Chippewas held to two hits, drop season opener at Arkansas
Baseball season has officially begun.
The Chippewas started their regular season Friday as they took on the No. 22 team in the country, the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Right-handed pitcher Sean Renzi threw a quality start, but still suffered a loss as CMU dropped its season opener 6-1. It was Arkansas’ 22nd consecutive opening day victory, which came in front of an opening-day crowd record of 9,620.
The Chippewas managed two hits the entire game and six total baserunners. Both hits for CMU came from freshman second baseman Jason Sullivan, who had two singles.
Renzi threw 34 pitches in the first inning, giving up one run on three hits. Arkansas right fielder Eric Cole led off the game with a single and was able to get into scoring position after a pass ball. First baseman Cullen Gassaway singled to right field and knocked in the first run of the game.
The Chippewas struck back in the 2nd inning with an attempted double-steal by senior right fielder Logan Regnier and Sullivan. Regnier scored from third, but Sullivan was eventually thrown out, keeping the game tied 1-1.
Neither team had a baserunner in the third, fourth and fifth inning.
The Razorbacks regained the lead in the sixth after a leadoff bunt single, a single to center field, and an RBI groundout by Gassaway.
Renzi gave up two runs on five hits and two walks in six innings. He threw 96 pitches, 67 for strikes. He also struck out five.
Arkansas starting pitcher Dominic Taccolini went seven innings, giving up one run on one hit and a walk with 79 pitches. He struck out three.
The Chippewas made a late push in the top of the eighth inning. With two men on and one out, freshman infielder Jarrod Watkins pinch-hit in place of senior left fielder Ryan Heeke. Watkins swung at the first pitch and grounded into an inning-ending double play, putting a stop to the CMU threat.
All four runs given up by left-handed reliever Adam Aldred came in the bottom of the eighth inning. After a walk and a strikeout, CMU third baseman Joe Houlihan committed a throwing error, advancing the pinch runner to third base. After a hit batter, a wild pitch by Aldred scored one for the Razorbacks. Arkansas extended its lead after a two-run triple by freshman left fielder Jake Arledge.
He ended up scoring on that triple after a throwing error by Sullivan. It was his first career hit for Arkansas.
CMU got a runner on in the ninth but failed to score.
Arkansas had eight hits, two of those being from Cole and two being from third baseman Carson Shaddy. The Razorbacks combined hit .267, while CMU combined for a .074 batting average.
The Chippewas and Razorbacks will face off in game two of the three game series tomorrow at 3:05 p.m. EST.
