Chippewas dominate Spartans at home, win third straight game
Central Michigan: 12 | Michigan State: 1
For the second straight week, the Central Michigan baseball team has upset an in-state Big Ten Conference foe at Theunissen Stadium.
The Chippewas defeated the Spartans of Michigan State 12-1 Tuesday at Theunissen Stadium. They beat then-No. 21 Michigan 8-7 on May 11 in Mount Pleasant.
“I can’t remember off the top of my head (the last time we beat both teams in the same season). All I know is we did it this year and it feels good,” said Head Coach Steve Jaksa. “We went 14 innings with MSU last time, so we were glad not to go 14 this time.”
CMU (19-34, 10-11 Mid-American Conference) won behind the arm of redshirt freshman Dazon Cole. In 5 1/3 innings of work, Cole took a no hitter into the sixth inning, but allowed three walks in the inning. He was pulled after his first surrendered hit — a soft line drive to shallow right field — brought in a run for MSU.
“Dazon was really sharp and pitched better than he did his last time,” Jaksa said. “Colton (Bradley) came in and pitched good and sustained that.”
Central Michigan batters provided Cole all the run support he needed.
The offense drove in 12 runs on 11 hits and five extra base hits. Seven different Chippewas delivered a hit. The score was 2-0 by the end of the first inning.
Senior Zach Fields and freshman Daniel Robinson delivered with RBI singles in the third inning to push CMU's lead to 4-0. MSU starting pitcher Andrew Gonzalez was pulled after 2 and 1/3 innings pitched.
After a scoreless fourth and fifth inning, junior first basemen Alex Borglin launched a three-run home run — his first of the season. His hitting streak is now at 18 games.
The offensive barrage continued in the eighth inning with three straight hit Chippewa batters and a single by Fields. Fields finished the game 3-for-5 with four RBI.
The Chippewas have won eight of their last 10 games and will look to carry momentum into their final series of the regular season on Thursday against rival Western Michigan.
“We’ve told them we are going to keep working and keep grinding. It’s the last weekend for our seniors and we want to go into the tournament a certain way,” Jaksa said. “I think if we are consistent with what we are doing, I don’t think a lot of teams will want to play us.”
Game one of the three-game series begins at 3:05 p.m. at Theunissen Stadium. The MAC Tournament begins Wednesday, May 25.
CORRECTION: The article originally stated Cole pitched 5 1/2 innings. It was corrected to 5 and 1/3 innings.
