Central Michigan University
Bowling Green
Chippewas Make It 2 Straight Over Bowling Green
4/28/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Another solid mound performance, another win.
Freshman left-hander Brandon Reed pitched out of two jams over three innings in relief on Saturday as the Central Michigan baseball team downed Bowling Green, 4-3, in a Mid-American Conference game at Keilitz Field at Theunissen Stadium.
It was the Chippewas' third consecutive win and it lifted them to 18-23-1, 10-7 MAC. CMU can complete the series sweep over the Falcons on Sunday (1:05 p.m.).
CMU is 16-8 in its last 24 games after a 2-15-1 start to the season.
"I think we're trying to develop a little bit of toughness, a little bit of confidence sprinkled in there too ... and a little bit of determination that we're going to accomplish something," CMU coach Steve Jaksa said. "You do it one game at a time, one day at a time. You talk about turning a corner; today's a corner, tomorrow will be a another one. We've just got to keep going, keep playing. Today wasn't an easy day, it never is in this conference."
ON THE MOUND
Michael Brettell (5-4) started and went six innings for the win. He surrendered three runs on nine hits, walked two and struck out four. Reed surrendered two hits, walked one and struck out two for his second save.
The Chippewas played error-free defense.
"Great performance by Reed on top of a really good performance by Brettell," Jaksa said. "We got a W because we played defense and we pitched it really well and we go into (Sunday) with an opportunity. We've got to take advantage of it.
"They fought. Bowling Green, they're going to fight. They always have. They fought right to the end. Really good win for us."
Bowling Green starter Ben Beutel (0-1) went 4 2/3 innings in taking the loss.
AT THE PLATE
Zavier Warren and Blake Cleveland had two hits apiece to lead CMU's 10-hit attack.
Randy Righter had four hits for Bowling Green, which finished with 11 hits and stranded 11 baserunners.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Chippewas broke a 2-2 tie with two runs in the fifth inning.
Jacob Crum delivered a one-out RBI double and then scored on an Evan Kratt single.
After Bowling Green drew to 4-3 with a run in the sixth, and then Reed came on with a runner at second and none out in the seventh.
Reed walked the first batter he faced, but then got three straight outs - a popup and two fly balls -- to work out of the inning. The Falcons got a pair of singles in the ninth, but Reed again worked out of it, getting a strikeout to end the game.
