Central Michigan University Athletics
CMU Hopes to Ride Momentum
4/21/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 21, 2003
MOUNT PLEASANT -- After winning the final three games of the Mid-American Conference series at the University of Toledo -- two with incredible comebacks -- the Central Michigan University baseball team is hoping to keep that momentum this week with five games on tap against in-state rivals.
The Chippewas, now 15-17 for the season and 5-5 in MAC action, will face Michigan State on Wednesday at Lansing's Olds Park at 7 p.m. CMU will then return to MAC play with doubleheaders at Western Michigan on Friday (1 p.m.) and at home against the Broncos on Sunday (1 p.m.).
CMU head coach Steve Jaksa was encouraged by what he saw last week when his team won five games and lost two.
"We played hard in every game until the final out was made," Jaksa said. "We've given great effort this season but haven't always gotten the results we've wanted.
"Hopefully, we can continue to play that way and give ourselves the opportunity to win games. Obviously, last weekend's games were thrilling. I can't remember anything like that. Once maybe, but not twice."
After losing an 11-5 decision to Toledo in the first game of the four-game set on Friday, the Chippewas trailed in Saturday's first game by a 14-10 margin going into the seventh and final inning. CMU scored 10 times en route to a 20-14 win -- nine coming after two were out.
And, then on Sunday, Toledo held an 8-2 lead going into the eighth of a nine-inning game when CMU plated nine runs to win 12-8.
"Nothing has come easily for this team," Jaksa said. "But, we've gotten better. We're getting more production out of different people, and that has helped everyone."
The Chippewas have faced both of this week's opponents already this season. CMU tripped Michigan State, 9-2, in Florida and lost to Western Michigan, 2-1, in the Butler Classic.
While the game with the Spartans (11-24) in Lansing's minor league park is important for bragging rights, the WMU (16-19, 9-7 MAC) series is the one that counts.
"It's important to both schools," Jaksa said. "It is a rivalry weekend where the records don't matter. Western Michigan is trying to win the MAC West and we're trying to make the conference playoffs. It will be an interesting and fun weekend."
Weekend Review
Toledo 11, CMU 5
The Chippewas jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first but couldn't hold it in losing the first game of the series. Ty Dunham (2-2) was the starter and loser for CMU while J.R. Duffey went the distance for the Rockets. Jim Geldhof had three hits.
CMU 20, Toledo 14In one of the most improbable comebacks, CMU scored 10 runs in the seventh and final inning (nine with two outs) for the win. The Chippewas posted a season-high 20 hits. Tommy Grubb was four-for-four with five RBI and a school-record tying five runs scored. Derek Schaller had a pinch-hit grand slam in the seventh and and Brian Campbell banged out three hits. David LeMieux (3-0) picked up the win in relief.
CMU 6, Toledo 3In one of the strongest pitching performances of his career, senior left hander Joey Fahndrich went the distance for the first time ever to raise his record to 1-4. He scattered 12 hits and didn't allow UT a homer -- they hit eight in the other three games. Freshman Jason Gotwalt had three hits and drove in two runs while David Latour Jr., also knocked in two with a double.
CMU 12, Toledo 8The Rockets seemed to have this game in hand when the Chippewas scored nine times in the eighth inning for their second big-time comeback win. Ryan Krueger had three hits, two of them homers, and Dan Griesbaum drove in three runs with two hits. Gotwalt also had three hits and an RBI, and Grubb a couple of hits. Mark Lundquist (3-0) picked up the win in relief. Starter Jeff Opalewski was the victim of the 30 mile-per-hour winds blowing out and gave up four homers. However, he did fan 10 batters and walked just two in five and one-third innings.
Pitching Rotation
While nothing is set, CMU figures to throw Ryan Cremeans, Chris Schell, and Nick Patterson against Michigan State.In the weekend series, Joey Fahndrich and T.J. Johnson are the tentative starters at Western Michigan on Friday while Ty Dunham and Jeff Opalewski may start at home against the Broncos on Sunday.
In the Record Books
Senior Tommy Grubb etched his name in the Chippewa record book by scoring five runs in CMU's 20-14 win at Toledo on Saturday. He joins Leroy Decker (1953) and Scott Pieratt (1999) with five runs in a game. Grubb went four-for-four in the contest and drove in five more runs.
After a slow start to the week (one-for-10 in three games), the left-handed hitter was eight-of-18 with eight runs and seven RBI. He leads CMU in hitting (.359), on-base percentage (.457), and slugging percentage (.504), and is tied for homers (three).
Leading the Way
Senior outfielder Ryan Krueger is having a solid season as CMU's leadoff batter. He's hitting .313 with three homers and 11 RBI. He slugged two homers in the Chippewas' 12-8 win over Toledo on Sunday and was eight-for-27 during the week. Ryan leads the team in stolen bases with 14 in 17 tries.
Geldhof Finds Stroke
Sophomore outfielder/designated hitter Jim Geldhof banged out 10 hits in 23 at-bats last week to raise his average to .308. The left-handed hitter drove in four runs and is third on the team with 24.
Gates Gets Going
Battling a season-long slump, senior first baseman Mike Gates had his best week of the season last week with eight hits in 21 at-bats to raise his average to a respectable .270. The 6-4, 245-pounder has still been productive at the plate where he leads the team in RBI (27). He tops the team in walks (22) and being hit by a pitch (seven).
