Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
22-13
Northwood
27-12
Morgan, Navarra Homer as Baseball Wins Nonleague Slugfest
4/18/2023 8:51:00 PM | Baseball
Chippewas post season highs in runs (23), hits (16) and stolen bases (9) in winning for ninth time in their last 10 games
Central Michigan's bats, however, stayed hot.
The Chippewas hit two homers among a season-high eight extra-base hits in outslugging Northwood, 23-13, in a nonconference game at Keilitz Field at Theunissen Stadium. It was CMU's fifth consecutive win and its ninth in its last 10 starts.
CMU is scheduled to entertain Madonna on Wednesday (3 p.m.) in a nonleaguer and then heads to Akron this weekend for a three-game Mid-American Conference series.
The Chippewas got homers from Garrett Navarra and Robby Morgan IV and set season highs with 16 hits, 23 runs, and nine stolen bases, five of which came from Justin Simpson, the most by a Chippewa in a single game since at least the 2018 season.
CMU's 12 walks were one shy of its season high.
On a day in which the mercury barely touched 45 just three days after sweeping a three-game MAC series from Ball State in August-like temperatures, the Chippewas extended their home run streak to seven games after hitting just one round-tripper in their previous nine. The Chippewas have totaled 10 homers in those seven games.
"The good thing is we're playing good baseball and we're finding different ways to win," CMU coach Jordan Bischel said. "Our offense is built mostly on a good hitting approach and speed right now. We can really run, which has been huge. But the home run makes life a little easier."
Navarra hit his third homer of the season, a three-run shot, in the first inning, touching off the early offensive fireworks.
Morgan delivered a two-run blast and Danny Wuestenfeld drove in three runs with a bases-loaded double during a five-run third that put the Chippewas in front for good, 12-10.
It was Morgan's sixth homer of the season – he shares the team lead with Marquis Jackson – and his first since March 19 at Ohio, a stretch of 16 games. He finished with a season-high three hits.
Wuestenfeld's double was a towering drive to the wall in straight-away center field and it was his fourth hit in the four games since he returned from an injury that sidelined him for a month.
"Danny coming back from the injury, he should just get better and better as he gets more playing time and at-bats," Bischel said, "and Robby launched a long bomb. He squares one up, there's no doubt where it's going to end up. He squared up several balls today, which was great."
Chippewa relievers Ryan Culley and Ryan Insco combined to hold the Timberwolves (27-12) to two runs on seven hits over the final 5 1/3 innings.
It was the first career win for Culley (1-0), a grad student left-hander who entered the game with two out in the fourth and the Chippewas leading, 12-10.
"You saw what the score was when Culley entered the game and it's a tough day to pitch," Bischel said. "Northwood, I don't care if they're Division II, they're a darned good offense. They've played in five straight NCAA Tournaments for a reason. That's a team that can swing it and on a day that the wind's blowing out you feel great for Culley.
"He's put in a lot of hard work to get there and it's great to see the back half of his senior year he's getting some opportunities and running with them."
Insco, a junior right-hander, struck out four over three innings in earning his first save of the season.
"That was probably as good as Ryan Insco's stuff has been all year, which is huge," Bischel said. "He was a key cog for us last year. Hasn't had quite as many opportunities (this year), but I thought he really threw well and did a good job."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Culley, Ryan (1-0)
L: Lance Blaszak (1-1)
S: Insco, Ryan (1)
Batting:
2B: Jacob Rybicki 1 ; Joey Johnston 1
HR: Carson Longstreth 1
RBI: Jacob Rybicki 4 ; Caden Duryea 1 ; Blake Salamon 1 ; Carson Longstreth 1 ; Rhett Evans 1 ; David Jeffers 1 ; Joey Johnston 2
SH: David Jeffers 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jacob Rybicki 1 ; Caden Duryea 1 ; Blake Salamon 2 ; Myles Beale 1 ; Carson Longstreth 1 ; Rhett Evans 2 ; Alex Cole 2 ; David Jeffers 1 ; Joey Johnston 2
SB: Jacob Rybicki 1 ; Myles Beale 1
CS: Jacob Rybicki 1
PO: Jacob Rybicki 1
Batting:
2B: Donahue, Jacob 1 ; Simpson, Justin 2 ; Wuestenfeld, Danny 1 ; Stengren, Drew 1
3B: Prout, Cole 1
HR: Navarra, Garrett 1 ; Morgan IV, Robby 1
RBI: Donahue, Jacob 2 ; Simpson, Justin 2 ; Wuestenfeld, Danny 3 ; Navarra, Garrett 4 ; Morgan IV, Robby 2 ; Prout, Cole 3 ; Dardas, Nick 1 ; Stengren, Drew 2
SH: Mitchelle, Christian 1
SF: Navarra, Garrett 1 ; Prout, Cole 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Donahue, Jacob 2 ; Simpson, Justin 5 ; Wuestenfeld, Danny 1 ; Navarra, Garrett 2 ; Sefcik, Luke 2 ; Mitchelle, Christian 3 ; Morgan IV, Robby 3 ; Prout, Cole 2 ; Brill, Jake 1 ; Dardas, Nick 1 ; Stengren, Drew 1
SB: Simpson, Justin 5 ; Sefcik, Luke 1 ; Mitchelle, Christian 2 ; Morgan IV, Robby 1
HBP: Donahue, Jacob 1 ; Morgan IV, Robby 1
