A Walk-Off Walk

Friday, April 26

Mount Pleasant, Mich.

3 p.m.

Central Michigan University

29-12, 11-5

Western Michigan

13-24, 6-8

Western Michigan

Central Michigan

Photo by: Allissa Rusco

4/26/2019 8:21:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Chippewas post come-from-behind win over Western Michigan

By: Mitch Vosburg, CMUChippewas.com

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Evan Kratt drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth inning on Friday as the Central Michigan baseball team posted a 5-4 come-from-behind victory over rival Western Michigan in the opener of a three-game Mid-American Conference series at Keilitz Field at Theunissen Stadium.

CMU, 29-12, 11-5 MAC, trailed 4-0 after 3 ½ innings, then got a solo home run from Griffin Lockwood-Powell in the fourth before scoring four runs in the final three innings. The Broncos are 13-24, 16-8.

"We got in our own heads just a little bit trying to do too much," CMU coach Jordan Bischel said. "It was big for us to battle back and to do it with some guys who haven't been the guys that have carried us.

"Just some really, really positive things across the board."

Game two of the three-game series is scheduled for Saturday (1 p.m.). Pat Leatherman will pitch for CMU. The series finale is scheduled for Sunday (1 p.m.).

HOW IT HAPPENED
Lockwood-Powell's team-leading eighth home run of the season cleared the center field fence in the fourth. Zach Gilles scored from first on Lockwood-Powell's seventh-inning double, cutting Western's lead to 4-2.

A two-run double by Zach Heeke tied the game, 4-4, in the eighth, setting the stage for the dramatic ninth.

Jacob Crum doubled to lead off the ninth, Jason Sullivan walked, and Garrett Navarra laid down a bunt single to load the bases. After a forceout at home, Kratt worked the count full and then drew the decisive walk, forcing home Sullivan with the winning run.

STRONG RELIEF
Ryan Palmblad (1-0) went the final two innings in relief of starter Cameron Brown for his first collegiate victory.

The Broncos managed just one baserunner while Palmblad was on the mound, and that came on an error to open the eighth. The freshman lefthander struck out the next three batters, and then got two strikeouts and a flyout in the ninth.

In 11 appearances, Palmblad has struck out 21, walked five and has a 1.68 earned run average.

Palmblad "was not on our travel roster when the season started," Bischel said. "Late in the fall I had Dylan (Fitchett), our strength and conditioning coach, come to me and say 'Hey, just so you know, Ryan's probably our hardest worker in here.'

"That's when I knew (Palmblad) might develop into something for us and obviously he has."

Chippewa starter Cameron Brown allowed four runs on six hits, walked three and struck out a season-high nine over seven innings. Western Michigan got a three-run double from Nate Grys in the first inning. Brown surrendered just one run on five hits, walked one, and struck out eight over his final six innings.