Central Michigan University
Toledo
Pitching, Defense Deliver Series-Opening Win For Chippewas
5/12/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
TOLEDO, Ohio - Leatherman and Leather Men.
Pat Leatherman went eight strong innings and got stellar error-free defensive backing Friday as the Central Michigan baseball team topped Toledo, 4-1, in the opener of a three-game Mid-American Conference series at the Rockets' Scott Park.
The Chippewas improved to 27-22, 14-5 MAC and extended their lead in the West Division to three games over Ball State, which is playing Western Carolina in a nonconference series this weekend.
CMU entered the day two games behind East-leading Kent State for the overall lead in the MAC. The Golden Flashes were scheduled to play Miami (Ohio) on Friday night.
Leatherman (6-4), a sophomore right-hander, was superb in allowing five hits, striking out five and walking two. He threw 100 pitches, 71 of them for strikes, in the longest outing of his career.
He improved to 4-1 with a 2.05 earned run average in his last eight starts.
"Lot of good things," CMU coach Steve Jaksa said. "We played good defense. It's the consistency of what we're trying to do and he's been consistent. Hopefully he'll be able to stay there because this is what you have to have on Fridays."
The Chippewas gave Leatherman the early lead when Daniel Jipping doubled to lead off the second inning, took third on an Evan Kratt bunt, and scored on Robert Greenman's sacrifice fly.
CMU added another run in the third when Zach Gilles singled, stole second and took third on an Alex Borglin double. Gilles scored on a Jason Sullivan safety squeeze.
The Rockets (14-35, 7-12) got one back in the fourth when Ross Adolph tripled and scored on a Michael Ryan single.
Leatherman allowed just one hit, a seventh-inning single, the rest of the way.
CMU took advantage of three Toledo errors to add two insurance runs in the eighth, and Colton Bradley set the Rockets down in order in the ninth for his 10th save. Bradley ranks second in the league in saves behind Ohio's Jake Roehn.
Borglin, Dazon Cole and Gilles led CMU with two hits apiece. Greenman finished with two RBI, both on sacrifice flies, and Evan Kratt picked up an RBI with an eighth-inning safety squeeze.
The Chippewas made several outstanding defensive plays, most notably a diving catch by Gilles in center field and several by the keystone combination of Borglin (shortstop) and Sullivan (second base).
"Gilles made a really, really nice diving catch -- big catch for us and that keeps things on our side," said Jaksa, whose team had lost its last two MAC series openers. "Sullie made a couple nice plays, Borgie made a couple nice plays.
"Just good solid defense and (Leatherman) pitched it well. Workmanlike efficient game. Pitching and defense, those will always keep you in the game. Got back to winning game one. That was a good W for us."
Toledo starter Steven Calhoun (3-5) went eight innings in taking the loss. He allowed six hits, walked four and struck out two.
Game two of the series is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. Saturday. Freshman left-hander Tyler Hankins (5-1) will start for the Chippewas against Sam Shutes (2-6).
