Galloway (St. Thomas, Ont./So.) was eight-of-21 with eight RBI, Gates six-of-16 with seven RBI and nine runs scored, Bryan Scheurer (Portland/St. Patrick/Sr.) five-of-11 with three RBI and three stolen bases, Scott Pickens (Mount Pleasant/Jr.) four-of-eight with five runs and six RBI, and Tim Bullinger (Jackson/Lumen Christi/Jr.) eight-of-23 with four RBI.
CMU has had 18 of its 25 games this season last two hours and 50 minutes or longer. Only three have been less than two hours.
