Central Michigan University Athletics
CMU Drops Home Finale to Oakland, 7-5
5/17/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Box Score | Watch: Coach Jaksa Postgame | Watch: Game Highlights
MOUNT PLEASANT - Oakland scored six runs over the final three innings, including four in the ninth, to claim a 7-5 decision over Central Michigan in the Chippewas' home finale at Theunissen Stadium on Tuesday.
Oakland had the bases loaded with one out in the ninth when Jake Morton bounced an 0-2 pitch toward CMU second baseman Jordan Dean. The Chippewas nearly turned an inning ending double play, but Morton was ruled safe at first on a bang-bang play and John Estes scored from third to put the Grizzlies in front, 4-3. Tim Ryan scored on a passed ball, and three consecutive singles plated two more runs to stretch Oakland's lead to 7-3.
CMU pushed a pair of runs across in the bottom of the ninth before Greg Welke was summoned from the Oakland bullpen to record the final two outs.
Jake Arendsen, the fourth of five Oakland pitchers, earned the win to improve to 3-1. Jon Weaver was tagged with five runs on six hits over the final two innings and took the loss, falling to 2-1 on the season. Eleven different pitchers saw action in the contest, which was a planned staff day for both teams.
"We had a plan on the mound that we wanted to accomplish, and we had a plan to get a couple of guys some at-bats," said CMU head coach Steve Jaksa. "We accomplished those things. Overall, a lot of good things happened today. Unfortunately, the ninth inning was not a good inning for us."
Back-to-back doubles by Nate Theunissen and Sam Russell gave CMU a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Oakland tied the score in the top of the fourth, when Tommy Jablonski scored from third on John Estes' fielder's choice.
CMU pushed across a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth. With two on and nobody out, Tyler Hall grounded to Oakland second baseman Todd Dunham; Dunham's throw to second was wide, and Matt Faiman scored from second base to give CMU a 2-1 lead. Hall was then thrown out attempting to steal second, and Robbie Harman scored from third on the play to stretch the Chippewas' lead to 3-1.
Oakland cut the deficit in half in the seventh. The Grizzlies had runners on the corners and one out when Harvey Martin faked a pickoff throw to third and threw to first, catching Dunham off the bag. Dunham managed to retreat to first, but during the rundown Dan Gliot broke for home and scored the Grizzlies' second run.
Oakland tied the score at 3-3 in the eighth on Nolan Jacoby's two-out single that plated Aaron Cieslak from second.
CMU had a runner on second base with one out in both the seventh and eighth innings. In the seventh, William Arnold hit a sharp liner toward second that Dunham snagged and doubled off Hall. In the eighth, Rod Helsen fouled out and Faiman grounded out with runners on first and second.
Oakland improved to 16-30 overall with the win, while CMU drops to 27-24 overall.
CMU closes the regular season with a three-game series at Eastern Michigan beginning Thursday. The Chippewas can clinch the MAC West Division title and No. 2 seed in next week's MAC Tournament by winning two of the series' three games. All three games can be heard on WMHW-FM 91.5 and online at CMUChippewas.com. First pitch of Thursday's season opener is set for 6 p.m.
