Central Michigan University
Miami (Oh)
Chippewas Fall, Play Rubber Match On Sunday At Miami
5/12/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
OXFORD, Ohio - Parker Massman's two-out two-run single in the bottom of the fifth inning broke a 2-2 tie on Saturday as Miami (Ohio) handed Central Michigan a 4-2 loss in a Mid-American Conference game at the RedHawks' McKie Field.
The series is even at a game apiece. The teams are scheduled to play the rubber match on Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Chippewas are 13-10 in the MAC, while Miami is 14-9. The Chippewas are fourth, one game behind Miami and Ball State, which are tied for second. The top six teams in the final conference standings earn a berth to the league tournament.
CMU is 22-27-1 overall. Miami is 30-17.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Chippewas led 2-1 when Miami tied it in the fourth on Adrian Texidor's two-out RBI single. In the fifth, the RedHawks used a double, a walk and a hit batsman to load the bases and then Massman chopped a single over the head of CMU third baseman Zach Heeke to take the lead for good.
ON THE MOUND
CMU starter Michael Brettell (5-6) took the loss. He allowed four runs on nine hits, walked two and struck out three over 6 2/3 innings. Zach Kohn worked 1 1/3 innings in relief. He allowed one hit, walked two and struck out one.
Zach Spears (4-4) started and earned the victory. He surrendered two runs on seven hits over five innings. Bailey Martin went the final four frames for his first save.
AT THE PLATE
The Chippweas collected eight hits, three by Griffin Lockwood-Powell and two by Daniel Robinson.
CMU got a run in the first on an Evan Kratt RBI single and added a run in the third when Robinson scored on an error. The Chippewas left the bases loaded in the third and stranded 11 baserunners in the game.
CMU COACH Steve Jaksa
"Just a heck of a ball game. Almost exactly the same number of opportunities on both sides. They got a chopper over our third baseman's head in the fifth and we couldn't answer. … Couldn't figure out a way to get that extra hit today that would have put us in a position to tie the game. They got the hit and we didn't."
