Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
Kent State
Big Inning Costly To Chippewas
4/7/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Kent State scored eight runs in the seventh inning to break a 0-0 tie on Saturday en route to an 11-3 victory over Central Michigan in a Mid-American Conference baseball game at Keilitz Field at Theunissen Stadium.
The teams are scheduled to close the three-game set with a doubleheader on Sunday (12:05 p.m.). The Chippewas are 9-19-1, 4-3 MAC; Kent State is 16-9, 5-2.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Golden Flashes sent 12 men to the plate in the seventh inning, getting five singles - two of which were bloopers that found grass -- a hit batsman, and two walks and taking advantage of a balk and a passed ball in building an 8-0 lead.
The inning ended what was unfolding as a pitchers' duel between CMU's Pat Leatherman and Joey Murray.
AT THE PLATE
Daniel Robinson and Blake Cleveland had two hits apiece for the Chippewas, and Chase Rollin doubled.
The Golden Flashes collected 13 hits off of five CMU pitchers. Josh Hollander had three hits and drove in three runs to lead Kent State at the plate.
ON THE MOUND
Leatherman (1-4) allowed four runs on seven hits and struck out 10 over six innings. He had surrendered just two hits before the seventh, when he faced four batters without recording an out.
Jack Collins, Logan Buczkowski, Cam Miller and Jordan Patty each pitched in relief for CMU.
Murray (4-1) held CMU to two hits over six innings. He struck out 10 and walked one. John Schreiber went the final three innings in relief.
SPECIAL DAY
The Chippewas celebrated two of the iconic names in its long and storied baseball history on Saturday in retiring the uniform numbers of former coaches Dean Kreiner (No. 33) and Dave Keilitz (No. 34). In addition, CMU renamed the facility Keilitz Field at Theunissen Stadium in honor of the Keilitz family.
More than 100 former players, alumni, supporters and university officials turned out for the event.
CMU coach Steve Jaksa pitched for the Chippewas in the 1970s when Keilitz was the head coach and Kreiner was the pitching coach.
"I played for them so it means so very much," Jaksa said. "They were instrumental in helping to bring me back here (to coach). There's nothing better than coaching here at Central Michigan University and them setting the standard for all of us who have come after. It's an honor for me and a tremendous privilege to be here. For those guys, and the legacy that they created, it was so fitting that their numbers are retired and the field is named after the Keilitz family. Just a tremendous thing."
COACH Steve Jaksa
"(Leatherman) had to pitch it really well and he did. Going into the seventh we knew he was at 92 pitches so that's right about that number. He handcuffed the first guy and the second guy hit a groundball right up the middle, so that ends up putting them at first and third. And then momentum changes a little bit and we already knew he was on some fumes there. He pitched very, very well. Zero-zero going into the seventh, you've got a good ballgame going."
"He turned it over to the bullpen and we just couldn't quite get it going there today. We've been throwing the ball really well in there and today we didn't throw it very well that inning and that inning got away from us. Too many to spot them in the seventh inning."
