Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
Ohio
Chippewas Seize Early Lead In Topping Ohio
5/18/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - An early lead, solid pitching, and a defense that was good enough.
It all added up to a 5-3 win over Ohio on Friday for the Central Michigan baseball team at Keilitz Field at Theunissen Stadium.
The win, CMU's third straight, gave the Chippewas the series win. They go for the sweep on Saturday (2:05 p.m.) and then look ahead to next week's Mid-American Conference Tournament in Avon, Ohio.
CMU is 25-28-1, 15-11 MAC. Ohio is 21-31, 9-17.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Chippewas batted around, scoring four runs on four hits in the first inning and never trailed.
Michael Brettell (6-6) started and earned the win, and Brandon Reed pitched the final three innings for his third save.
"Michael threw the ball well and there were some plays on defense that we don't care for sometimes, but overall we played pretty solid defense," said CMU coach Steve Jaksa, whose team committed two errors, one in the third inning, the other in the fourth. "The guys made sure after the third, fourth inning ... it was `Hey, let's cut that off, play better defense.'
"Our pitching was really good. Brandon Reed came in, threw three quality innings after Michael. A lot of goose eggs up there on (Ohio's) side."
AT THE PLATE
Jason Sullivan had a career-high four hits to lead the Chippewas, while Zach Heeke and Daniel Robinson added two apiece.
Sophomore Zach Gilles, the Chippewas' No. 8 hitter, had a two-out, two-run single to highlight the first inning.
ON THE MOUND
Brettell, a junior right-hander, struck out three, walked one and allowed three runs on seven hits over six innings for his first win since since April 28. He was the losing pitcher in his last two starts, both of which were low-scoring affairs. In those two starts combined, he allowed six earned runs in 15 innings.
"It was good to get him a lead and play enough defense to get him out of there with a W because the last two times out he's thrown the ball really well and had tough losses," Jaksa said.
Reed, a freshman left-hander, struck out four and surrendered just one hit over the final three frames for his third save.
ALL THE RIGHT MOVES
Sullivan had four hits in four at-bats and drove in two runs in his first game in the cleanup spot, a move made necessary when the Chippewas' normal No. 4 hitter, Griffin Lockwood-Powell, left Thursday's 3-2 win with an injury.
Evan Kratt, who has also hit cleanup this season, is also out with an injury.
"We had Evan out and then Grif couldn't play," Jaksa said. "To me it was a simplistic move, no big wizard, you just slide everybody up.
"(Sullivan) hit a couple balls to right, he hit a couple balls to left, it was a good approach and he stayed on the ball better. Really a nice day for him."
Sullivan, a junior, has hit safely in 19 of his last 22 games and Friday was the 10th time this season has driven in at least two runs in a game. He leads the Chippewas in multi-RBI games.
It was the second big lineup adjustment Jaksa has made this week. He moved Heeke to the leadoff spot and Jacob Crum - who had batted leadoff for much of the season - to the No. 6 spot last Sunday at Miami (Ohio).
Heeke is 11 for 18 since moving to the top of the order, and Crum is seven for 17 since moving to the six hole. The Chippewas are 3-1 in those four games.
"Those moves have been good for our team, and at the same time they keep turning the batting order over," said Jaksa, who inserted Gilles into the No. 8 spot as the designated hitter, marking just the second time this season that he has filled that role. "Got to have some help from the bottom (of the order). Was really pleased with the big knock Gilles got with the bases loaded."
CHIPPEWA NOTES
• Heeke has reached base in 20 consecutive games and his on-base percentage is a MAC-best .502.
• One day after Robinson's hit streak ended, he bounced back with two hits on Friday. He is hitting .416 (25 for 60) in his last 16 games.
• Gilles' two RBI gave him 24 on the season. He has six RBI in his last four games.
• Sullivan has reached base in 16 consecutive games.
• Brettell's earned run average in his last five starts is 2.89. He has logged a combined 34 2/3 innings and surrendered 11 earned runs over that span.
• Chippewa pitching has held Ohio star Rudy Rott hitless in seven at-bats in the first two games of the series. Rott entered the series as the MAC's leading hitter at .373 and was tied for the top spot in the conference with 15 home runs.
• The CMU pitching staff has issued just three walks and struck out 26 batters in the last three games. The staff ERA is 1.27 over those three games.
• The Chippewas collected 10 hits in the game, marking the fourth consecutive game and the 12th time in their last 16 that they have reached double digits.
