Central Michigan University
Texas State
Chippewas Rally to Sweep Twinbill
3/1/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Brett Schriber, CMUChippewas.com
SAN MARCOS, Texas - Despite temperatures in the 30s, Central Michigan's bats heated up in the late innings Saturday as the Chippewas swept a non-conference baseball doubleheader from Texas State.
The Chippewas did all of their scoring in their last three at-bats in both games, taking the opener, 14-6; and the nightcap, 5-3.
The win in game one snapped a three-game losing streak. The Chippewas (7-4) and Bobcats (3-7-1) close their four-game series with a noon game on Sunday.
Nick Regnier and Joe Houlihan led the late-hitting surge in game one as they collected three hits apiece to lead the Chippewas' 13-hit attack. Cody Leichman and Alex Borglin added two hits each, and Ryan Heeke doubled.
Heeke, Houlihan and Zach McKinstry drove in two runs apiece.
CMU trailed 5-0 when it pushed across four runs in the seventh inning, chasing Texas State starter Scott Grist. He struck out six, walked two and surrendered six hits.
The Chippewas tacked on five runs in the eighth and five more in the ninth off of six Bobcats relievers
Freshman Sean Martens earned the win, the first of his collegiate career, going an 1 1/3 innings. He came on with two out in the bottom of the seventh and induced an inning-ending groundout, keeping the Chippewas' deficit at 5-4. Tim Black earned the save, his fourth. He got the final out of the eighth, leaving the bases loaded, and keeping CMU in front, 9-6. He surrendered a single in the ninth but induced a game-ending double play ball to end it.
Chippewa starter Adam Aldred allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits while striking out three and walking five over 4 1/3 innings. Jordan Grosjean and Jimmy McNamara pitched in relief.
CMU led 3-0 with two on and two out in the bottom of the ninth inning of the nightcap when Texas State got a pinch-hit triple from Colby Targun to draw to 3-2. Targun scored on a throwing error.
The Chippewas responded in the 10th when Pat MacKenzie walked and McKinstry reached on an error. MacKenzie scored on another error and Leichman drove in an insurance run with a sacrifice fly.
It was all goose eggs until the eighth when McKinstry ripped an RBI triple down the right-field line, Logan Regnier doubled in McKinstry, and later scored on a passed ball.
Black, who worked the ninth, got the win, improving to 2-0 on the season along with three saves. Braxton Markle set down the Bobcats in order in the bottom of the 10th for his second save of the season.
CMU starter Pat Leatherman, a freshman right-hander, went seven shutout innings, striking out six while walking one and surrendering five hits. Sean Renzi and Tim Black each worked an inning of relief.
Texas States starter Pasquale Mazzoccoli went 7 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits.
McKenzie, Logan Regnier and McKinstry finished with two hits each.
