Chippewas drop first game of MAC Tournament against Miami, game two slated for Thursday morning
Miami 10 | Central Michigan 5
After jumping out to an early lead against Miami (Ohio), the Central Michigan baseball team gave up nine runs in the final six innings Wednesday to lose its first game of the 2016 Mid-American Conference Tournament in Avon, Ohio.
The No. 6 Chippewas out-hit MU 12-10 at All-Pro Freight Stadium, but couldn't generate enough runs to hang with the three-seeded RedHawks, falling 10-5. CMU took the regular-season series against Miami 2-1 on May 13-15.
It took CMU just two batters to record its first run in the first inning. Junior first basemen Alex Borglin tripled to start the game and was driven in by a single from two-hole hitter, senior outfielder Ryan Heeke. Heeke went 4-5 at the plate, scoring three of CMU's five runs. Borglin recorded a triple and a double, going 3-5.
The Chippewas picked up another run in the top of the third inning, setting the score 3-1.
The momentum would shift in favor of the RedHawks in the bottom of the fourth inning. MU tallied five runs on CMU starting pitcher, senior Sean Renzi. MU first basemen Ross Haffey capped off the rally inning with a three-run home run off Renzi that cleared the right-field fence by 15 feet.
Renzi went six innings, allowing six earned runs on seven hits. He struck out four batters.
With the score 6-3, CMU added a run in its half of the fifth inning to make the score 6-4. CMU left eight runners on base during the game.
A four-run seventh inning for Miami was the dagger the Chippewas couldn't overcome. It made the score 10-4.
CMU added a run in the top of the ninth inning, but couldn't string enough hits together to make the complete half-dozen run comeback.
MU starting pitcher Cole Gnetz allowed three runs on eight hits, but reliever Shane Smith allowed just one run on four CMU hits.
The loss moves Central Michigan into the losers bracket to face the loser of Ball State vs. Western Michigan on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. With the win, Miami will play the winner of No. 2 Ball State and No. 7 Western Michigan on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
