Friday, March 10
Sacramento, Calif.
5 p.m. (ET)
Central Michigan University
8-6
8
at
3
Sacramento State
8-6
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Central Michigan
1
0
0
0
0
5
0
0
2
8
10
0
Sacramento State
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
1
3
9
1
Sophomore Adam Mrakitsch was solid through 6 2/3 innings on Friday in CMU's 8-3 victory at Sacramento State.
Photo by: Jack Reeber '23,M'25 - @jackreeber.raw
Solid Mrakitsch, Big Inning Lift Baseball to Second Straight Win at Sacramento State
3/10/2023 9:42:00 PM | Baseball
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Adam Mrakitsch turned in a solid start and Central Michigan once again used a big inning at the plate in posting an 8-3 victory over Sacramento State in a nonleague baseball game Friday at the Hornets' John Smith Field.
It was the fourth win in five games for the Chippewas (8-6), who have won two of the three in the four-game series with the Hornets (8-6). The series finale is set for Saturday with a start time to be announced.
Mrakitsch (2-1), a sophomore left-hander, surrendered two runs on five hits, struck out four, and walked two over 6 2/3 innings. He left with a 6-2 lead after CMU put up five runs in the top of the sixth inning.
"Today was by far our best overall game of the year," CMU coach Jordan Bischel said. "We still have plenty of things to clean up, but we had good at-bats the vast majority of the game, we had a bunch of extra-base hits, we took a bunch of free passes, we competed with two strikes, played good defense, attacked the strike zone.
"That's as close as it's looked to what Chippewa baseball should look like. There's a lot to work on, but I definitely thought this was our most complete performance of the year."
Mrakitsch threw 103 pitches, 68 of them for strikes.
"We pushed him to a pitch count that he hasn't been at yet this year," Bischel said. "He was quite frankly tired in the seventh inning, but that's how you build the arm. He was just fabulous those first six innings and you really couldn't ask for anything more.
"He commanded the ball with all three pitches, showed great composure, and he really did a great job."
Leading 1-0 in the sixth, the Chippewas got consecutive doubles from Danny Wuestenfeld, Garrett Navarra, and Cole Prout in upping their lead to 3-0.
Justin Simpson brought in a run with a bunt single to make it 4-0 as the Chippewas chased Sacramento State starter Evan Gibbons. Jake Donahue then delivered a two-run double to make it 6-0.
When the dust settled on the sixth, the Chippewas had five hits and three walks and took advantage of a wild pitch and a balk.
In all four of the Chippewas' most recent wins, they have scored at least four runs in a single inning, and while they have gotten timely hits in those big innings, they have taken full advantage by taking the extra base on a throw, utilizing bunts and walks, and putting pressure on the defense to force miscues.
"You've got to be diverse in how you score," Bischel said. "You can't just steal and bunt your way to a bunch of runs, you can't just walk your way to a bunch of runs, and typically you can't just hit your way to a bunch of runs. You've got to be able to do a bunch of things well and we did that today.
"Historically we're pretty good at making teams earn their outs and having quality hitting approaches and it really benefits you as you get to those middle innings and either the starter's fatiguing or you get to a middle reliever, and you've seen some of that these last few ball games."
The Chippewas added two runs in the ninth when Cole Prout walked and pinch runner Jake Brill stole second. Christian Mitchelle singled in Brill, and Mitchelle moved up to second when the Hornets threw to the plate in an attempt to cut down Brill.
Mitchelle then stole third as the Hornet pitcher attempted to pick him off second. The throw sailed into center field, allowing Mitchelle to score, upping the Chippewa lead to 8-2.
The Chippewas had a season-high five doubles among their nine hits. They also matched their season high with 10 walks and stole a season-high five bases.
Michael Conte, Ryan Culley and Ryan Palmblad pitched in relief. Palmblad came on with the bases loaded and two out in the ninth and got a game-ending flyout for his second save.
CMU's two-run ninth proved key in providing a comfort zone for the pitching staff in the bottom of the ninth.
"We talked the last couple days about really working to play nine complete innings and not just part of a good game," Bischel said. "And we did today. Without playing a quality top of the ninth, you may be in a lot different situation in the bottom. I was happy that we kept the pedal to metal there."
It was the fourth win in five games for the Chippewas (8-6), who have won two of the three in the four-game series with the Hornets (8-6). The series finale is set for Saturday with a start time to be announced.
