Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
Akron
Chippewas Knock Off Akron in Game Two, 7-6
4/15/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 15, 2006
MOUNT PLEASANT - Senior right-fielder J.T. Jones's one-out single to right in the eighth inning scored freshman Cody Allen from second with the game-winning run in Central Michigan University's 7-6 win over the University of Akron on Saturday.
CMU improves to 20-15 overall, 8-3 in the Mid-American Conference and stays alone in first in the West Division. The win also guarantees the Chippewas their seventh straight MAC series win at home. Akron falls to 7-23 overall, 2-9 in the MAC.
Charlie Lenhard singled home Chase Liggett in the top of the eighth to tie the score and cap a comeback that saw the Zips rally from a 6-0 deficit after four innings. CMU answered with what proved to be the winning run in the home half of the frame, however, as Allen led off with a single and moved to second on Brian Campbell's sacrifice bunt. Jones then singled in Allen, and Mike Kirschenheiter and James Ricchio combined to set Akron down in order in the ninth.
The Chippewas scored four runs with two outs in the third to take an early lead. After the first two hitters were retired, Campbell doubled and scored on a single by Jones. Troy Moratti's infield single put two runners on for Ben Humphrey, who deposited his fifth homer of the year over the wall in right-center.
CMU added a pair of two-out tallies in the fourth to stretch its lead to 6-0. Humphrey and Bryan Mitzel both knocked run-scoring singles in the frame.
Akron turned the tables on the Chippewas in the top of the sixth, scoring five unearned runs with two outs. Kurt Davidson scored on an error, and Lenhard later connected on a grand slam to left.
Josh Collmenter threw 5-2/3 innings for CMU and took a no decision. He shut out the Zips on three hits through the first five innings before allowing the five unearned runs on four hits in the sixth.
Kirschenheiter (1-1) earned the win, surrendering just an unearned run on three hits in 2-2/3 innings. Ricchio retired the final two hitters to collect his third save.
Frank Turocy suffered the loss in relief for Akron.
Offensively, the Chippewas did most of their damage at the top of the order. Jones (3-for-4), Moratti (2-for-5), Humphrey (3-for-4) and Mitzel (2-for-5), the first four hitters in the lineup, combined to go 10-for-18 with two doubles, a homer, five runs and seven RBI.
The two teams will get together for game three of the series on Sunday at 1 p.m. CMU will be seeking its second sweep of a conference series this season.
