Milto Homers, Pitchers Get it Done as Baseball Rebounds With 6-4 Win at Belmont

Saturday, February 21

Nashville, Tenn. / E.S. Rose Park

2 p.m. (ET)

Central Michigan University

Belmont

Liam Stumpf earned the save, stranding the tying run at second base, in CMU's 6-4 win at Belmont on Saturday.

Photo by: Jack Reeber '23,M'25 - @jackreeber.raw

Milto Homers, Pitchers Get it Done as Baseball Rebounds With 6-4 Win at Belmont

2/21/2026 7:04:00 PM | Baseball

Freshman Luke Neiswonger notches second victory in as many starts; Chippewas collect 11 hits

By: Andy Sneddon

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Joey Milto hit a two-run homer and four Central Michigan pitchers combined to strike out 12 on Saturday as the Chippewas topped Belmont, 6-4, in a nonconference baseball game at the Bruins' E.S. Rose Park.

The Chippewas (5-2) and Bruins (2-5) close their four-game series on Sunday (2 p.m.). If CMU wins, it takes the series, its second straight to open the season after it won three of four last weekend at West Georgia.

"These guys are in a really good spot," said CMU coach Jake Sabol, whose team bounced back from a 5-2 loss in the second game of a doubleheader on Friday. "I think (Friday) was tough because we felt like we had a good opportunity to take game two. Unfortunately, It didn't go our way.

"There was no moping or pouting or feeling bad for themselves. It was just on to the next game. Today was just a total team win. We did a lot of really good things. It wasn't super clean, but from our energy in the dugout to our pitching … and we again manufactured some runs."

Milto's fourth-inning two-run homer tied the game, 3-3, and the Chippewas went ahead on a Brady Krzciok fifth-inning RBI single, his second of the game.

The Chippewas collected 11 hits, 10 of them singles. Three of those hits came from a combination of the Nos. 8 and 9 hitters, Spencer Verburg and Bryson Webb.

Eight of the nine CMU starters had at least one hit.

"We did have a big one from (Milto) there, but the guys just continue to put pressure on and find ways to get on base and allow us to do some things from a baserunning standpoint," Sabol said. "Guys are taking advantage of some opportunities. Verburg had some really big at-bats today, and same with (Webb)."

Chippewa starter Luke Neiswonger (2-0) allowed three runs on seven hits over five innings for the win.

Max Hammond, Tyson Potts and Liam Stumpf pitched in relief. The bullpen trio combined to hold the Bruins to one run on two hits while striking out eight.

All four Chippewa pitchers worked out of jams, most importantly Stumpf in the ninth when he got the final out on strikes, stranding the tying run at second base for his first save.

"They were outstanding," Sabol said. "That's what we've been lacking the last couple of years, guys with experience out of the pen. Competitive with good stuff.

"Just really impressive, their composure with runners on late in the game to hold it where it was. If we do that, we're going to be in a lot of games."

Neiswonger, a freshman and the reigning Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Week, picked up his second win as many starts. He struck out four and walked two.

"Neiswonger wasn't as good as he was last week, but he made some big pitches, kind of settled in," Sabol said. "He's only going to get better at just building the pitch count a little bit.

"Wins are tough to come by, but you win on the road after not really (practicing) in that environment is impressive. I think it's just that we've got a really good mix of newcomers who have a lot of experience and have been through it already, and the guys who've been here are seasoned now. Guys who have been through those scenarios and have been able to execute in some big-time moments.

"I think we kind of have a pretty good grasp on how we want to play right now, which through seven games is a big deal. I'm pretty happy with the guys' effort and their commitment. It's been fun to watch them go play and do it on the field."