Central Michigan University
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Western Michigan
Chippewas Drop Series Opener, 2-1
5/19/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - The Central Michigan baseball team couldn't capitalize on its chances Friday, dropping a 2-1 decision to Western Michigan in the opener of a three-game Mid-American Conference series at Theunissen Stadium.
Game two is Friday at 3:05 p.m. and the finale is Saturday at 2:05 p.m. The Chippewas, who had won eight of their last 10 games, are 19-35 overall, 10-12 MAC. Western is 18-29, 11-11.
Western Michigan used a single, a walk and a hit batsman to load the bases in the top of the ninth. Tanner Allison delivered a two-out, two-run pinch-hit single to break a scoreless tie.
The Chippewas got one back in the ninth on a Jason Sullivan RBI groundout. They stranded the potential tying run at second.
Three times CMU stranded a runner at third and another time had a base runner picked off at third for the final out of the inning.
"In some cases we made the game harder than it needed to be today," CMU coach Steve Jaksa said. "When you do that it makes it a little bit tougher to swallow."
Nick Deeg (2-7) will start for the Chippewas on Friday against Derek Schneider (0-6) in a battle of left-handers.
"We've got to bounce back tomorrow and we have to have a good approach (at the plate)," Jaksa said. "If we don't have a good approach he's going to give us trouble. If we have a good approach I think we'll be in good shape.
"At this time of year you need to pitch and play defense. Hopefully we'll continue to do that and we'll get things straightened around offensively by tomorrow."
Jacob Piechota (9-3) got the win on Thursday in relief of Keegan Akin. Piechota allowed one run on two hits over three innings. Jake Bartels earned the save, his fifth.
Jordan Grosjean (3-4) took the loss in relief of Sean Renzi. Grosjean went the final two innings, striking out three, walking one and surrendering four hits.
Renzi struck out four and allowed three hits over seven innings.
Jason Sullivan and Ryan Heeke both tripled to lead CMU at the plate.
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