Central Michigan University
Northwestern
Chippewas Take Series Opener At Northwestern
3/17/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
EVANSTON, Ill. - Robert Greenman hit a two-run homer on Friday as the Central Michigan baseball team snapped a three-game losing streak with a 5-3 win over Northwestern at the Wildcats' Miller Park.
The teams continue their four-game series on Saturday with a noon doubleheader. The finale is scheduled for Sunday at 2 p.m.
Grant Frazer had three hits and Daniel Robinson and Greenman added two apiece to lead CMU's 11-hit attack on Friday. One of Robinson's hits was a triple, while one of Frazer's was a double. CMU improved to 6-10.
Greenman's home run, his first of the season, came on a two-strike pitch that he hit over the fence in left-center field in the fourth inning, extending the Chippewas' lead to 4-0.
"Greenman, both of his hits came on two-strike pitches," CMU coach Steve Jaksa said. "He had a really nice approach today. When he's locked in like that he's really good."
CMU starter Dazon Cole (1-3) went six innings for the win. He allowed two runs on eight hits, walked three and struck out two. Colton Bradley went the final three frames for the save, his second.
"He pitched well," Jaksa said of Cole. "He's going to get better as he continues on this path. He's still somewhat inconsistent - not bad, but he wants to be able to cut his walks down. When his secondary stuff gets really good, he's going to be really good. Only a couple balls were hit really hard. There was a lot of good stuff there that he can build off of."
Bradley surrendered one run on one hit, walked one and struck out two. The run came in the eighth. Bradley set down the Wildcats (4-11) in order in the ninth.
"Colton Bradley, how he competed, he took it to a higher level," Jaksa said. "Really focused on throwing the ball where he wanted to. He didn't have many misses. One-two-three in the ninth, when we talk about closing games, finishing games, those are the kinds of things you have to be able to do."
The Chippewas manufactured a run in the top of the first inning to seize a 1-0 lead. Alex Borglin was hit by a pitch leading off the inning, took second on a passed ball, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on a Daniel Jipping sacrifice fly.
CMU added a run in the third when Daniel Robinson tripled with one out and scored on a Jipping groundout. The Chippewas scored the final run in the seventh when Jipping reached on a fielder's choice, stole second, took third on an error, and scored on a wild pitch.
Pat Leatherman is slated to start game one on Saturday for the Chippewas, and freshman left-hander Tyler Hankins is scheduled to start the nightcap.
"Tomorrow you've got to get the second one," Jaksa said. "Yes this is a good win, but we have to parlay that into a win on Saturday, take the momentum you created and build off of that and get after it again tomorrow. We have to continue to grind in every at-bat."
