Central Michigan University
Miami (Oh)
Chippewas Roll in Series Opener at Miami
3/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
OXFORD, Ohio - Nick Deeg was masterful and he got ample support from his teammates Friday as Central Michigan rolled past Miami (Ohio), 11-0, in the opener of a three-game Mid-American Conference baseball series at the RedHawks' Hayden Park.
Deeg, a sophomore left-hander, went the distance in tossing a four-hitter as the Chippewas improved to 16-10, 3-1 MAC. He struck out six, did not walk a batter, and the Chippewas played error-free defense behind him.
It was Deeg's first complete-game shutout in a Chippewa uniform. He allowed just two hits - a first-inning two-out double and a sixth-inning single - through eight innings. No RedHawk runner advanced past second base until the ninth, when Miami managed a pair of singles.
"It was a good matchup for him," CMU coach Steve Jaksa said. "They were aggressive early (in the count). He was around the zone, he was able to throw to both sides of the plate. It was all good for him. He really competed all the way through."
It was the second consecutive complete-game shutout for a Chippewa pitcher against a MAC opponent. Jason Gamble blanked Ohio, 4-0, last Sunday.
"Pitchers are no different than any other human being," Jaksa said. "Gamble went out and did it, and (Deeg) saw that and it's like `Hey, I can do it too.'
"I think that's a mentality and that's a good thing."
Logan Regnier hit a three-run homer and finished with four hits and four RBI to lead CMU's 12-hit attack. The Chippewas, who benefitted from five Miami errors, also got two hits from Tyler Huntey, while Alex Borglin picked up two RBI.
"I really thought we came ready to play today," Jaksa said. "We executed the game plan about as well as you could execute it. The thing we wanted to do was keep the pressure on them. We got guys on and we kept the pressure on.
"Nick executed his game plan and we played good defense behind him. Offensively we got it going a little bit and we were able to keep tacking on runs and there's a lot to be said for that."
It was Regnier's first homer of the season as he raised his batting average to .358 with a four-for-five afternoon, which included a double. He also scored three runs.
"Logan's got an individual game plan and he really stays on the baseball and through the baseball," Jaksa said. "I think it's his approach and his ability to stay with his game plan and not get frustrated when things go wrong. Right now he's in a good place, and he's piling up quality (at-bats)."
Miami is 4-17, 2-2. RedHawks starter Ryan Powers (2-5) allowed six runs (three earned) on seven hits, while walking one and striking out six over six innings in taking the loss.
The teams are scheduled to play game two of the series Saturday at 3 p.m. Left-hander Adam Aldred (1-1) will start for the Chippewas against Jacob Banks (1-4).