All Over the Record Books
Gates is the CMU and MAC career leader in walks with 156, and his 169 RBI are second most in Chippewa annals and 14th in MAC history. His 161 career runs are fourth most for CMU and tied for 22nd best in the MAC. The Flushing product is also in CMU's career record book in the following categories: at-bats, tied for second at 636; doubles, third with 39; GW RBI, tied for third with 17; extra base hits, fifth with 70; hits, sixth with 200; total bases, sixth with 330; games played, sixth with 202; and homers, tied for eighth with 26.
How About These Young Guns!
Four freshmen have worked their way into the playing group for the inujry-riddled Chippewas this spring.
True frosh Chase Welker has established himself as the starting shortstop, fielding a nifty .962 with five errors in 31 games. He was seven-for-20 last week to up his batting average to .225.
Redshirt freshman Brian Campbell has started 28 games at catcher. He's batting a solid .315 with one homer and 19 RBI.
True freshman Jason Gotwalt has seen increased playing time at third base and is batting .344 after banging out seven hits in 14 at-bats with four RBI last week.
Redshirt freshman Brian Lautzenheiser missed the first 16 games with a wrist injury but has started 14 of the last 16 games in left field and sports a .273 average with a homer and 13 RBI.
Another true freshman outfielder/infielder Bryan Mitzel had a three-run homer in his third collegiate at-bat before sustaining a knee injury and being lost for the season. He'll get a medical redshirt this spring.
True freshman outfielder/infielder J.T. Jones has seen action in 21 games thus far and has been used as a pinch runner and a defensive replacement in the outfield.
One of CMU's most effective pitchers has been redshirt freshman right hander Mark Lundquist who has a record of 3-0 with a 3.80 ERA. He won two games last week.
Hit To Remember
Sophomore catcher Derek Schaller came off the bench in Saturday's 20-14 win over Toledo and collected his second career hit -- a grand slam, in the 10-run seventh inning.
Fahndrich Goes the Distance
For the first time in his career, senior lefty Joey Fahndrich went the distance and claimed victory in the 6-3 decision at Toledo on Saturday. He allowed 12 hits but no homers at wind-blown Scott Park, and walked two against two strikeouts. Earlier this year, Fahndrich took a 1-0 lead into the ninth against Western Michigan at the Butler Classic. He didn't finish the game and CMU ended up losing 2-1.
LeMieux Mows 'Em Down
The Chippewas have won 15 games this season and David LeMieux has had a hand in nine of the wins. The junior right hander is 3-0 with a 2.97 ERA. He's also saved six games. He had saves in both of CMU's wins over Oakland last week and then got the win in the 20-14 decision at Toledo.
Finding That Batting Eye
CMU had its most productive weekend at the plate at Toledo, pounding out 55 hits in 146 at-bats against Rocket hurlers for a .377 average. The Chippewas are now hit .279.
Opalewski Pitches Well
Sometimes the stats don't tell the story. Junior right hander Jeff Opalewski was the starter in Sunday's 12-8 win over Toledo. He went the first five and one-third innings and walked just two while striking out 10. However, he was touched for 10 hits and seven earned runs, many of them on the four wind-blown homers he allowed.
Checking the MAC Stats
The Chippewas are 10th in batting (.279), 13th in pitching (7.38), and 12th in fielding (.946).
Tommy Grubb is 10th in on-base percentage (.457) and tied for 13th in batting (.359). David LeMieux is second in saves (six) and sixth in pitching (2.97).
Ryan Krueger is tied for third in stolen bases (14) while Mike Gates is seventh in walks (22).
In MAC stats only, CMU ranks much higher in batting where it is third (.337). However, pitching is 12th (9.77) and fielding is 13th (.936).
Grubb is hitting .487 in MAC games, third best.
Scouting the Broncos
WMU is 12th in batting (.245) but stands fifth in pitching (4.99) and second in fielding (.969).
Tom Fabrizio (.477) is third in the MAC in batting while the Broncos have four hurlers among the conference pacesetters in Pat Misch (2-1, 3.68), Keith Perez (3-3, 3.68), Clark Sterley (2-3, 3.69), and Brad Mumma (5-4, 3.77).
MAC West 'Players of the Week'
Following are CMU players honors by the MAC this spring: MAC West Pitcher March 10 Jeff Garner March 17 Ty Dunham
Used to Winning
Central Michigan University has the winningest program in the Midwest since 1970. The Chippewas have a record of 1,135-587 (.659) in the past 33 seasons while Minnesota is second (.643), Notre Dame third (.632), Michigan fourth (.611) and Ohio State fifth (.604). CMU has had only one losing season since 1964 -- the 1999 club that went 24-32.
MAC's Best
The Chippewas have the best all-time baseball record in MAC history (prior to this season) with a mark of 466-274-1 (.630). CMU has won 11 titles and two tourney crowns. Western Michigan is second at .605 and Ohio third at .587.
CMU Ticket Policy
Tickets for Chippewa home games are $4 for adults and $3 for seniors (55 and over) and youth. Season tickets are also available for $50 for adults and $40 for seniors, faculty, and youth.
Chippewas Prep for Finals Week
Following this weekend's four-game set with Western Michigan, the Chippewa players will take a break for final exams.
CMU is not scheduled to play again until hosting Eastern Michigan in a four-game series to begin on Friday, May 2, with a single, nine-inning contest at 3 p.m.
The Chippewas have lost six games to weather so far this year and are trying to makeup some of those games.
CMU has 14 MAC games remaining and will most likely have to play above .500 to reach the conference tourney for the fourth straight year.
The top two teams from the East and West divisions reach the tourney along with the next two highest conference winning percentages regardless of division.
