Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
Bowling Green
Chippewas Ride Solid Relief, 12 Hits To Victory
4/27/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Jack Collins was superb out of the bullpen and the Chippewa bats came alive with 12 hits on Friday as the Central Michigan baseball team posted an 8-4 victory over Bowling Green in the opener of a three-game Mid-American Conference series at Keilitz Field at Theunissen Stadium.
The win, CMU's third straight, lifted the Chippewas to 17-23-1, 9-7 MAC. Game two is Saturday at 2:05 p.m. The Falcons are 10-27, 5-9.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Collins relieved starter Pat Leatherman with two out in the fourth inning, and blanked the Falcons over 4 1/3 innings.
The Chippewas broke a 4-4 tie in the fourth when Zach Gilles singled and then was bunted to second by Jacob Crum. Gilles took third on a passed ball and scored on Zavier Warren's groundout to second base.
CMU tacked on single runs in each of the next three innings to pull away.
ON THE MOUND
Collins (3-1) surrendered five hits and struck out six in his longest outing of the season. He has not allowed a run in his last four outings.
He pitched out of a two-on, one-out jam in the seventh, and then pitched out of a bases-loaded none-out jam in the eighth. In both cases, he induced groundball double-play balls. The Chippewas committed just one error in the game.
"Jack came in and did a great job, and defensively we did a great job too," CMU coach Steve Jaksa said. "He gave us everything he had there, which was great, and we played really good defense behind him."
Leatherman allowed four runs on four hits, walked four and struck out five over 3 2/3 innings. He left after feeling discomfort in his arm.
"Today it was just not quite right in his arm," Jaksa said. "It was a little tight when we started and sometimes it'll loosen up after we start and sometimes it won't and that's what he has to deal with. It's tremendously frustrating for him. It just got to the point where he couldn't go."
Brandon Reed pitched the ninth for the Chippewas.
Bowling Green starter Zac Carey took the loss. He surrendered six runs on seven hits, walked two and struck out one.
AT THE PLATE
The Chippewas collected 12 hits, including four doubles. Crum, Griffin Lockwood-Powell and Jason Sullivan had two hits apiece for CMU. Warren and Evan Kratt drove in two runs apiece.
CMU COACH Steve Jaksa
"We got a win today, tomorrow we can win the series. We'll enjoy this tonight, turn the page by the morning, and get ready tomorrow. This team (Bowling Green) here is a scary team ... They're a dangerous team. They're going to come ready to play. We've got to have our A game again tomorrow."
