Central Michigan University
Missouri State
Chippewas Take Series From Missouri State
3/26/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Central Michigan struck for six runs in the first two innings and three Chippewa pitchers combined to hold the fort Sunday as CMU defeated Missouri State, 7-4, on a cold and rainy afternoon at Theunissen Stadium.
The Chippewas won two of three from the Bears to claim their second consecutive weekend series. Last weekend, CMU (10-13) won three of four at Northwestern.
"The thing in that clubhouse now is there should be an excitement to continue to get better," CMU coach Steve Jaksa said. "We can do some things and I think there's some guys who continue to get better because they're starting to have a little confidence and understanding about what they need to do be successful.
"They've got a lot of guys back from last year's club which was a top-20 club at one point. We feel really good about how we finished the weekend."
Pat Leatherman (2-3) started and notched the win, his first since Feb. 24. The sophomore right-hander allowed one run on three hits, struck out six and walked two over five innings.
He threw 97 pitches and stranded six baserunners. He surrendered his only run in the third, but worked out of a base-loaded jam to end the frame.
"Patrick's been competing," Jaksa said. "That was a real good start for him getting back to where was previously.
"You've got to know how to pitch with a lead. You don't want to let ease themselves back in the game. They had a couple situations where if they get a hit they can get a little closer, and he didn't give them that hit. He made some really good pitches. Pat's been through that before, he's got that experience."
Daniel Jipping hit a two-run homer to the scoreboard over the wall in right-center field to give the Chippewas a 2-0 lead in the first inning. It was Jipping's team-leading fourth homer of the season.
CMU added four runs in the second, the big blow was Jason Sullivan's two-run double. Dazon Cole added an RBI double in the seventh for CMU.
Michael Brettell went 3 1/3 innings in relief of Leatherman, and Colton Bradley came on to shut the door in the ninth when the Bears made a game of it by scoring three times. Bradley got the final two out - a strikeout and a flyball - with two runners in scoring position and the batter representing the potential tying run.
"I thought we pitched it well, it was a really good defensive day," said Jaksa, whose team did not commit an error in the final two games of the series. "We jumped on them early and then our pitching set the tone the rest of the way. I thought all three guys who pitched pitched really well."
Cole finished with three hits and Sullivan had two to lead CMU's 10-hit attack.
Missouri State starter Doug Still (2-1) took the loss. He allowed six runs, two earned, over five innings while striking out seven and walking two. Jake Lochner and Alex Moore pitched in relief. The Bears are 15-8.
The Chippewas go to Michigan on Wednesday for a nonconference game, then entertain Miami (Ohio) in a three-game series next weekend at Theunissen Stadium. It is CMU's Mid-American Conference opener.
"Our guys played really hard," Jaksa said. "You've got to believe in yourself a little bit, and I think if we continue to play with that type of that attitude and the will and the want - expect to win by how you play and understand how hard you have to play every day to get the result that you want."
