Central Michigan University Athletics
Bobcats Top Chippewas, 13-2
3/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
MOUNT PLEASANT -- A nine-run ninth stiffled a comeback effort by Central Michigan as Ohio took the first game of a three-game Mid-American Conference set, 13-2 at Theunissen Stadium on Saturday.
The Chippewas managed just six hits, and didn't register their first extra-base hit until two were out in the bottom of the ninth. Jeff Helps was the only CMU batter to register at least two hits, picking up a pair of singles in three plate appearances.
Ohio got a run in the first on an RBI single by Robert Maddox, who went 4-for-4 with two singles, two doubles and three RBI in the game, to take a 1-0 lead. The Bobcats added three in the third, with the big blow a two-run home run by Zach Hartle.
Chippewa starting pitcher Eric Lawrence settled down after that, keeping CMU in the game until the seventh when Central broke through for a pair of runs on RBI singles by Helps and Tyler Kipke to cut the lead in half, 4-2. Central had the tying runs in scoring position after Dale Cornstubble moved the runners up with a ground ball to second, but Ohio reliever Adam Goodpasture got Cody Allen to strike out looking to end the threat.
After Bryce Morrow retired the leadoff batter in the nineth, an error allowed Jeremie Rehak to reach and opened the floodgates for the Bobcats. They would go on to score nine two-out runs to seal the victory in their first game at Theunissen Stadium since 2002.
CMU dropped its MAC opener for the first time since 2005, when the Chippewas fell 2-0 at Bowling Green to open the conference slate.
After battling some wildness early, Lawrence settled down to go eight innings, giving up four runs on 10 hits while walking four and striking out two.
The two teams will square off again tomorrow in game two of the series, with CMU's Dan Taylor (0-2, 5.40 ERA) taking the mound opposite OU's Zach Elmer (1-1, 2.65 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
