Central Michigan University
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Western Michigan
Grand Slam, Complete Game Highlight Win Over Western
4/15/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Heroes Day at Theunissen Stadium.
Robert Greenman put the cape on early. Tyler Hankins took it from there.
Greenman's first-inning grand slam sparked the Chippewas to a 10-4 Mid-American Conference victory on Saturday over rival Western Michigan. The win, on a day that the Chippewas honored first responders, law enforcement and firefighters in a pre-game ceremony, gave the Chippewas the series win.
CMU, which won Friday's series opener, 7-5, is 19-15, 8-0 MAC. Western is 13-17, 3-8. The finale is Sunday at 1:05 p.m.
"I'm really just about (Sunday) and we have a chance to be greedy and get a sweep," CMU coach Steve Jaksa said. "That's going to be our focus. Our mission is to get tomorrow's game and play like we have the first two. Go out there and compete like that and put ourselves in the best position to win because they're going to do everything they can to get out of here (with a win)."
Greenman, a senior catcher, turned on the first pitch he saw from Western starter Jimmy Townsend-Chase (1-2) and lifted a high fly ball down the left field line. The ball got up in the brisk breeze and cleared the foul pole for his fourth home run of the season and first career grand slam.
"It just happened," Greenman said. "I put a good swing on it and it got up there and got out."
The Chippewas collected just seven hits off six Bronco pitchers, but they took advantage of eight walks, three hit batsmen, and several Western miscues. The Chippewas scored one run on a wild pitch, another on a balk, and the Broncos committed two costly errors.
Western broke through immediately against Hankins (4-0), a lanky 6-foot-9 freshman left-hander who threw his second complete game of the season. The Broncos used three hits, including two doubles, in seizing a 2-0 lead in the top of the first.
But Hankins settled in after that, and the Broncos' other two runs came on solo homers to left, both undoubtedly aided by the strong wind.
"Once he got the ball down, his ball moves a lot," said Greenman, the Chippewa catcher. "It's hard to drive the ball if it's down. They usually just pound it into the ground.
"He's not very overpowering, but everything he throws moves. It's pretty hard to a 6-10, 6-11 guy. He's that much closer to the plate. He's got some long levers and he's got some different angles that hitters aren't used to seeing."
Hankins walked one, struck out four, and surrendered 12 hits. The Chippewas turned three double plays behind him.
Greenman's slam put the Chippewas ahead, 4-2, and they never trailed. Western drew to 5-4 heading into the bottom of the sixth, when CMU scored three runs to increase its advantage to 8-4. The runs came on a wild pitch, a balk and a groundout.
Jason Sullivan and Daniel Robinson finished with two hits apiece to lead CMU at the plate.
Greenman, who is in his second year as CMU's everyday catcher, is hitting .448 (13-for-29) in his last 12 games. He has hit three home runs and driven in 13 runs in that stretch. He is hitting .307 on the season after batting .246 a year ago.
"I think it's just being here four years, trusting your approach, swinging at better pitches," Greenman said. "Not swinging at the pitcher's pitches, trying to get your pitch and trying to drive it. "
Sophomore right-hander Pat Leatherman (4-3) is scheduled to start Sunday's finale for the Chippewas against right-hander Kyle Mallwitz (4-1). Leatherman's earned run average is 4.91. He is 3-0 with a 0.47 ERA in his last three starts.
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