Central Michigan University
Saint Mary's
CMU Pitching Walks 15 In Loss To St. Mary's
2/26/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
PHOENIX - Central Michigan pitching issued 15 walks Friday as the Chippewas fell to St. Mary's (Calif.), 15-4, in CMU's second game at the Grand Canyon University Classic.
CMU (0-5) plays Grand Canyon on Saturday (8 p.m.) and closes the Classic on Sunday (1 p.m.) against Tennessee. The Chippewas opened the event on Thursday with a 5-4 loss to the host Antelopes.
CMU starter Sean Renzi (0-2) allowed seven runs on five hits, walked seven and struck out five over 2 2/3 innings in taking the loss.
Jason Gamble, Brady Williams and Connor Kelly each took a turn in relief for CMU, which surrendered 12 hits.
"We just have to get better in a few areas," CMU coach Steve Jaksa said. "It's not going to be any one thing, not something that we can put a paint brush to and paint over. Several areas today we needed to be better in."
The Chippewas finished with nine hits, but hit into four double plays. Starter Corbin Burnes (1-0) surrendered one run on three hits while striking out eight and walking three over six innings for the victory.
"We didn't do a lot against their starter," Jaksa said. "We had a couple opportunities, but we hit into a couple double plays. That took us out of a couple innings.
"In order to get crooked numbers up there we've got to get more hits and not hit into double plays in those situations."
St. Mary's (5-1) scored six runs in the third inning to take a 7-0 lead. The Gaels led 12-1 after six innings.
Morgan Oliver hit a two-run homer and Zach McKinstry had three hits including a double to pace CMU at the plate. Jarrod Watkins added two hits.
The Chippewas will send junior Nick Deeg to the mound on Saturday against Grand Canyon sophomore Jake Repavich in a battle of left-handers. The Antelopes (3-2) were scheduled to play Tennessee late Friday night.
