Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewas Cruise Past Broncos, 18-4
5/9/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Fifteen runs over the final four innings blew open what had been a close game, as the Central Michigan baseball team claimed an 18-4 victory over Western Michigan at Robert J. Bobb Stadium on Friday.
The Chippewas trailed 4-3 after five innings of action, but scored seven in the sixth, three in the seventh and five more in the eighth while blanking the Broncos over the final four innings to claim game one of a three-game set that has major postseason implications for both teams. CMU entered the weekend tied for the final two Mid-American Conference tournament spots, two games ahead of WMU.
Matt Faiman got things going in the sixth with a single and scored on a double to left center by Nate Theunissen.
Theunissen would then touch home on a single by Scott Phillion, and Dale Cornstubble made it four straight hits to open the inning with a single to center, chasing Western's starting pitcher Billy Morrison from the game.
Phillion would score on a passed ball and William Arnold drew a walk to put two runners aboard. After a sacrifice bunt by Robbie Harman moved the runners up, an infield hit by Andrew Thomas plated Cornstubble. Billy Anderson followed with an RBI single and Tyler Kipke smacked a double to left for the sixth run of the inning. A sacrifice fly by Faiman capped the inning off, and the Chippewas would cruise from there.
Dan Taylor, making his first Friday start of the season, tossed seven innings, giving up four runs on five hits and two walks. The senior left-hander struck out seven to move into eighth on CMU's all-time strikeout chart with 214.
Chris Kupillas and Mike Nixon followed Taylor to the hill, each working a shutout inning.
Thomas and Cornstubble each had five hits in Central's 22-hit parade. Thomas just missed the cycle for the second time in his last three games, falling a home run shy. He missed it by a double in CMU's 22-4 win over Northern Illinois last weekend.
Five Chippewas in all had at least two hits, and six drove in two runs each. CMU has now scored a combined 30 runs in its last two contests, and 52 in its last three.
The two teams will hook up for the second game of the weekend series tomorrow at 1 p.m. CMU remains in a three-way tie for the final two spots in the MAC Tournament, as both Eastern Michigan and Akron picked up victories on Friday.
The Chippewas trailed 4-3 after five innings of action, but scored seven in the sixth, three in the seventh and five more in the eighth while blanking the Broncos over the final four innings to claim game one of a three-game set that has major postseason implications for both teams. CMU entered the weekend tied for the final two Mid-American Conference tournament spots, two games ahead of WMU.
Matt Faiman got things going in the sixth with a single and scored on a double to left center by Nate Theunissen.
Theunissen would then touch home on a single by Scott Phillion, and Dale Cornstubble made it four straight hits to open the inning with a single to center, chasing Western's starting pitcher Billy Morrison from the game.
Phillion would score on a passed ball and William Arnold drew a walk to put two runners aboard. After a sacrifice bunt by Robbie Harman moved the runners up, an infield hit by Andrew Thomas plated Cornstubble. Billy Anderson followed with an RBI single and Tyler Kipke smacked a double to left for the sixth run of the inning. A sacrifice fly by Faiman capped the inning off, and the Chippewas would cruise from there.
Dan Taylor, making his first Friday start of the season, tossed seven innings, giving up four runs on five hits and two walks. The senior left-hander struck out seven to move into eighth on CMU's all-time strikeout chart with 214.
Chris Kupillas and Mike Nixon followed Taylor to the hill, each working a shutout inning.
Thomas and Cornstubble each had five hits in Central's 22-hit parade. Thomas just missed the cycle for the second time in his last three games, falling a home run shy. He missed it by a double in CMU's 22-4 win over Northern Illinois last weekend.
Five Chippewas in all had at least two hits, and six drove in two runs each. CMU has now scored a combined 30 runs in its last two contests, and 52 in its last three.
The two teams will hook up for the second game of the weekend series tomorrow at 1 p.m. CMU remains in a three-way tie for the final two spots in the MAC Tournament, as both Eastern Michigan and Akron picked up victories on Friday.
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