Central Michigan University
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Western Michigan
Chippewas Drop Series Finale At Western
4/22/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Western Michigan took advantage of sloppy Central Michigan defense on Sunday in handing the Chippewas a 5-2 loss in the finale of a three-game Mid-American Conference baseball series at the Robert J. Bobb Stadium at Hyames Field.
The Broncos took the series, two games to one. CMU is 14-23-1, 8-7 MAC. Western is 16-17, 6-7.
CMU plays host to Oakland on Tuesday (3:05 p.m.) at Keilitz Field at Theunissen Stadium, and then will take on the Grizzlies on Wednesday (6:35 p.m.) in the annual Clash at Comerica in Detroit.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Western led, 1-0, and then scored four runs in the third inning. A hit batsman and two errors loaded the bases and a walk forced in a run to make it 2-0. Jesse Forestell delivered a two-out three-run double to the gap in right-center to make it 5-0.
The Chippewas loaded the bases with two out in the eighth and got a run-scoring single from Evan Kratt to cut their deficit to 5-2. David Cole was thrown out trying to score from second base on the play, ending the inning and stranding two baserunners.
ON THE MOUND
Tyler Hankins (2-5) started for CMU and took the loss. He allowed five runs - just one of which was earned - on four hits, walked one and struck out four over six innings. Jack Collins pitched the final two innings in relief.
Jacob Piechota (2-5) started for Western and earned the win. He went seven innings, allowing two runs on four hits with one walk and six strikeouts. Andrew Reisinger went the final two frames for his second save.
AT THE PLATE
Kratt led CMU's eight-hit attack with two hits. Forestall had two hits for the Broncos, who collected six hits.
CMU COACH Steve Jaksa
"We played one bad inning and it cost us four runs. That's really the extent of how the game worked out. We played eight really good innings and threw the ball well for eight innings; we had one inning where they got one hit with the bases loaded after we made a couple mistakes, and that was the game and we couldn't get back. They made a nice play throwing out guy out at the plate in the eighth inning after we got a big two-out (hit). We've got to play better defense in that one inning. We hit a guy and then we made two errors on balls that we usually (handle). We battled back but fell a little bit short. It's disappointing because I thought we were ready to play and I thought we played a hell of a game for all but the one inning."
