Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
18-13
Hillsdale
13-18
Baseball Pounds Out 13 Hits in Rolling to Nonconference Victory
4/11/2023 7:17:00 PM | Baseball
The Chippewas won for the fifth time in their last six games in improving to 18-13. Division II Hillsdale is 13-18.
CMU, which is 7-5 in the Mid-American Conference, welcomes league-leading Ball State for a three-game series beginning on Friday (3 p.m.).
The Cardinals are 23-8, 10-2 MAC and are the defending regular season conference champions. The Chippewas won the MAC Tournament last season, beating the Cardinals in back-to-back must-win games to claim the crown at Ball State's First Merchants Ballpark.
Sefcik, who on Monday was named the MAC Co-Player of the Week, had two hits, drove in three runs, scored three runs, and stole three bases to lead the Chippewas on Wednesday.
It was the second career homer for Sefcik, a redshirt freshman second baseman who is hitting .485 (17 for 35) with 11 RBI in his last 10 games.
He had a two-run single during CMU's seven-run first inning on Tuesday and then hit a solo homer during a four-run fifth, after which the Chippewas led, 11-3.
"The redshirt year was incredibly helpful for him," CMU coach Jordan Bischel said of Sefcik, who has raised his batting average to a team high .351. "He came in a little bit undersized (and) worked his butt off and just needed to get a little bit bigger, stronger.
"He prepared incredibly well last year and then obviously you're still a freshman in terms of playing in games. He was ready, but until you have the bullets flying it just changes things a little. Now he's getting to 100 plate appearances you see the comfort level. He just works so hard to prepare it's not surprising to see it pay off in games."
The Chippewas collected 13 hits, marking the third time in their last four games they have hit double digits. The 15 runs are their third highest output of the season.
Christian Mitchelle and Jacob Donahue also had two hits apiece. All nine starters had at least one hit.
"We've been starting three freshmen (Sefcik, Mitchelle and Cole Prout) pretty darned regularly and that's not an easy thing to do at a high level and you're seeing the younger guys progress and you're seeing some of the older guys get more comfortable," Bischel said. "Good to see us starting to trend in the right direction."
Michael Conte (2-0), the second Chippewa pitcher, threw 2 2/3 perfect innings for the win. Evan Waters, Ryan Insco and Christian Mitchelle worked in relief.
The four relievers held Hillsdale to three runs on five hits and struck out six after starter Nate Ross allowed three runs on four hits over 1 2/3 innings.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Conte, Michael (2-0)
L: Biedenharn (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Beals 1 ; Shannon 1
3B: Kent 1
RBI: Beals 1 ; Shannon 1 ; Kancler 1 ; Haeger 1 ; Passinault 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Beals 1 ; Shannon 1 ; Kent 3 ; Stepke 1
Batting:
2B: Mitchelle, Christian 2 ; Donahue, Jacob 1
HR: Sefcik, Luke 1
RBI: Mitchelle, Christian 2 ; Simpson, Justin 1 ; Morgan IV, Robby 1 ; Preston, Kade 1 ; Navarra, Garrett 1 ; Sefcik, Luke 3 ; Stengren, Drew 2 ; Jackson, Marquis 1
SF: Simpson, Justin 1 ; Jackson, Marquis 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mitchelle, Christian 2 ; Simpson, Justin 1 ; Donahue, Jacob 1 ; Brill, Jake 1 ; Morgan IV, Robby 1 ; Preston, Kade 1 ; Navarra, Garrett 1 ; Cuthrell, Sandyn 1 ; Sefcik, Luke 3 ; Prout, Cole 1 ; Stengren, Drew 1 ; Jackson, Marquis 1
SB: Mitchelle, Christian 1 ; Preston, Kade 1 ; Sefcik, Luke 3 ; Prout, Cole 2 ; Stengren, Drew 1
HBP: Donahue, Jacob 1 ; Brill, Jake 1 ; Morgan IV, Robby 1 ; Sefcik, Luke 1 ; Jackson, Marquis 1
