Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
Butler
Chippewas Get Clutch Hits In 8-3 Baseball Victory
3/9/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Daniel Jipping hit a three-run homer to highlight an 11-hit Central Michigan attack Wednesday as the Chippewas downed Butler, 8-3, in the Snowbird Baseball Classic.
The win lifted the Chippewas to 2-10. They begin the final leg of their Spring Break trip on Friday (3 p.m.) in Port Charlotte against North Dakota State.
Alex Borglin had three hits to lead CMU at the plate, while Morgan Oliver and Daniel Robinson added two apiece. Zach McKinstry, Jason Sullivan and Joe Houlihan each singled.
Blake Cleveland, Borglin, Oliver and McKinstry each picked up an RBI.
"Just looking at the leadership qualities and those things, felt really good with regard to that," CMU coach Steve Jaksa said. "Trying to develop a little team Identity and the guys are trying to understand how to take personal ownership of the team and how to move forward with that.
"Some good things that took place over the last several days. That needs to continue on Friday."
Jipping's homer came with two out in the third inning and gave CMU a 3-2 lead. The Chippewas added three runs in the third, and tacked on two more in the seventh. RBI singles by Oliver and Borglin - both with two out - gave the Chippewas their runs in the seventh.
"We had five two-out RBIs today," Jaksa said.
The Chippewas got solid relief pitching from Jimmy McNamara and Jordan Grosjean after starter Jason Gamble left after two innings. Gamble allowed two runs on six hits and struck out one.
McNamara relieved Gamble and went 2 2/3 innings. He surrendered a run on three hits while walking one. Grosjean limited the Bulldogs to one hit while striking out five over 3 1/3 innings. Sean Renzi worked the ninth.
"Both of those guys gave us valuable innings," Jaksa said of McNamara and Grosjean. "Jimmy did his job and we were able to get Grosjean in there. He pitched really well, very happy with his progress and his execution out there today. His breaking stuff was very good and his command was really good.
"We needed a couple guys to extend themselves and it worked out really well."
The Chippewas turned four double plays, including one in the bottom of the third inning with a runner at third and one out.
CMU third baseman Joe Houlihan fielded a groundball and trapped the runner in a rundown between third and home. The Chippewas tagged that runner out then Cleveland, the catcher, fired to second to get the batter/runner.
"That was a big double play because it was 3-2 with a runner at third and one out, and then we're out of the inning," Jaksa said.
Junior left-hander Nick Deeg will start for the Chippewas on Friday against North Dakota State. CMU plays Illinois State on Saturday and closes the road trip against Saint Joseph's on Sunday.
