Central Michigan University
Arkansas
Chippewas Fall In Baseball Opener
2/19/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The Central Michigan baseball team managed just two hits - both from freshman Jason Sullivan - Friday dropping its season-opener, 6-1, at 22nd-ranked Arkansas.
The Chippewas and Razorbacks will play game two of their three-game series Saturday at 3:05 p.m. at Arkansas' Baum Stadium. Friday's crowd of 9,620 was an Arkansas opening-day record.
Dominic Taccolini, the Arkansas starter, allowed one hit, struck out three and walked one over seven innings for the win.
CMU starter Sean Renzi surrendered two runs on five hits over six innings in taking the loss. He struck out five and walked one.
Renzi survived the first inning, during which he threw an estimated 40 pitches, Jaksa said, yet held the Razorbacks to just one run, stranding two in scoring position.
"Renzi threw a hell of a game," CMU coach Steve Jaksa said. "I thought he pitched really well and if he continues to (pitch like) that it's going to be a good thing for us."
Arkansas, which reached the College World Series a year ago, broke a 1-1 tie with a run in the bottom of the sixth on Cullen Gassaway's one-out RBI grounder.
The Chippewas threatened in the top of the eighth when they put two on with one out, but pinch-hitter Jarrod Watkins' hard smash went for a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
The Razorbacks used a walk, two CMU errors, two hit batsmen, two hits and a wild pitch in pushing across four runs in the bottom of the eighth to give themselves from breathing room. The Chippewas committed three errors in the game.
"Our preparation was really good, our attitude was really good, we approached it like I wanted to approach the game, but at the same time it got away from us in the eighth," Jaksa said. "Felt really good about how we played overall, most of it. We clean up the defense a little bit …"
The Chippewas scratched out their run in the second inning when Logan Regnier reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and Sullivan singled him to third. Sullivan got into a rundown between first and second base, allowing Regnier to race home and cross the plate before Sullivan was tagged for the third out of the inning.
Taccolini, a junior right-hander, retired 13 consecutive Chippewas at one point and set CMU down in order in five of his seven innings on the mound.
"He was a sinker-ball guy," Jaksa said. "He was in the (strike) zone. We didn't have many good swings against him. We've got to continue to be disciplined in our approach against a guy like that.
Jaksa will send junior left-hander Nick Deeg to the mound for Saturday's 3:05 p.m. game. Arkansas will counter with freshman right-hander Blaine Knight.
"I think the guys know we're a good team," Jaksa said. "We need to play well and not press. We're in a good place. Lot of positives in there.
"If we want to be a top team then we have to beat other top teams."
