Opening-Night Thriller
5/23/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
AVON, Ohio - Jason Sullivan raced home with the winning run on Blake Cleveland's ninth-inning bunt on Wednesday as the Central Michigan baseball team opened the Mid-American Conference Tournament with a thrilling 7-6 win over Toledo at Sprenger Stadium.
The Chippewas (27-28-1) will face top-seeded Kent State, the regular-season champion, on Thursday (2 p.m.). CMU, the fourth seed, lost two of three during the regular season to the Golden Flashes.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Chippewas scored two runs in the eighth inning to tie the game, 6-6. Brandon Reed walked the leadoff man in the top of the ninth, but then set down the heart of the Rocket lineup in order, getting two strikeouts and a fly out.
In the bottom of the ninth, Jason Sullivan and Jacob Crum were hit by pitches and each moved up a base on a passed ball. With one out, Cleveland laid down a bunt, scoring Sullivan.
The Chippewas twice trailed in the game, 2-0 and then 6-4. They scored two runs in the eighth on just one hit, a one-out pinch-hit double by Chase Rollin that put runners at second and third. Zach Heeke drove in a run on a groundout, and then Rollin scored from third on a throwing error with two out.
AT THE PLATE
Zach Gilles led the Chippewas with two hits. Matt Hansen and Ross Adolph homered for Toledo.
ON THE MOUND
It was the first career win for Reed (1-0), a freshman left-hander. He did not allow a hit over the final 1 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out three.
CMU starter Dazon Cole surrendered three runs (one earned) on four hits, walked two and struck out nine over six innings. Jack Collins worked 1 1/3 innings in relief, allowing three runs on four hits.
Austin Calopietro (3-2), who came on in the ninth for the Rockets, took the loss.
CMU COACH Steve Jaksa
"It was a roller coaster, really, up and down, back and forth, lead changed several times. Brandon Reed came in, shut the door on them and gave us a chance in the ninth. Perfect bunt there by Blake and we go home happy."
Blake Cleveland
"I thank my teammates for putting me in that situation. Wouldn't be there if (Sullivan's) not on third. As soon as that passed ball went I knew coach was about to call that (bunt). He's done it in the past. I was looking for (the sign) and he gave it and was able to execute it. Felt great. Glad I was able to execute it for the team."
