Central Michigan University
Eastern Michigan
CMU Bats Remain Red-Hot
4/11/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Cullen Maksimowski, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.- The Central Michigan baseball team continued its offensive dominance Saturday as it hammered Eastern Michigan, 18-3, to take game two of the three-game Mid-American Conference series at Theunissen Stadium.
The Chippewas, 23-13, 9-2 MAC, will look to sweep the series on Sunday at Theunissen at 1:05 p.m. Eastern Michigan is 13-21, 4-7.
CMU tallied season highs in hits (20) and runs. It marked the fourth consecutive game -- all wins -- that CMU has scored at least 12 runs. The Chippewas' 16 runs and 18 hits in Friday's series opener were their season highs, until Saturday.
"We just swung the bat really well again today," CMU coach Steve Jaksa said. "It was a continuation of what we have been doing these past few games, and that's really tough to do."
Central Michigan turned it into a rout early, scoring 14 runs through the first three innings.
Eastern Michigan starter Jake Andrews lasted just two innings and was removed from the game after taking a line drive to his head. He was hospitalized for evaluation.
"It's tough when you see that happen, it just makes you nervous," Jaksa said. "Hopefully it's just a concussion because it could have been a lot worse from where it hit him. We wish him well and I'm going to call their coach tonight and see how he's doing."
Alex Borglin had four hits and Logan Regnier and Joe Houlihan drove in five runs apiece to lead the Chippewas. Among Houlihan's three hits was a three-run homer.
Zack Fields homered in his second consecutive game for the Chippewas, while Pat MacKenzie also had three hits.
Sean Renzi (1-1) survived a rocky start to earn the victory in his first start for the Chippewas after making the move from the bullpen.
Renzi walked three in the first inning, but settled down to go six innings. He allowed two runs on two hits while striking out six. He only issued one free pass after the first inning.
"He settled in real nicely for us," Jaksa said of Renzi, a junior right-hander. "Sean has always had real good stuff and I think after he was able to get out of that first inning and then we exploded offensively, I think that helped him out."
Conner Kelly worked the final three innings in relief of Renzi. He allowed one run on four hits while striking out one and walking one for his first save.
