Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
Ohio
Chippewas Take Four From Ohio
3/31/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 31, 2002
MOUNT PLEASANT - What a way to open the new Theunissen Stadium.
Central Michigan University swept its opening Mid-American Conference series for the first time since 1993, winning all four contests from Ohio University here this weekend in its $4 million facility.
After winning a pair of games on Saturday by the scores of 9-6 and 7-1, the Chippewas won two more on Sunday, 11-5 and 10-9 over the Bobcats.CMU is now 14-6 for the season and 4-0 in the MAC while OU falls to 8-11and 0-4.
In Sunday's first game, Central scored two in the bottom of the first on a long home run over the scoreboard in right center by Gates. It was his third of the season. However, the Bobcats came back with two unearned runs in the top of the second to tie it at 2-2.
CMU took a 5-2 lead in the bottom of the third on an RBI single by Gates, a sacrifice fly by Groves and a single by Krueger. The game was called after five innings because of darkness with the score, 5-2.
The Chippewas broke it open with four more in the bottom of the sixth on Sunday, one on a sacrifice fly by Gates and the next three on Keith Sampsell's second homer of the season. Central added two more in the seventh, one on a double by Tim Bullinger and the other on a double by Scott Pickens.
Jeff Garner went the first five innings to pick up his first win of the season while Ryan Cremeans tossed three innings and allowed two runs and Nick Zastrow gave up one run in the ninth. Garner allowed three hits and two unearned runs. He struck out seven and walked one.
Gates had two hits and four RBI to power CMU while Bullinger, Pickens and Sanfilippo each had two safeties.
In the final game of the series, Central scored two unearned runs in the first inning to cop a 2-0 lead.
Ohio charged back with seven runs in the top of the second to chase starter Jeff Opalewski. Four of the runs were earned as the Chippewas committed two errors.
CMU came back with four in the bottom of the second. David Latour opened the inning with a solo homer, his second of the weekend, while Tommy Grubb doubled in one and Gates banged a two-run homer.
The Chippewas regained the lead in the bottom of the third with two runs. Sanfilippo drove in the tying run on a sacrifice fly and Grubb singled in the run that made it 8-7. Gates opened the fourth with a solo home run to left field to put Central ahead, 9-7. CMU made it 10-8 in the sixth on a pinch RBI single by Danny Gibbons.
Reliever Lee Naplin boosted his record to 4-1 by going six and one-third innings and allowing two runs. He struck out eight and walked two. Travis Osborn finished the ninth and picked up his fifth save of the season.
Gates was a perfect three-for-three and three RBI while Grubb and Pickens had two hits each.
CMU will return to Theunissen Stadium on Tuesday against Saginaw Valley at 2 p.m., and is slated to meet Wayne State on Wednesday at home at 2 p.m.
