Central Michigan University
Bowling Green
History Made in CMU Baseball Win
4/25/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Cullen Maksimowski, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- Solid pitching, a piece of history, outstanding defense, and a career-first.
And most importantly, a bounce-back win that keeps the Central Michigan baseball atop the Mid-American Conference.
Sean Renzi continued his streak of sensational starts, closer Tim Black entered the CMU record books, the Chippewas played error-free defense, and Pat MacKenzie hit his first career home run Saturday as Central Michigan handed Bowling Green a 3-1 MAC baseball loss at Theunissen Stadium.
The win improves CMU to 28-14, 13-4 in the MAC. The Chippewas' lead is 2 ½ games over both Ball State and Kent State. The Cardinals and Golden Flashes are 10-6 in conference play and each plays a doubleheader on Sunday, Kent State at Miami (Ohio) and Ball State at home against Toledo.
Bowling Green is 15-22, 8-9. The teams play game three Sunday at 1:05 p.m. at Theunissen. The Chippewas dropped Friday's series opener, 7-2.
"I'm proud of how we battled back today," CMU coach Steve Jaksa said. " I thought we played a real heads-up game defensively and it was a much different atmosphere within the group today and we have to continue that into (Sunday)."
Sean Renzi (3-1) tossed eight innings of one-run ball for the Chippewas, marking his third consecutive strong start. The junior right-hander scattered six hits, walked one and struck out six.
"I just tried to go out there, throw strikes and really attack the zone," Renzi said. "They had some good hits but my guys made some great plays behind me and it made it easy for me."
Since earning his first start on April 11 against Eastern Michigan, Renzi is 3-0 and has allowed just three runs on nine hits while striking out 17 and walking eight in 20 innings. After Saturday's performance, his earned run average is a season-low 2.04.
"He pitched eight very good innings for us," said Jaksa. "He threw over 100 pitches and made some really crucial pitches to get himself out of trouble and it was just a great outing for him."
Senior Tim Black set the Falcons down in order in the ninth for his 10th save of the season and 19th of his career, making him CMU's all-time leader in that category. Black surpassed Bob Cavanaugh, who recorded 18 saves in a Chippewa uniform from 1983-86.
"It means a lot, there has been a lot of great pitchers come through here and it's exciting," said Black, a senior right-hander in his second year at CMU after transferring from North Iowa Area Community College. "I can't take all the credit though, the team has played great defense behind me and coach calls a great game."
CMU's Pat MacKenzie homered in the fifth inning -- the first career round-tripper for the senior second baseman -- to tie the game 1-1, then the Chippewas took the lead when Tyler Huntey walked, moved to second on a groundout, and scored on a Nick Regnier single.
The Chippewas added an insurance run on a bases-loaded groundout by Joe Houlihan in the seventh.
Zach McKinstry finished with two hits for the Chippewas, who outhit Bowling Green, 7-6.
Andrew Lacinak (2-4) allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits while walking four and striking out two over 6 1/3 innings in taking the loss.
