Central Michigan University
7-2
Hofstra
1-5
Chippewas Flex Their Muscle At The Plate
3/2/2019 8:29:00 PM | Baseball
CMU win streak ends with loss to Butler
KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Central Michigan baseball team exploded for 24 runs on 17 hits in its first game on Saturday, rolling past Hofstra, 24-7, at Osceola Park in the Russmatt Central Florida Invitational.
The Chippewas dropped their second game of the day, 5-1, to Butler, ending CMU's win streak at seven games.
CMU continues its Spring Break trip on Sunday with a 1 p.m. game against Pittsburgh.
OFFENSIVE OUTBURST
The Chippewas collected seven extra-base hits, including a solo home run by sophomore Gaoshua Williams, in rolling past Hofstra. It was Williams' second homer of the season and the Chippewas' eighth as a team through 10 games. They hit 12 homers last season.
CMU scored four runs in the second inning and six in the fourth in building an 11-1 lead. The Chippewas then sent 17 men to the plate in scoring 13 runs on seven hits and two Hofstra errors in the sixth.
"We teach a hitting approach that should make every out tough to earn," first-year CMU coach Jordan Bischel said. "And we were really consistent, one through nine, in that game. When you do that It wears a pitching staff down."
The Chippewas also took advantage of 12 walks issued by five Hofstra pitchers.
Jacob Crum led the Chippewa hit parade with four hits including three doubles, while Zach Heeke had three hits, Zavier Warren doubled twice, and Zach Gilles and Chase Rollin had two hits apiece.
Warren and Griffin Lockwood-Powell each drove in four runs, while Jason Sullivan and Williams collected three RBI apiece.
Cam Brown (3-0) started on the mound for CMU and earned the win. He allowed five runs on seven hits and struck out three over 4 2/3 innings. Grant Frazer, Garrett Navarra and Brandon Reed pitched in relief for the Chippewas.
WIN STREAK ENDS
The Chippewas struck first against Butler (4-4), getting a first-inning RBI single from Gilles.
The Bulldogs tied with a run in the second, then took the lead with a run in the fourth. They added two in the fifth and one in the sixth, providing all the support that right-hander Ryan Pepiot would need.
"Obviously we would have liked to have produced more in game two, but we also have to tip our cap to outstanding pitching performances by Butler," Bischel said. "Overall we played hard and with good energy on a long, warm day."
Junior right-hander Zach Kohn (2-1) started and took the loss. Cam Miller and Ian Leatherman pitched in relief for the Chippewas, who collected six hits.
NEXT
Pitt (5-3), which plays in the ACC, enters Sunday's game riding a four-game win streak.
"Pitt will be a very quality opponent from a top conference," Bischel said. "Tomorrow will really be about our energy level. We are extremely banged up right now, but that means some guys will have a great opportunity to rise to the challenge."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Brown, Cameron (3-0)
L: Camarda, Brad (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Warren, Zavier 2 ; Crum, Jacob 3 ; Jakiemiec, Bryan 1
HR: Williams, Gaoshua 1
RBI: Heeke, Zach 1 ; Warren, Zavier 4 ; Lockwood-Powell, Griffin 4 ; Sullivan, Jason 3 ; Crum, Jacob 2 ; Jakiemiec, Bryan 2 ; Williams, Gaoshua 3 ; Rollin, Chase 2
SH: Gilles, Zach 1 ; Rollin, Chase 1
SF: Lockwood-Powell, Griffin 1 ; Williams, Gaoshua 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Heeke, Zach 4 ; Warren, Zavier 4 ; Gilles, Zach 1 ; Lockwood-Powell, Griffin 2 ; Sullivan, Jason 3 ; Crum, Jacob 3 ; Jakiemiec, Bryan 2 ; Williams, Gaoshua 2 ; Rollin, Chase 3
SB: Rollin, Chase 1
HBP: Sullivan, Jason 1
Batting:
2B: Gauthier, Austin 1 ; Costello, Vinnie 1 ; White, Tyler 1
3B: Weissheier, Rob 1
RBI: Gauthier, Austin 1 ; Page, Daniel 2 ; Siedem, Matt 1 ; Costello, Vinnie 1 ; White, Tyler 1
SF: Siedem, Matt 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rausch, Sean 1 ; Mensah, Myles 1 ; Friscia, Vito 1 ; Quinn, Parker 1 ; Weissheier, Rob 1 ; Costello, Vinnie 1 ; White, Tyler 1
SB: Rausch, Sean 1 ; Morash, Ryan 1
