Central Michigan University Athletics
Thursday, April 17
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
3 p.m.
Central Michigan University
15-23, 7-9
1
vs
4
Miami (Ohio)
20-17, 15-4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami (OH) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
| Central Michigan | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
CMU starter Alejandro Espinoza delivers to the plate on Thursday in the opener of a three-game MAC series with Miami (Ohio) at Theunissen Stadium.
Photo by: Jasper Warner '25 - @jasperwarnermedia
Chippewa Bats Go Quiet Against Miami (Ohio) Ace in Series Opener
4/17/2025 6:38:00 PM | Baseball
RedHawks seize early lead in handing CMU 4-1 loss at Theunissen Stadium
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Central Michigan pitching surrendered just six hits against one of the Mid-American Conference's top teams on Thursday.
Unfortunately, four of those hits along with a walk and a CMU error came in the first inning, leading to three Miami (Ohio) runs as the RedHawks topped the Chippewas, 4-1, in the opener of a three-game series on Keilitz Field at Theunissen Stadium.
The Chippewas (15-23, 7-9 MAC) and RedHawks (20-17, 15-4) play game two of the series on Friday (3 p.m.) at Theunissen and then close the series on Saturday.
Seven of CMU's nine MAC losses have come by three runs or less.
"We just have to answer," CMU coach Jake Sabol said. "I said to (the players) earlier today and I said to them again (postgame) that today wasn't going to define our season whether we won or lost because we have a game in less than 24 hours.
"So if we want to feel bad for ourselves then tomorrow's not going to go our way. But if we're kind of itching to get back out here, good things will happen for us. That's a choice that they've got to make. Things happen quick and we've got to move on."
CMU starter Alejandro Espinoza (2-6) rebounded from the rough first frame, allowing just one hit and walking one after that. He went 5 1/3 innings and kept the Chippewas in the game.
"I thought Espy really settled in, found his groove a little bit," Sabol said. "A day like today, where the wind made it kind of tough to hit, runs were at a premium and just throughout the game I felt like we should have had a few more chances offensively.
"We got ourselves into some pretty good counts and had some weak outs and just could never get anything going."
Miami's Cooper Katskee, the MAC leader in wins (8-1), handcuffed the Chippewa bats throughout. The redshirt sophomore right-hander tossed a complete game, allowing five hits while striking out five and walking one. He lowered his earned run average to 2.88, the best among MAC starters.
"That guy on the mound was really good for them," Sabol said. "We prepped for him all week and thought we would be a little bit better today than that, but I tip my hat to him."
Aydin Wright and Zach Knowlton had two hits apiece to lead CMU at the plate.
The Chippewas got their run in the third when Knowlton led off with a single, moved to second on a walk to Cole Prout, and took third on an Aaron Piasecki bunt. Knowlton scored on a groundout and Prout was stranded at third when Nathan Ball flied out to end the inning.
The Chippewas managed just two baserunners the rest of the way.
Unfortunately, four of those hits along with a walk and a CMU error came in the first inning, leading to three Miami (Ohio) runs as the RedHawks topped the Chippewas, 4-1, in the opener of a three-game series on Keilitz Field at Theunissen Stadium.
The Chippewas (15-23, 7-9 MAC) and RedHawks (20-17, 15-4) play game two of the series on Friday (3 p.m.) at Theunissen and then close the series on Saturday.
Seven of CMU's nine MAC losses have come by three runs or less.
"We just have to answer," CMU coach Jake Sabol said. "I said to (the players) earlier today and I said to them again (postgame) that today wasn't going to define our season whether we won or lost because we have a game in less than 24 hours.
"So if we want to feel bad for ourselves then tomorrow's not going to go our way. But if we're kind of itching to get back out here, good things will happen for us. That's a choice that they've got to make. Things happen quick and we've got to move on."
CMU starter Alejandro Espinoza (2-6) rebounded from the rough first frame, allowing just one hit and walking one after that. He went 5 1/3 innings and kept the Chippewas in the game.
"I thought Espy really settled in, found his groove a little bit," Sabol said. "A day like today, where the wind made it kind of tough to hit, runs were at a premium and just throughout the game I felt like we should have had a few more chances offensively.
"We got ourselves into some pretty good counts and had some weak outs and just could never get anything going."
Miami's Cooper Katskee, the MAC leader in wins (8-1), handcuffed the Chippewa bats throughout. The redshirt sophomore right-hander tossed a complete game, allowing five hits while striking out five and walking one. He lowered his earned run average to 2.88, the best among MAC starters.
"That guy on the mound was really good for them," Sabol said. "We prepped for him all week and thought we would be a little bit better today than that, but I tip my hat to him."
Aydin Wright and Zach Knowlton had two hits apiece to lead CMU at the plate.
The Chippewas got their run in the third when Knowlton led off with a single, moved to second on a walk to Cole Prout, and took third on an Aaron Piasecki bunt. Knowlton scored on a groundout and Prout was stranded at third when Nathan Ball flied out to end the inning.
The Chippewas managed just two baserunners the rest of the way.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Cooper Katskee (8-1)
L: Espinoza, Alejandro (2-6)
Batting:
RBI: Anthony Zarlingo 1 ; David Novak 1 ; Ryan Novak 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dillon Baker 1 ; Ty Batusich 1 ; Anthony Zarlingo 1 ; Ryan Novak 1
CS: Dillon Baker 1
HBP: Tommy Harrison 1
Batting:
RBI: Piasecki, Aaron 1
SH: Wright, Aydin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Knowlton, Zach 1
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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