Central Michigan University
Saint Joseph's
CMU Baseball Falls In 'Break' Finale
3/13/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - The Central Michigan baseball team managed just three hits Sunday in dropping a 5-2 decision to Saint Joseph's in the Chippewas' final game of the Snowbird Baeball Classic and of their Spring Break trip.
CMU (3-12) went 3-5 during its 10-day Florida visit. It plays at Bowling Green (6-7) in a non-league game on Tuesday, then travels to Cincinnati next weekend for a three-game series with Xavier (3-11).
"Yesterday we didn't pitch it really well coming out of the bullpen, but we hit the ball," CMU coach Steve Jaksa said in reference to the Chippewas' 13-7 loss Saturday to Illinois State. "Today we pitched it really well all the way through and couldn't muster any offense. Completely opposite days for us."
The Chippewas managed just two hits off St. Joseph's starter Tim Brennan, who walked one and struck out three over seven innings.
St. Joseph's (6-6) used a double, a bunt and a sacrifice fly to go up 1-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning.
The Hawks added a run in the seventh on two walks and an error, then made it 5-0 with a three-run eighth on a Charlie Concannon two-run single and a sacrifice fly.
CMU got two back in the ninth on a Jarrod Watkins two-run triple.
Losing pitcher Pat Leatherman (0-2) allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits while working into the seventh. He struck out five and walked two.
It was the second straight start that Leatherman, a freshman right-hander, threw six innings and allowed two runs on three hits.
"Back-to-back real good outings for Pat," Jaksa said. "Very pleased. He kept us in the game. We just could not answer today offensively.
"Today we weren't consistent top to bottom with the approach we had shown the last few games."
Jordan Grosjean and Sean Renzi pitched in relief for the Chippewas.
Jason Sullivan and Ryan Heeke singled for CMU.
Freshman Grant Wolfram will start for CMU on Tuesday at Bowling Green.
"It's a quick turnaround," Jaksa said. "That's what the season is from here on out. The ability to get better in our one or two practices a week and the ability to get better before the game, during batting practice and the things we do there."
