Central Michigan University
Wichita State
Three-run 9th Inning Lifts Chippewas
3/6/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Brent Schriber, CMUChippewas.com
WICHITA, Kan. - Cody Leichman's ninth-inning RBI double broke a 3-3 tie Friday as the Central Michigan baseball team defeated Wichita State, 6-3, at the Shockers' Eck Stadium.
The win, CMU's fourth straight, lifted the Chippewas to 9-4. The teams play Saturday at 3 p.m. and close the three-game series on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Logan Regnier tripled to lead off the CMU ninth, then Leichman won a battle with Wichita State pitcher Willie Schwanke, doubling to the gap in left-center field to bring home Regnier with the go-ahead run.
"Cody probably fouled off five pitches with two strikes -- he battled," CMU coach Steve Jaksa said. "Then the guy hung one pitch and he hit that up the gap. I think maybe it was (Leichman's) best at-bat all year just because of how he battled over and over again while down in the count."
Joe Houlihan laid down a suicide squeeze bunt to score Leichman and Tyler Huntey scored on a wild pitch to up the Chippewa lead to 6-3.
Tim Black worked a perfect ninth for his fifth save, a total that ties him for third in the nation.
"Tim has great presence out there," Jaksa said. "He commands the strike zone well. Our guys played really well. We're confident in him, and he's confident in what he's able to do. He doesn't change what he does. It's a good feeling when he goes out there."
Freshman Sean Martens (2-0) allowed one hit, walked one and struck out three over three innings of relief for the victory. He worked out of a two-on, none-out jam in the sixth inning after relieving starter Nick Deeg.
Deeg allowed three runs on five hits, struck out four and walked two over five innings.
Wichita State seized a 3-0 lead with a run in the second inning and two in the fourth.
The Chippewas got one back in the fifth on an Alex Borglin one-out RBI single, then scored twice in the sixth to tie it. Nick Regnier singled in a run and stole home on a double steal.
Logan Regnier finished with two hits to lead CMU at the plate.
