Central Michigan University Athletics
Sunday, March 19
Athens, Ohio
2 p.m.
Central Michigan University
11-8, 2-1
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Ohio
5-12, 3-3
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Central Mich.
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Ohio
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Michael Conte threw three shutout innings to close out CMU's 10-6 win at Ohio on Sunday. It was his first career save.
Bullpen Solid as Baseball Wins to Take MAC-Opening Series at Ohio
3/19/2023 6:07:00 PM | Baseball
ATHENS, Ohio – Robby Morgan IV homered and the Central Michigan bullpen held Ohio to one run over the final 6 1/3 innings on Sunday as the Chippewas closed a three-game series with the Bobcats with a 10-6 win at Ohio's Bob Wren Stadium.
The Chippewas took two of three in their Mid-American Conference-opening series, improving to 11-8, 2-1 MAC. Ohio is 5-11, 3-3.
The Chippewas bounced back from a nonleague loss at home to Saginaw Valley State last Wednesday to win Friday's series opener at Ohio. After dropping Saturday's game to the Bobcats, they responded with a win on Sunday.
CMU played the Ohio series without cleanup hitter Danny Wuestenfeld, who was injured against Saginaw Valley State.
"We lost a disappointing game Wednesday and we lost, at least temporarily to an injury, our big run producer and we came down here and had a disappointing loss (on Saturday)," CMU coach Jordan Bischel said. "Both times we really responded well and we've kind of done that all year. We've had some disappointing games, but we've bounced back from those well and now we've just got to get a little more consistent.
"We're always going to shoot to win every ball game, but as a whole you've got to be pleased with how we responded to some adversity."
The Chippewas are scheduled to entertain Kent State in three-game MAC series at Keilitz Field at Theunissen Stadium beginning on Friday, March 24 (3 p.m.). The Golden Flashes are 14-4, 3-0.
Morgan hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning to put the Chippewas ahead, 6-5. It was Morgan's team-leading fifth homer of the season and he leads the Chippewas with 18 RBI, one more than Wuestenfeld.
"He's just scratching the surface of who he can be as a player and the work ethic is there," Bischel said of Morgan, who had four hits in the series to raise his average to .225 "He just continues to work and progress and he's only going to get better if he keeps at it.
"That was a huge hit today. He's got a pile of RBIs which means he still embracing hitting in those quote/unquote big spots."
CMU added two more runs in the inning -- Garrett Navarra singled in a run and Nick Dardas had an RBI double -- increasing its lead to 8-5.
Chippewa relievers Ryan Palmblad and Michael Conte made the lead stand.
Palmblad (1-1), a grad student left-hander, picked up the victory by holding the Bobcats to one run on one hit over 3 1/3 innings in relief of Navarra, the starter.
Palmblad, who struck out six and walked four, surrendered one run in the fifth inning, but he pitched out of a bases-loaded jam to keep CMU in the lead.
"We can't have all those free passes, but he didn't give in, he stayed true to himself, he kept making the next pitch and eventually got himself out of that," Bischel said.
Conte, a sophomore right-hander, allowed just one hit over the final three frames for his first career save. He also pitched out of a jam when the Bobcats put two on on an error and an infield single to start the eighth.
Conte got back-to-back strikeouts and a groundball to end the threat.
"That could have been a big inning right there and Mike just kept going and got out of it with no damage, which is great," Bischel said. "(Palmblad) pitched in a spot he hasn't pitching in recently, he's been more towards the back of the game, and (Conte) was in a spot that he really hasn't been in in finishing out a game. Both guys were just outstanding."
The Chippewas added two runs in the sixth on a Navarra sacrifice fly and a Luke Sefcik RBI single.
Morgan, Justin Simpson and Christian Mitchelle finished with two hits apiece. Mitchelle drilled a two-run double to highlight CMU's four-run third inning.
Ohio chased Navarra when it scored three runs on four hits in the bottom of the third in seizing a 5-4 lead.
The Chippewas took two of three in their Mid-American Conference-opening series, improving to 11-8, 2-1 MAC. Ohio is 5-11, 3-3.
The Chippewas bounced back from a nonleague loss at home to Saginaw Valley State last Wednesday to win Friday's series opener at Ohio. After dropping Saturday's game to the Bobcats, they responded with a win on Sunday.
