Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
Northern Illinois
Chippewas Capture 9-4 Baseball Win
5/16/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 16, 2003
DeKALB, Ill. - David LeMieux set a Central Michigan University record for saves in a season in helping the Chippewas to a 9-4 Mid-American Conference baseball win over Northern Illinois University here Friday afternoon.
LeMieux, a junior right-hander from Muskegon, hurled the last two innings for his 10th save of the season, breaking Bob Cavanaugh's mark of nine set in 1984.
The win, coupled with Ohio's 9-7 loss to Eastern Michigan, kept alive the Chippewas' slim hopes of making the MAC playoffs. CMU is now 25-25 for the season and 9-12 in loop play. NIU falls to 30-22 and 12-11 in conference action.
The Chippewas need to win the final three games against NIU and have Ohio lose the next three to EMU to have a chance at making the six-team field.
The Chippewas scored two runs in each of the first two innings to cop a 4-0 lead. In the first. J.T. Jones walked with one out and raced all the way home on a double to the fence in right by Tommy Grubb. Grubb then scored on an infield single by Dan Griesbuam Jr. CMU opened the second with one-out singles by Chase Welker and Ryan Krueger, both advancing a base on an error. Jones then singled in Welker. Krueger scored on a double steal.
NIU scored a run in the third the Chippewas got it right back in the fourth to make it 5-1. Jeff LaFavors Jr., walked to open the inning, was sacrificed to second by Welker, moved to third on Krueger's second bunt single, and scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Jones.
The Huskies scored an unearned run in the fifth to cut the deficit to 5-2 and then added two more in the eighth off Mark Lundquist and David LeMieux, one of them unearned, to make it 5-4.
CMU picked up four runs in the ninth to extend the advantage to 9-4. David Latour Jr., was hit by a pitch to open the framed and was sacrificed to second by Welker. Krueger singled in Latour and Jones followed with his second single on a hit and run. Jim Geldhof cleared the bases with a two-run double to the fence in left center. He later scored on a single to center by Brian Campbell.
Junior Jeff Opalewski was solid as the Chippewa starter, picking up the win to even his record at 2-2. He went the first six innings, giving up five hits and two runs - one was earned. He walked three and struck out five. Mark Lundquist hurled a scoreless seventh before allowing two runs (one earned) in the eighth. LeMieux closed by allowing two hits, walking two, and striking out three.
Kreuger paced CMU with three hits while Jones and Campbell had two apiece.
