Central Michigan University
21-7
Michigan State
5-21
Chippewas Extend Win Streak To 7
4/3/2019 8:51:00 PM | Baseball
Sullivan, Warren homer; bullpen slams the door in win over Michigan State
Chippewa relievers allowed just one base hit from the third inning through the eighth as CMU won its seventh-consecutive game, improving to 21-7. It was CMU's third-straight victory over the Spartans (5-21).
"Our bullpen really attacked the strike zone tonight," CMU coach Jordan Bischel said. "Pitching is a lot easier when you're ahead in the count and we consistently got in plus counts. From there our defense, especially (shortstop) Zavier Warren, made some outstanding plays."
HOW IT HAPPENED
CMU jumped to a 5-0 lead through 1 ½ innings as Warren hit a three-run homer and had an RBI double and Griffin Lockwood-Powell drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. It was Warren's fourth home run of the season.
Michigan State scored five runs on five hits in the bottom of the second, chasing Chippewa starter Ian Leatherman.
Sullivan answered MSU's five-run second with a one-out solo homer to right in the third, putting CMU in front for good.
Jacob Crum's two-run single in the sixth extended the lead to 8-5.
Michigan State used three hits and a Chippewa error in pushing across a run in the ninth before Cameron Miller got the final out on a flyball, stranding runners at first and third for his fourth save.
WHAT A RELIEF
Grant Frazer, Ryan Palmblad and Zach Kohn combined to allow one hit and strike out six in 6 1/3 shutout innings in relief of Leatherman.
Frazer (1-0), the Chippewas' first reliever, earned the victory by going 1 2/3 innings. He set down all five Spartans he faced.
Palmblad, a freshman left-hander from Orland Park, Ill., allowed one hit and one walk with three strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings in his fifth career appearance.
"Ryan Pamblad really stood out today," Bischel said. "It was his first opportunity in a tight game and he ran with it."
NEXT
CMU returns home for a three-game Mid-American Conference series this weekend with Ball State at Keilitz Field at Theunissen Stadium. Game one is set for 3 p.m. Friday, with games two and three scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
The Cardinals are 19-9 and lead the MAC at 4-0. CMU is 5-1 in league play, tied with Miami (Ohio) for second place.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Frazer, Grant (1-0)
L: Heikkinen,Jesse (0-2)
S: Miller, Cameron (4)
Batting:
2B: Warren, Zavier 1
HR: Warren, Zavier 1 ; Sullivan, Jason 1
RBI: Warren, Zavier 4 ; Lockwood-Powell, Griffin 1 ; Crum, Jacob 2 ; Sullivan, Jason 1
SH: Heeke, Zach 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Heeke, Zach 2 ; Warren, Zavier 3 ; Sullivan, Jason 1 ; Cole, David 1 ; Rollin, Chase 1
CS: Crum, Jacob 1
Batting:
2B: Walker,Zaid 1
3B: Iverson,Zach 1
RBI: Trahey,Reese 2 ; Bechina,Marty 1 ; Stewart,Joe 1 ; Iverson,Zach 2
SF: Stewart,Joe 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kelley,Bryce 1 ; Trahey,Reese 1 ; Proctor,Adam 1 ; Walker,Zaid 2 ; Iverson,Zach 1
SB: Kelley,Bryce 1
CS: Peterson,Bailey 1
