Hibbitts to start for baseball in fifth annual Clash at Comerica game


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Central Michigan University baseball won the 2014 “Clash at Comerica” against Michigan State for the first time in the game’s history.

The Chippewas (24-12, 10-2 Mid-American Conference) will look to hold on to the title at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday at Comerica Park against Michigan State University (18-15, 4-5 Big Ten).

From 2009-2013, CMU was 2-10 against the Spartans, but swept the three games in 2014. MSU ended the Chippewa winning streak March 24, topping CMU 8-3 in East Lansing.

“The venue is good for the guys,” said CMU Head Coach Steve Jaksa. “It meant a little bit more last year because we hadn’t won the first three.”

CMU and MSU used to play the neutral-site game in Midland’s Dow Diamond, but moved over to Comerica Park, the home of the Detroit Tigers, in 2011.

Junior outfielder Logan Regnier has played in the clash twice and said he doesn’t get any extra pre-game jitters.

“You can’t hype up any more game than the rest,” Regnier said. “You just stick with what you do and enjoy the moment.”

While Jaksa said he prioritizes the win over getting everybody in the game, he said the whole team will travel to the game to experience the game.

“It’s cool to take it in, because we get to tour the Tigers’ clubhouse and all that,” Regnier said. “That’s an eye-opening, really cool experience.”

Regnier lives about 30 miles from Comerica Park in Novi and said he has friends and family members coming to the game.

Jaksa said the attendance can be as high as 5,000 people, although it seems empty inside the 41,574-person park.

Sophomore pitcher Blake Hibbitts (0-2, 6.23 ERA) will start Wednesday for CMU. The two-sport Hudsonville native pitched four innings in Wednesday’s win over Oakland, allowing four hits and two runs.

“He’s been the guy,” Jaksa said about weekday games. “Hopefully we’ll bump him up another 10-15 pitches and he’ll be really effective.”

CMU enters Wednesday on a five-game winning streak while MSU won the final two games of its series against Northwestern this weekend. The Spartans will play the University of Michigan Tuesday

at Comerica Park.

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About Taylor DesOrmeau

Taylor DesOrmeau is a senior at Central Michigan University, majoring in integrative public relations ...

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