Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewas Enjoy Heavy Home Schedule in Final Weeks
5/10/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Live Stats | Live Video
MOUNT PLEASANT -- With final exams completed, the Central Michigan baseball team embarks on a busy week, starting a span of nine games in 12 days, including eight home dates, to close out the regular season.
The Chippewas (26-19, 14-7 MAC) host Oakland on Tuesday at 3:05 p.m., before traveling to face Notre Dame on Wednesday at 6:05 p.m. Western Michigan invades Theunissen Stadium for a three-game Mid-American Conference series, starting on Friday at 3:05 p.m. Game two is slated for Saturday at 2:05 p.m., with the finale slated for Sunday at 1:05 p.m.
CMU owns the fifth-best batting average in the MAC during league play at .311 and the conference's top ERA at 4.12. James Teas owns a MAC-best .453 batting average during league action, just ahead of teammate Nate Theunissen, who ranks seventh in the conference at .415.
Dietrich Enns paces the MAC's best pitching staff. The freshman left-hander owns a 1.07 ERA in MAC games to pace the league and a 1.29 mark overall to pace the Chippewas. He's also second on the squad in wins with five (5-0). Jesse Hernandez sits third among MAC starters with a 3.46 league ERA and 4-1 record.
The Grizzlies (17-28, 8-11 Summit League) took a 10-9 decision in Rochester, Mich., on April 28 earlier this year. OU enters the contest batting .284 as a squad, led by Tommy Jablonski's .391 mark with eight extra-base hits and 20 RBI. Five starters boast a .300 average or better.
Oakland's pitching staff owns a 6.83 ERA. Eight hurlers combined in the earlier victory over Central Michigan.
The Irish (20-27, 8-13 BIG EAST) host fellow MAC contender Bowling Green on Tuesday before the Chippewas come to town on Wednesday. UND took a 14-8 decision in the last meeting on March 24, 2009, in Notre Dame, Ind.
Notre Dame boasts a .281 team batting average, led by Ryan Connolly's .367 mark with 27 extra-base hits, including 11 home runs, and a team-high 36 RBI. The pitching staff owns a 5.84 ERA, but just one member of the regular rotation boasts an ERA under six.
The Broncos (12-35, 5-16 MAC) host UIC in a midweek game before traveling to Mount Pleasant for a three-game series.
WMU owns a .270 average (12th) and 6.92 ERA (11th) in MAC games. Chris Lewis paces Western in all three primary offensive categories with a .388 average, six home runs and 40 RBI.
Friday starter Casey Webber leads the pitching staff with a 3-2 mark and a 4.94 ERA.
There will be live stats for all five games and live video for CMU Sports Zone subscribers during all four home games. Live video is also available for the game against Notre Dame, courtesy of UND.com.
NOTES
Graduation Day -- Current Chippewas James Teas and Billy Anderson graduated on Saturday, May 8. The duo were two of 37 student-athletes to receive their degree that also included baseball alumni Eric Lawrence and Steve Teno.
1-2 Punch -- Dietrich Enns leads the MAC with a 1.07 ERA during conference games and closer Trent Howard checks in at No. 3 with a 2.86 ERA.
Heart of the Order -- James Teas and Nate Theunissen have provided the punch in the middle of CMU's batting order all season long in a variety of ways. Teas ranks first in batting average (.453) and third in on-base percentage during MAC games (.512) while Theunissen sits seventh in batting average (.415) and ninth in on-base percentage at .479.
Senior Leadership -- Jesse Hernandez is among the league leaders in several categories during MAC play. He sits tied for third in wins (four), second in innings pitched (52.0), eighth in strikeouts (37), second in complete games (two) and seventh in opponent's batting average (.250).
Alumni Reunion and First Responders Day -- CMU will host its annual Alumni Reunion during Saturday's game against Western Michigan. The game will also serve as First Responders Day at Theunissen Stadium.
Little League Day -- The series finale against Western Michigan, scheduled for Sunday, will serve as Little League Day at Theunissen Stadium.