Mrakitsch (2-1), a sophomore left-hander, surrendered two runs on five hits, struck out four, and walked two over 6 2/3 innings. He left with a 6-2 lead after CMU put up five runs in the top of the sixth inning.
"Today was by far our best overall game of the year," CMU coach Jordan Bischel said. "We still have plenty of things to clean up, but we had good at-bats the vast majority of the game, we had a bunch of extra-base hits, we took a bunch of free passes, we competed with two strikes, played good defense, attacked the strike zone.
"That's as close as it's looked to what Chippewa baseball should look like. There's a lot to work on, but I definitely thought this was our most complete performance of the year."
Mrakitsch threw 103 pitches, 68 of them for strikes.
"We pushed him to a pitch count that he hasn't been at yet this year," Bischel said. "He was quite frankly tired in the seventh inning, but that's how you build the arm. He was just fabulous those first six innings and you really couldn't ask for anything more.
"He commanded the ball with all three pitches, showed great composure, and he really did a great job."
Leading 1-0 in the sixth, the Chippewas got consecutive doubles from Danny Wuestenfeld, Garrett Navarra, and Cole Prout in upping their lead to 3-0.
Justin Simpson brought in a run with a bunt single to make it 4-0 as the Chippewas chased Sacramento State starter Evan Gibbons. Jake Donahue then delivered a two-run double to make it 6-0.
When the dust settled on the sixth, the Chippewas had five hits and three walks and took advantage of a wild pitch and a balk.
In all four of the Chippewas' most recent wins, they have scored at least four runs in a single inning, and while they have gotten timely hits in those big innings, they have taken full advantage by taking the extra base on a throw, utilizing bunts and walks, and putting pressure on the defense to force miscues.
"You've got to be diverse in how you score," Bischel said. "You can't just steal and bunt your way to a bunch of runs, you can't just walk your way to a bunch of runs, and typically you can't just hit your way to a bunch of runs. You've got to be able to do a bunch of things well and we did that today.
"Historically we're pretty good at making teams earn their outs and having quality hitting approaches and it really benefits you as you get to those middle innings and either the starter's fatiguing or you get to a middle reliever, and you've seen some of that these last few ball games."
The Chippewas added two runs in the ninth when Cole Prout walked and pinch runner Jake Brill stole second. Christian Mitchelle singled in Brill, and Mitchelle moved up to second when the Hornets threw to the plate in an attempt to cut down Brill.
Mitchelle then stole third as the Hornet pitcher attempted to pick him off second. The throw sailed into center field, allowing Mitchelle to score, upping the Chippewa lead to 8-2.
The Chippewas had a season-high five doubles among their nine hits. They also matched their season high with 10 walks and stole a season-high five bases.
Michael Conte, Ryan Culley and Ryan Palmblad pitched in relief. Palmblad came on with the bases loaded and two out in the ninth and got a game-ending flyout for his second save.
CMU's two-run ninth proved key in providing a comfort zone for the pitching staff in the bottom of the ninth.
"We talked the last couple days about really working to play nine complete innings and not just part of a good game," Bischel said. "And we did today. Without playing a quality top of the ninth, you may be in a lot different situation in the bottom. I was happy that we kept the pedal to metal there."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Mrakitsch, Adam (2-0)
L: Gibbons, Evan (1-1)
S: Palmblad, Ryan (2)
Batting:
2B: Donahue, Jacob 1 ; Jackson, Marquis 1 ; Wuestenfeld, Danny 1 ; Navarra, Garrett 1 ; Prout, Cole 1
RBI: Donahue, Jacob 2 ; Wuestenfeld, Danny 1 ; Navarra, Garrett 1 ; Prout, Cole 1 ; Mitchelle, Christian 1 ; Simpson, Justin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Donahue, Jacob 1 ; Wuestenfeld, Danny 1 ; Navarra, Garrett 1 ; Prout, Cole 1 ; Brill, Jake 1 ; Mitchelle, Christian 1 ; Stuart, Ely 1 ; Simpson, Justin 1
SB: Donahue, Jacob 1 ; Jackson, Marquis 1 ; Prout, Cole 1 ; Brill, Jake 1 ; Mitchelle, Christian 1
Batting:
2B: Valero, Cesar 1
RBI: Bojorquez, Jorge 1 ; Crenshaw, Garet 1 ; Rolling, Josh 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Vincelli-Simard, M 1 ; Heard, Jeffery 2
Game Leaders
Hitting
cf/lf
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
2
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
LHP
/ BaseballINF/RHP
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
LHP/OF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
1B
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