Central Michigan University
Stephen F. Austin
Chippewas Close Opening Weekend With A Win
2/18/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
EDINBURG, Texas - Zach Heeke had three hits and Evan Kratt drove in three runs on Sunday as the Central Michigan baseball team closed its season-opening weekend with a 10-8 victory over Stephen F. Austin in Texas-Rio Grande Valley Al Ogletree Classic at UTRGV's Edinburg Stadium.
The Chippewas (2-2) return to action on Thursday, Feb. 22, when they open a four-game series at New Mexico.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Kratt's two-run double highlighted a four-run seventh inning that put the Chippewas in front, 10-3.
The Lumberjacks got four back in the eighth to cut it to 10-7 and then, in the top of the ninth, CMU closer Colton Bradley issued four consecutive two-out walks, the fourth of which forced in a run and brought Stephen F. Austin to within 10-8.
Dazon Cole relieved Bradley with the bases loaded, and got the final out on a fly ball. It was Cole's first career save.
PITCHING
Sophomore left-hander Cam Brown, who relieved CMU starter Zach Kohn in the fifth inning, earned the win, his first as a Chippewa. Brown allowed six runs (five earned) on three hits, while walking two and striking out five.
Kohn allowed one run on one hit over four innings. He struck out five and walked three.
LEADERS
• CMU leadoff man Zach Gilles, a sophomore, doubled and scored two runs and finished the four games in Edinburg with six hits, including three doubles, in 18 at-bats. He hit his first career homer in Friday's 7-6 10-inning win over UTRGV and he scored seven runs in CMU's four games.
• After going hitless in CMU's first two game, Heeke had a combined five hits over CMU's last two games on the trip. He finished with five hits in nine at-bats, and drove in five runs. He also reached base nine other times - five when he was hit by a pitch, and four when he walked. His on base percentage is .778.
• Kratt, who on Sunday became CMU's third starting catcher in the four-game road trip, hit .500 (5 for 10) over the weekend with four RBI. He also walked five times and was hit by a pitch three times. Griffin Lockwood-Powell and Blake Cleveland also started behind the plate for CMU during the weekend.
GOOD START
Lockwood-Powell, a redshirt freshman, also played first base and served as the designated hitter throughout the weekend. He was 6 for 11 with three RBI and walked four times.
PLATE PATIENCE
The Chippewas finished the weekend with 42 free passes. They were issued 29 walks and were hit by pitches 13 times. By comparison, CMU pitching walked 17 and hit five opposing batters.
DEFENSE
CMU committed three errors on Sunday after committing just one in the first three games of the classic.
