Central Michigan University
Ohio
Walk-Off Win Clinches MAC Tournament Berth
5/17/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Central Michigan did all of its scoring in the ninth inning on Thursday in taking a dramatic 3-2 walk-off victory from Ohio in the opener of a three-game Mid-American Conference baseball series at Keilitz Field at Theunissen Stadium.
The win lifted CMU to 14-11 in the MAC and clinched a berth in the league tournament next week in Avon, Ohio. Game two of the series is scheduled for Friday at 3:05 p.m. and the finale is set for Saturday at 2:05 p.m.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Chippewas (24-28-1) got three consecutive one-out singles in the ninth to load the bases, and then pinch hitter David Cole singled to cut Ohio's lead to 2-1.
Jordan Patty then brought in the tying run with a ground ball. With two out, left-handed hitting Zach Heeke beat out an infield hit to the hole at shortstop and Ty Rollin scampered home with the winning run, touching off a mob-scene celebration surrounding Heeke.
"It was a great win for us and the guys," CMU coach Steve Jaksa said. "We got five hits in the ninth and you know what? We needed every single one of them.
"How about David Cole? Pinch hit, fouling off two or three pitches, and he laces one to left field to get our first run. You talk about clutch coming off the bench and getting that hit in that situation. … Zach Heeke's been really good the last few weeks now. We're very confident with where he's at and the job he's doing for us."
ON THE MOUND
Jack Collins (5-1) earned the win in relief of starter Dazon Cole. Cole, who drew the start in place of the injured Pat Leatherman, allowed two runs on six hits, walked two and struck out seven over six innings.
Collins, a junior left-hander, stuck out five. The lone Ohio baserunner over Collins' three-inning stint reached on catcher's interference.
"Dazon probably threw his best game," Jaksa said. "He's been in all kinds of roles for us and giving us that kind of an outing today was really what we needed. And Jack came in and was just - they weren't going to score anymore is all I can say."
Ohio starter Gerry Salisbury (4-7) struck out two, walked one and surrendered 10 hits over 8 1/3 innings. Jake Roehn relieved Salisbury in the ninth. The Bobcats are 21-30.
AT THE PLATE
Jacob Crum and Blake Cleveland had three hits apiece to lead CMU's 11-hit attack. Jason Sullivan and Heeke added two hits apiece.
DEFENSIVE GEM
Crum, the CMU center fielder, made the defensive play of the game - and one of the best turned in by a Chippewa this season - when he made a diving catch in the gap in right-center in the sixth inning.
CHIPPEWA NOTES
• The game was the third consecutive in which Heeke has batted leadoff. He is nine for 15 with his first career home run, has scored three runs, and driven in six in that role.
• It was Cleveland's first career three-hit game.
• It marked the second time in three games that Crum has collected three hits. He is seven for his last 14 (.500) and has posted multi-games in five of his last eight starts.
• CMU's Daniel Robinson went hitless in four at-bats, ending his hit streak at 14 games.
• Collins has surrendered just three earned runs in his last eight appearances. His is 3-0 with a 1.23 earned run average and one save in that stretch.
CELEBRATIONS
The Chippewas will honor their two seniors, Colton Bradley and Braxton Markle, in a pre-game ceremony on Friday.
On Saturday, CMU will commemorate Jaksa's 500th career victory in a pregame ceremony. Jaksa became the sixth coach in MAC history to reach that milestone when the Chippewas won at Miami (Ohio) last Friday. Saturday also marks the Chippewas' Alumni Day.
