Central Michigan University
Oakland
Bash At The Clash
4/26/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
DETROIT - Big hits, and a number of them, and another win for the Central Michigan baseball team.
Daniel Robinson hit a two-run homer and Griffin Lockwood-Powell delivered a three-run double to highlight an eight-run third inning Wednesday as the Chippewas rolled to a 16-3 nonconference victory over Oakland in the Chippewas' annual Clash at Comerica.
The win, CMU's second in as many days over the Grizzlies, lifted the Chippewas to 16-23-1. They entertain Bowling Green in a Mid-American Conference series at Keilitz Field at Theunissen Stadium beginning on Friday.
"We chatted about that, how you want to play and what we want to accomplish and taking care of the guy next to you," CMU coach Steve Jaksa said after his team's 13-hit performance. "That's what a team does, they take care of the guy next to you in every situation. If he's down I've got to pick him up. It's how you pitch, how you play defense.
"For me it's the ability now to turn the page. We're going to enjoy tonight and turn the page tomorrow and get ready to play Bowling Green. They're not going to give it to us. Bowling Green's had some quality wins and we've got to do our part, be ready to play, and I think we will be. I think we feel good, but at the same time it's not about feeling good, it's about being ready to play the next day."
AT THE PLATE
Evan Kratt had four this and Blake Cleveland Zach Gilles had two apiece to lead the Chippewas.
But the hit that had everybody buzzing was Robinson's two-run shot to straight-away right field that landed some seven rows into the stands. It was the junior outfielder's second round-tripper of the season and it pushed CMU's lead to 11-2 after three innings.
"It was a good swing and I think he's capable of putting good swings on the ball," Jaksa said. "From a confidence standpoint, yeah, of course it was good. I'm a coach I want to see how your next at-bat goes. Can you settle back in? You've got eight guys to get yourself ready for your next at-bat because they're going to pitch you different and you need to be the same kind of hitter as you were when you hit the home run.
"He was on time, that was good, he's capable of doing that. I just want him to have a quality at-bat every time. Wasn't trying to hit a home run. Those will take care of themselves. You don't have to swing hard, you don't have to do anything special, you just have to put a good swing on it and that's what he did. He's got a little bit of power."
The Chippewas scored at least one run in seven of their eight turns at bat.
SERIES SWEEP
The win gave the Chippewas a sweep of their three games with Oakland this season. They outscored the Grizzlies (11-25) by a combined 48-16.
ON THE MOUND
CMU starter Dazon Cole (1-5) went three innings on a staff day for his first win of the year. He allowed two runs on six hits, walked two and struck out two.
Freshman Jordan Patty, the first of three Chippewa relievers, was outstanding over three innings, his longest outing of his brief collegiate career. He allowed just one hit and struck out five.
Jake Raether and Tyler Brown also pitched in relief.
DEFENSE
The Chippewas played error-free defense for the second straight game and for the third time in their last four.
