Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewa Baseball Opens Spring Break Against Purdue
3/1/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
SETTING THE SCENE
The Central Michigan baseball team will open its Spring Break trip on Friday in DeLand, Fla. Against Purdue in the Chippewas' first of three games in the Stetson Invitational.
CMU is also scheduled to play the host Hatters and Virginia Tech at the invitational. The Chippewas will play play five more games in Florida before returning to Mount Pleasant for their home opener, scheduled for March 13 against Lawrence Tech at Theunissen Stadium.
The Chippewas are slated to play a three-game series with South Florida in Tampa on March 9-11. They are scheduled to take on Seton Hall on March 6 in Kissimmee, Fla. and will play Virginia Tech for a second time on March 7.
THE ROTATION
Friday, CMU's Michael Brettell (1-1, 13.00 ERA) vs. Gareth Stroh (1-0, 2.61); Saturday, Pat Leatherman (0-2, 5.91) vs. Jack Perkins (1-1, 5.73); Sunday, left-hander Tyler Hankins (0-1,6.97) vs. TBA.
LAST TIME OUT
The Chippewas finished 0-3-1 in a four-game series at New Mexico last weekend. The played played a 6-6 10-inning tie in the final game of the series. The Lobos won the opener, 20-9; and then took game two, 6-0; and game three, 8-7.
THE LEADERS
Redshirt freshman Griffin Lockwood-Powell is hitting .500 (10 for 20) to lead the Chippewa hitters. Junior Evan Kratt is hitting .407, while sophomore Zach Heeke checks in at .230.
WHO'S HOT
• Junior Daniel Robinson had eight hits, including three for extra bases, in 19 at-bats last weekend at New Mexico, raising his average to .242.
• Leatherman, a junior right-hander, has yet to walk a batter in 10 2/3 innings pitched.
• Heeke has been hit by a pitch five times, which ranks 15th in the nation.
• Lockwood-Powell lead sthe Chippewas with a .600 on-base percentage. He ranks 24th nationally in that category.
SCOUTING
Purdue (6-1) finished 3-1 at the Alamo Irish Classic in San Antonio last weekend. The Boilermakers defeated Saint Louis and Incarnate Word, and a split two games with Notre Dame.
Stetson (6-1) took two of three last weekend at home from George Washington.
Virginia Tech (3-5) went 2-2 last weekend at the University of New Orleans Tournament. The Hokies defeated Ball State and Radford, and lost to Iowa and to New Orleans.
