Central Michigan University
Toledo
Chippewas Fall; Series With Toledo Even At 1-1
5/13/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
TOLEDO, Ohio - Central Michigan pitching surrendered three home runs on Saturday in falling to Toledo, 11-7, in a Mid-American Conference baseball game at the Rockets' Scott Park.
The loss, which evened the series at a game apiece, dropped CMU to 27-23, 14-6 MAC. The West-leading Chippewas are 2 ½ games ahead of second-place Ball State in the division. CMU can clinch a tie for the West crown with a win when the teams play on Sunday (1:05 p.m.).
Alex Borglin had three hits and drove in three runs, and Nick Stokowski hit his second career homer to lead CMU at the plate.
Both teams finished with 14 hits. CMU committed three errors, breaking a streak of eight consecutive games in which it had committed one or zero fielding miscues.
Toledo broke a 3-3 tie with two runs in the fifth inning and never trailed after that. The Rockets got an RBI triple from Brad Boss and then a run-scoring groundout to seize a 5-3 lead.
Stokowski homered leading off the eighth inning for the Chippewas, who added two more runs on a Borglin single in the frame to draw to 8-7. But the Rockets struck for three runs - a solo homer and a two-run shot off Jordan Grosjean -- in the bottom of the eighth to put the game away.
CMU starter Tyler Hankins (5-2) took the loss, allowing three runs on six hits with one walk and two strikeouts. Michael Brettell and Braxton Markle also pitched in relief for CMU.
Jason Sullivan, Evan Kratt, Stokowski, Zach Heeke and Zach Gilles had two hits apiece for the Chippewas, who left 10 runners on base.
Sam Shutes (3-6) started for Toledo and got the win. Nate Haugh worked the final two innings for the save, his first.
Dazon Cole (2-5) is scheduled to start for the Chippewas on Sunday against Caleb Shillace (0-1).
