Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewas Battle Broncos in Critical Late Season Showdown
5/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
MOUNT PLEASANT -- With two weeks remaining in the regular season, the Central Michigan baseball team could finish as high as first and as low as last in a tightly packed Mid-American Conference West Division.
With all eight tournament berths still up for grabs, MAC play is expected to heat up in the season’s final six conference games.
The weekend holds perhaps the key to the rest of the season for CMU. A sweep of Western Michigan (23-17, 8-10 MAC) could put them in the chase for a West Division crown, but getting swept or even losing 2-of-3 could put their postseason hopes in serious jeopardy.
WMU, who currently sits in last place in the West Division, is just four games back of first place Eastern Michigan and just two games back of CMU for fourth place. The Broncos are currently tied for the eighth and final spot in the MAC Tournament with Toledo.
Central is 10-5 against Western under head coach Steve Jaksa, including a 7-1 mark at Theunissen Stadium. The Chippewas have swept the Broncos in each of the last two three-game sets in Mount Pleasant, during the 2005 and 2007 campaigns.
The match-up features the top two pitching staffs in the conference, according to overall team ERA. The Chippewas enter the weekend with a 4.51 mark, while EMU is the only other MAC team under five at 4.96. Both teams are also in the top four in terms of conference ERA.
Highlighting the weekend’s activities are the Autograph/Little League Day and Alumni Reunion Day activities.
Alumni Day is scheduled for Saturday, where Chippewas from the past are invited to participate in activites on the field and a luncheon. The former standouts will also be announced as part of the pregame activities as well for an on-field recognition. Over 50 faces from the past joined CMU on last season’s Alumni Day.
Little League day is scheduled for Sunday, where kids 12 and under will receive free admission for wearing their little league uniform. There will also be free CMU baseball team photos and autographs on the field following the game against WMU.
Projected Weekend Rotation
Friday vs. Western Michigan: Dan Taylor (3-4, 4.20 ERA, 1 CG)
Saturday vs. Western Michigan: Eric Lawrence (3-5, 3.42 ERA, 3 CG)
Sunday vs. Western Michigan: Steve Teno (7-3, 3.59 ERA, 2 CG)
