Central Michigan University Athletics
Late Offensive Heroics Save Chippewas, 12-10
3/21/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
ATHENS, Ohio -- A clutch two-out two-run single up the middle by redshirt freshman Nate Theunissen in the top of the ninth helped the Central Michigan baseball team claim a 12-10 decision against Ohio at Bob Wren Stadium, evening up the opening series of Mid-American Conference play at a game apiece.
After Billy Anderson smacked a one-out double and Rhett Goodmiller drew a walk, the Chippewas turned a failed hit-and-run into a double steal, putting two in scoring position for Theunissen with two down. Instead of walking the red-hot left-handed batter, the Bobcats elected to pitch to Theunissen who promptly smacked the first pitch he saw back up the middle for a pair of runs, breaking a 10-10 tie.
Nine two-out runs by Ohio nearly spoiled the day for Central, but late clutch hitting by the Chippewas proved to be the difference. Neither team was sharp defensively, as the two teams combined for seven errors (Ohio four, CMU three).
For the second straight game CMU jumped on Ohio in the top of the first, this time pushing three runners across for an early edge.
After the Bobcats cut into the lead with a run in their half of the first and the Chippewas answered with another run in the second, Ohio would score one in the third and four in the fourth to take a 6-5 lead. The big blow by OU came after a Central error allowed the fourth inning to continue and the Bobcats made the Chippewas pay with a two-out three-run blast.
Each team scored a set of runs in the fifth to make it 9-8 in favor of Ohio, with all three Bobcat runs coming with two out.
Central threatened to tie the game in the seventh with a runner in scoring position and one out, but Ohio would work out of a jam on a pair of ground balls.
In the eighth, Matt Faiman got things going for the Chippewas on a four-pitch walk. He would move up to second on a groundout and took third on a passed ball, putting the tying run 90 feet away with one out. Head coach Steve Jaksa went to his bench and called on Dale Cornstubble to hit for Casey Ingle, and Cornstubble crushed a 3-2 pitch over the left field fence for his first home run of the season and a 10-9 CMU lead.
Ohio was able to tie the game at 10 in the bottom of the eighth after the first two batters reached, thanks to a two-out passed ball, setting the stage for Theunissen.
Dan Taylor got the start on the mound for the Chippewas, giving up eight runs (four earned) on 10 hits and a walk over four-plus innings of work. Jessie Hernandez came on in relief and gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits while walking four and striking out five in three-plus innings of work. Matt Loomis retired the only batter he faced, and Chris Kupillas worked the final 1.2 innings for the victory.
The rubber match of the three-game set is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m.
After Billy Anderson smacked a one-out double and Rhett Goodmiller drew a walk, the Chippewas turned a failed hit-and-run into a double steal, putting two in scoring position for Theunissen with two down. Instead of walking the red-hot left-handed batter, the Bobcats elected to pitch to Theunissen who promptly smacked the first pitch he saw back up the middle for a pair of runs, breaking a 10-10 tie.
Nine two-out runs by Ohio nearly spoiled the day for Central, but late clutch hitting by the Chippewas proved to be the difference. Neither team was sharp defensively, as the two teams combined for seven errors (Ohio four, CMU three).
For the second straight game CMU jumped on Ohio in the top of the first, this time pushing three runners across for an early edge.
After the Bobcats cut into the lead with a run in their half of the first and the Chippewas answered with another run in the second, Ohio would score one in the third and four in the fourth to take a 6-5 lead. The big blow by OU came after a Central error allowed the fourth inning to continue and the Bobcats made the Chippewas pay with a two-out three-run blast.
Each team scored a set of runs in the fifth to make it 9-8 in favor of Ohio, with all three Bobcat runs coming with two out.
Central threatened to tie the game in the seventh with a runner in scoring position and one out, but Ohio would work out of a jam on a pair of ground balls.
In the eighth, Matt Faiman got things going for the Chippewas on a four-pitch walk. He would move up to second on a groundout and took third on a passed ball, putting the tying run 90 feet away with one out. Head coach Steve Jaksa went to his bench and called on Dale Cornstubble to hit for Casey Ingle, and Cornstubble crushed a 3-2 pitch over the left field fence for his first home run of the season and a 10-9 CMU lead.
Ohio was able to tie the game at 10 in the bottom of the eighth after the first two batters reached, thanks to a two-out passed ball, setting the stage for Theunissen.
Dan Taylor got the start on the mound for the Chippewas, giving up eight runs (four earned) on 10 hits and a walk over four-plus innings of work. Jessie Hernandez came on in relief and gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits while walking four and striking out five in three-plus innings of work. Matt Loomis retired the only batter he faced, and Chris Kupillas worked the final 1.2 innings for the victory.
The rubber match of the three-game set is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m.
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