Deeg pitches complete game shutout to help CMU clinch first series victory of the year


On a bright, warm Saturday afternoon at Theunissen Stadium, the Central Michigan baseball team attempted to build off its season high 14-run performance against the Toledo Rockets on Friday.

The Chippewas won with 13 fewer runs than Friday, as CMU (10-29, 5-6 Mid-American Conference) beat Toledo (8-31, 3-8 MAC) 1-0 to win its first series of the season.

CMU scored its first run in the first inning on an RBI infield single by freshman right fielder Daniel Robinson. After that run, it was all pitching and defense the rest of the game for both teams.

Junior left-handed pitcher Nick Deeg started for the Chippewas and was effective throughout the entire game. He didn’t give up his first hit until there were two outs in the third inning. He threw a complete game shutout, giving up zero runs on six hits and two walks. He threw 113 pitches.

"He was in really good command," Head Coach Steve Jaksa said. "And that's a team win. (Robinson) making those two catches in right field, the second one being a diving catch with a runner on. That's baseball at its best. If you're here watching a college baseball game, you got your money's worth for sure."

In Deeg's last outing against Ball State, he gave up six unearned runs after seven errors by CMU's defense. Saturday, the CMU defense was what kept the team in the game.

"Every time I go out, I try to get my defense to work because I know I'm not going to have a lot of strike outs," Deeg said. "It was nice to see them have my back today. I know they're going to be out there for me."

Both teams had opportunities to score, but failed to convert. In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Chippewas had runners on the corners with one out. Senior third baseman/relief pitcher Morgan Oliver lined out to Toledo pitcher Ross Achter, who then threw to first base to get sophomore designated hitter Colton Bradley out for the double play.

The Rockets left five men on base and had eight men reach base against Deeg.

Deeg said he "didn't feel good" warming up before the game. He said it wasn't the first time in his career where he didn't feel like he had his best stuff before the game started but ended up pitching a good game.

The Chippewas and Rockets wrap up their three-game series Sunday at Theunissen Stadium at 1:05 p.m.

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