Saturday, April 29
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
1 p.m.
Central Michigan University
28-14, 14-6
2
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Miami (Ohio)
15-30, 10-13
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9
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E
Miami (OH)
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Central Michigan
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Photo by: Jack Reeber '23,M'25 - @jackreeber.raw
Early Miami Homers Stand as Baseball's Win Streak Ends at 11 Games
4/29/2023 4:56:00 PM | Baseball
Series finale set for Sunday 1 p.m. at Keilitz Field at Theunissen Stadium
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Two swings of the bat.
That was the difference on Saturday as the Central Michigan baseball team saw its win streak end at 11 games with a 3-2 loss to Miami (Ohio) in a Mid-American Conference game at Keilitz Field at Theunissen Stadium.
The Chippewas slipped to 28-14, 14-6 MAC. The rubber match of their three-game series with the RedHawks is slated for Sunday (1 p.m.). Miami is 15-30, 10-13.
The RedHawks did all their scoring in the second inning. David Novak led off with a home run and then Dillon Baker drew a full-count walk. Nate Stone then hit a two-run shot over the batter's eye in center field to extend the lead to 3-0.
It marked the first time in 17 MAC games that an opponent has hit two homers in a game off Chippewa pitching.
"They hit a couple balls out of the park," CMU coach Jordan Bischel said. "The wind died after about three innings and we (subsequently) flew out to the fence what, four times?
"I thought we played well, we played clean baseball, we played good defense, we pitched well, and we hit enough balls hard to win, they just landed six feet short of the wall, which happens.
"It was one of those games where things didn't quite break our way and you tip your cap to the other team. There's really nothing to complain about. Our pitcher competed his butt off, we got a bunch of guys on base, we hit several balls incredibly hard."
CMU starter Keegan Batka (5-3) allowed six hits, struck out six, and walked two in taking the loss. Ryan Insco struck out three and walked two over 2 2/3 innings of hitless relief.
The Chippewas finished with six hits, none for extra bases, off Miami starter and winner Kenten Egbert (4-2). He struck out four and walked five. Zach Maxey went the final three innings for his first save.
CMU got a run back in the second on a two-out RBI single by Jacob Donahue, and then drew to 3-2 in the sixth on a bases-loaded RBI groundout by Drew Stengren.
The Chippewas left the bases loaded in the sixth and stranded nine baserunners in the game. Five of CMU's last six losses have been by one run.
CMU entered the day tied for first place in the MAC with Kent State, with both Ball State and Ohio within a game. The Chippewas have won 14 of their last 16 games and have not lost consecutive games since April 1.
"We're taught to approach it like every game's equal in value and you treat them all the same way," Bischel said of Sunday's series finale. "Assuming we don't start questioning ourselves, we'll be ready to go (Sunday).
"Miami's got good players so they could beat us again, but I don't have any concern about being ready to play."
That was the difference on Saturday as the Central Michigan baseball team saw its win streak end at 11 games with a 3-2 loss to Miami (Ohio) in a Mid-American Conference game at Keilitz Field at Theunissen Stadium.
The Chippewas slipped to 28-14, 14-6 MAC. The rubber match of their three-game series with the RedHawks is slated for Sunday (1 p.m.). Miami is 15-30, 10-13.
The RedHawks did all their scoring in the second inning. David Novak led off with a home run and then Dillon Baker drew a full-count walk. Nate Stone then hit a two-run shot over the batter's eye in center field to extend the lead to 3-0.
It marked the first time in 17 MAC games that an opponent has hit two homers in a game off Chippewa pitching.
"They hit a couple balls out of the park," CMU coach Jordan Bischel said. "The wind died after about three innings and we (subsequently) flew out to the fence what, four times?
"I thought we played well, we played clean baseball, we played good defense, we pitched well, and we hit enough balls hard to win, they just landed six feet short of the wall, which happens.
"It was one of those games where things didn't quite break our way and you tip your cap to the other team. There's really nothing to complain about. Our pitcher competed his butt off, we got a bunch of guys on base, we hit several balls incredibly hard."
CMU starter Keegan Batka (5-3) allowed six hits, struck out six, and walked two in taking the loss. Ryan Insco struck out three and walked two over 2 2/3 innings of hitless relief.
The Chippewas finished with six hits, none for extra bases, off Miami starter and winner Kenten Egbert (4-2). He struck out four and walked five. Zach Maxey went the final three innings for his first save.
CMU got a run back in the second on a two-out RBI single by Jacob Donahue, and then drew to 3-2 in the sixth on a bases-loaded RBI groundout by Drew Stengren.
The Chippewas left the bases loaded in the sixth and stranded nine baserunners in the game. Five of CMU's last six losses have been by one run.
CMU entered the day tied for first place in the MAC with Kent State, with both Ball State and Ohio within a game. The Chippewas have won 14 of their last 16 games and have not lost consecutive games since April 1.
"We're taught to approach it like every game's equal in value and you treat them all the same way," Bischel said of Sunday's series finale. "Assuming we don't start questioning ourselves, we'll be ready to go (Sunday).
"Miami's got good players so they could beat us again, but I don't have any concern about being ready to play."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kenten Egbert (4-2)
L: Batka, Keegan (5-3)
S: Zach Maxey (1)
Batting:
2B: Tommy Harrison 1
HR: David Novak 1 ; Nate Stone 1
RBI: David Novak 1 ; Nate Stone 2
SH: Benji Brokemond 1
Base Running:
RUNS: David Novak 1 ; Dillon Baker 1 ; Nate Stone 1
HBP: Ryland Zaborowski 1 ; Zach MacDonald 1
Batting:
RBI: Donahue, Jacob 1 ; Stengren, Drew 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Morgan IV, Robby 1 ; Navarra, Garrett 1
CS: Brill, Jake 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
5
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
5
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
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RHP
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