CMU played the Ohio series without cleanup hitter Danny Wuestenfeld, who was injured against Saginaw Valley State.
"We lost a disappointing game Wednesday and we lost, at least temporarily to an injury, our big run producer and we came down here and had a disappointing loss (on Saturday)," CMU coach Jordan Bischel said. "Both times we really responded well and we've kind of done that all year. We've had some disappointing games, but we've bounced back from those well and now we've just got to get a little more consistent.
"We're always going to shoot to win every ball game, but as a whole you've got to be pleased with how we responded to some adversity."
The Chippewas are scheduled to entertain Kent State in three-game MAC series at Keilitz Field at Theunissen Stadium beginning on Friday, March 24 (3 p.m.). The Golden Flashes are 14-4, 3-0.
Morgan hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning to put the Chippewas ahead, 6-5. It was Morgan's team-leading fifth homer of the season and he leads the Chippewas with 18 RBI, one more than Wuestenfeld.
"He's just scratching the surface of who he can be as a player and the work ethic is there," Bischel said of Morgan, who had four hits in the series to raise his average to .225 "He just continues to work and progress and he's only going to get better if he keeps at it.
"That was a huge hit today. He's got a pile of RBIs which means he still embracing hitting in those quote/unquote big spots."
CMU added two more runs in the inning -- Garrett Navarra singled in a run and Nick Dardas had an RBI double -- increasing its lead to 8-5.
Chippewa relievers Ryan Palmblad and Michael Conte made the lead stand.
Palmblad (1-1), a grad student left-hander, picked up the victory by holding the Bobcats to one run on one hit over 3 1/3 innings in relief of Navarra, the starter.
Palmblad, who struck out six and walked four, surrendered one run in the fifth inning, but he pitched out of a bases-loaded jam to keep CMU in the lead.
"We can't have all those free passes, but he didn't give in, he stayed true to himself, he kept making the next pitch and eventually got himself out of that," Bischel said.
Conte, a sophomore right-hander, allowed just one hit over the final three frames for his first career save. He also pitched out of a jam when the Bobcats put two on on an error and an infield single to start the eighth.
Conte got back-to-back strikeouts and a groundball to end the threat.
"That could have been a big inning right there and Mike just kept going and got out of it with no damage, which is great," Bischel said. "(Palmblad) pitched in a spot he hasn't pitching in recently, he's been more towards the back of the game, and (Conte) was in a spot that he really hasn't been in in finishing out a game. Both guys were just outstanding."
The Chippewas added two runs in the sixth on a Navarra sacrifice fly and a Luke Sefcik RBI single.
Morgan, Justin Simpson and Christian Mitchelle finished with two hits apiece. Mitchelle drilled a two-run double to highlight CMU's four-run third inning.
Ohio chased Navarra when it scored three runs on four hits in the bottom of the third in seizing a 5-4 lead.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Palmblad, Ryan (1-1)
L: Z. Weber (1-4)
S: Conte, Michael (1)
Batting:
2B: Dardas, Nick 1 ; Mitchelle, Christian 1
HR: Morgan IV, Robby 1
RBI: Morgan IV, Robby 2 ; Donahue, Jacob 1 ; Navarra, Garrett 3 ; Sefcik, Luke 1 ; Dardas, Nick 1 ; Mitchelle, Christian 2
SF: Donahue, Jacob 1 ; Navarra, Garrett 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jackson, Marquis 2 ; Morgan IV, Robby 2 ; Donahue, Jacob 1 ; Navarra, Garrett 1 ; Simpson, Justin 1 ; Brill, Jake 1 ; Mitchelle, Christian 2
SB: Donahue, Jacob 1 ; Simpson, Justin 2 ; Brill, Jake 1 ; Mitchelle, Christian 1
HBP: Donahue, Jacob 1
PO: Morgan IV, Robby 1
Batting:
2B: G. Antle 1
HR: M. Minzey 1 ; W. Sturek 1
RBI: M. Minzey 2 ; A. Patino 1 ; W. Sturek 1 ; G. Antle 1
SH: C. Kasperbau 1
SF: M. Minzey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: A. Rausch 1 ; C. Kasperbau 1 ; M. Minzey 1 ; A. Patino 1 ; W. Sturek 1 ; B. Adams 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
3
Players Mentioned
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