Baseball Looks To Remain Hot In Warmer Climes

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- After stops in Troy, Ala. and Beaumont, Texas, the Central Michigan Baseball team will travel south once again.

The Chippewas, 6-2, will begin a stretch of eight games in nine days in Kissimmee, Fla., on Saturday against Hofstra (noon) and Butler (3 p.m.).

CMU enters its Spring Break on a six-game win streaks, and it ranks first in the Mid-American Conference in runs (59), doubles (18), triples (4), home runs (7) and walks (43).

The Chippewa pitching staff ranks first in the conference in earned run average (3.34), runs allowed (28) and walks (18). CMU is first in the MAC in fielding percentage (.987), has turned a league-high nine double plays, and has surrendered a league-low three stolen bases.

"This is a really fun team to coach right now," said first-year coach Jordan Bischel, who led his team to a 4-0 finish last weekend in the Lamar Cardinal Classic in Beaumont, Texas. "They're playing with a lot of energy, a lot of pride. They're really getting after it and wanting to win ball games."

The Chippewas also face the Pittsburgh, Saint Peter's, Mount St. Mary's and Villanova on the trip.

AT THE PLATE
Zach Gilles leads the Chippewas with a .393 batting average, while senior Jacob Crum is batting .323 with three doubles, two triples, two home runs and a team-high 10 RBI.

Crum was named the MAC Player of the Week on Monday. The St. Johns native hit .389 with two home runs and 10 RBI in CMU's 4-0 finish in the Cardinal Classic.

"(Crum) is a tremendous athlete," Bischel said. "He's one of our most athletic, explosive players. He's in a nice groove right now."

ON THE MOUND
Cameron Brown is 2-0 with a 2.03 ERA with 11 strikeouts. Pat Leatherman leads all CMU starters with a 1.64 ERA with 11 strikeouts. Zach Kohn holds a 2-0 record with a 3.27 ERA.

Relievers Logan Buczkowski, Cameron Miller and Grant Frazer have not allowed an earned run in a combined 13 innings.

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Players Mentioned

Cameron Brown

Logan Buczkowski

Jacob Crum

Grant Frazer

Zach Gilles

Zach Kohn

Pat Leatherman

Cameron Miller