Chippewas force extra innings, fall to U-M at home


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Central Michigan Life File Photo 

The Wolverines got ahead early, but the Chippewas refused go down quietly. 

Central Michigan University's baseball team allowed the University of Michigan to score three runs in the top of the 1st inning and then two more in the top of the 2nd, before tying the game in the bottom of the fifth and forcing extra innings. 

But U-M manufactured the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th inning on its way to a 6-5 victory over the Chippewas on Wednesday at Theunissen Stadium. 

U-M outfielder Cody Bruter doubled to start the 10th inning, and was advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt. One batter later with runners on the corners and one out, Wolverine second baseman Eric Jacobson laid another bunt down.

The ball rolled right back to CMU closing pitcher Tim Black, who threw home but just behind Bruter's head-first slide, which gave U-M a 6-5 lead and proved the difference in the game. 

"It was a bang-bang play," said CMU Head Coach Steve Jaksa. "It was really a close game. They have a pretty good bullpen and I was impressed with the way ours played, too. I don't like to be on the wrong end of a 6-5 game." 

The loss drops CMU to 30-18 overall with two Mid-American Conference series and one nonconference game remaining this season. 

CMU pushed its first run of the game across in the bottom of the second inning on Daniel Jipping's RBI groundout. 

In the bottom of the third inning, senior catcher Tyler Huntey doubled down the left field line to cut the Wolverines' lead to 5-3. 

The Chippewas loaded the bases twice in the bottom of the fifth inning. A wild pitch from U-M scored CMU's fourth run, brining the tying run to within 90 feet for CMU. One batter later, Jipping drew a walk on four pitches, tying the game at five runs each.

Left-handed CMU starting pitcher Josh Pierce struggled, surrendering five hits and two earned runs before getting pulled from the game by Head Coach Steve Jaksa in the second inning. 

During the middle innings of what turned out to be a close game, Chippewas reliever Jordan Grosjean pitched well and shut the U-M offense down, allowing just one hit through three and 1/3 innings on the mound. 

The Chippewas will face Ball State University at 3 p.m. on Friday in Muncie, Ind for the first of a three-game series before returning home to take on Michigan State University on Tuesday. 

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About Dominick Mastrangelo

Dominick Mastrangelo is the Editor in Chief of Central Michigan Life. Contact him at: editor@cm-life.com 

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