Lone Star State Is CMU Baseball's Destination

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- Following a four-game series split with Troy on the season-opening weekend, the Central Michigan baseball team travels south once again for four more games this weekend.

The Chippewas will travel to Beaumont, Texas to play two games against Lamar and a pair against Prairie View A&M.

On Friday, CMU is scheduled to face Prairie View A&M at 3 p.m. and Lamar at 7 p.m. The Chippewas and Prairie View A&M are slated to clash a second time at 1 p.m. on Saturday, and then CMU concludes the weekend with a second matchup with Lamar at 2 p.m. Sunday.

CMU coach Jordan Bischel said his biggest concern entering this is more about the Chippewas' energy level than necessarily about their opponents. CMU returned to Mount Pleasant from Troy, Ala. at 4:30 a.m. on Monday, and departed for Texas before sunrise Thursday.

"We're only home for 72 hours," Bischel said on Wednesday. "Our guys have schoolwork and sleep to catch up on. That's really step No. 1, staying on top of academics and (getting) rest."

ON THE MOUND
Right-hander Pat Leatherman is scheduled to start Friday against the Panthers. The Jenison senior allowed one run in five hitless innings in CMU's season opener, retiring the first 13 batters he faced. He did not get the decision in what ended up a 3-2 loss to Troy.

Tyler Hankins, Cameron Brown and Zach Koch are scheduled to start CMU's other games this weekend.

The Chippewa pitching staff recorded 36 strikeouts against just 10 walks in the four games at Troy, and CMU committed just two errors in the series.

AT THE PLATE
Junior outfielder Zach Gilles enjoyed an outstanding opening weekend at Troy, going 7 for 14 and posting a .611 on-base percentage.

Sophomore shortstop Zavier Warren tripled, homered and drove in five runs over the four games at Troy. Gaoshua Williams and Grifin Lockwood-Powell also homered for the Chippewas in the series.

The Chippewas hit .224 in the series, drew 21 walks and were hit by a pitch seven times for a .358 on-base percentage.

SCOUTING
After a 19-36 finish in 2018, Lamar is 3-2 overall after a pair of losses to Tulane, 9-1 and 22-10, earlier this week. The Cardinals' team earned run average is 6.07. The swept a three-game season-opening series from LIU Brooklyn.

Left hander Jason Blanchard allowed one earn run with six strikeouts in his first start of the season Feb. 15 against LIU Brooklyn. Blanchard finished with a 3.49 ERA in 2018, second-best on the Cardinal roster.

Prairie View A&M enters the weekend 1-3, allowing 30 runs in it last three games, including a 9-1 loss to Texas A&M on Wednesday.

The Panthers finished 14-40 last season and return utility man Daniel Lingua, who hit a team-best .350 and stole 14 bases a year ago.

NEXT
The Chippewas begin their Spring Trip in Kissimmee, Fla. on March 2, when they are scheduled to play two games, the first against Hofstra, the second against Butler. They are slated to play eight games over a nine-day span in the Sunshine State.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Cameron Brown

Zach Gilles

Tyler Hankins

Pat Leatherman

Zavier Warren

Gaoshua Williams