Central Michigan University
Miami (Oh)
Borglin Delivers In The Clutch Again
5/15/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Another solid pitching performance, another Alex Borglin clutch triple, another win.
Borglin's two-out, two-run triple in the seventh inning broke a 1-1 tie Sunday and lifted the Central Michigan baseball team to a 3-1 Mid-American Conference victory over Miami (Ohio) at Theunissen Stadium.
The Chippewas improved to 18-34, 10-11 MAC and clinched a spot in the league tournament. They play host to Michigan State on Tuesday (4:05 p.m.) in a non-league game, then close the regular season with a three-game MAC home series against Western Michigan beginning on Thursday.
Borglin, a junior first baseman, gave the Chippewas a walk-off win with his 11th-inning RBI triple in Saturday's 4-3 victory over the RedHawks (23-26, 12-9).
On Sunday, he drilled a Zach Spears fastball to the gap in right-center field, the same spot to which his game-winning triple went on Saturday.
"I was looking to drive one," said Borglin, who belted a two-ball, one-strike pitch. "He gave me a good pitch to hit. Pretty much put the same swing on it as I did yesterday."
Redshirt freshman Patrick Leatherman (1-4) picked up his first victory of the season, allowing one run on five hits over seven innings. He struck out seven and walked two. Freshman Michael Brettell allowed one walk over the final two innings for his first career save.
"Pat's been in some really tough, hard-nosed games where he's pitched really, really well and just didn't get a decision," CMU coach Steve Jaksa said. "Today Pat got the W and he deserved it."
The Chippewas, who did not commit an error, made at least a half dozen standout defensive plays. Borglin made two over-the-shoulder grabs on popups down the right field line, and left fielder Daniel Jipping snagged two fly balls, one backing into the wall, the other going to his knees on a sinking line drive.
"I had great defense behind me, so that helped a ton," Leatherman said. "Feels good to get the first one out of the way for me and go in to a Western weekend.
"I think we'd all like to go out there and get wins every single day. I definitely go in with that mentality every game. If anything it's fueled me to work harder every day to try to get better."
Spears (1-7) surrendered three runs on five hits over 6 2/3 innings. He walked four and struck out six.
CMU broke the ice in the fourth when Jipping tripled and scored on an Adam Collins single.
Miami tied it in the fifth when Spencer Dull doubled, took third on a wild pitch and scored on a safety squeeze. Leatherman, however, limited the damage by retiring Ross Haffey and Gary Russo, the RedHawks' No. 3 and No. 4 hitters, respectively, on a foul popup and a fly out.
Borglin extended his hitting streak to 16 games, raising his average from .241 to .291. He is hitting .394 during his streak.
"Relaxing at the plate," Borglin said in explaining his surge. "I made a couple adjustments after the first couple of weeks. I was coming off the ball a lot, my hands were in a bad spot. I think those are the two biggest things that I've been doing pretty consistently and that's helped a lot."
The Chippewas have won seven of their last nine games, a stretch that began with a 3-2 victory in the final game of a three-game set two weeks ago at Eastern Michigan.
During its last nine games, CMU is hitting .303 with runners in scoring position, its pitching staff has posted a 3.35 earned run average, and it has won three of four one-run games.
"We're playing a certain way and we're playing in a pretty good stretch," Jaksa said. "We're winning these tough games and that's what you have to do. You've got to figure out a way to stay in them, and you've got to figure out a way to win them.
"Guys have got to believe in themselves and guys have got to step up like we've talked about and get big hits and get on base. Borgie's big hit only comes because somebody got on base."
