Hankins' complete game gives baseball a 10-4 win over Western Michigan
Nine innings pitched from starting left-handed pitcher Tyler Hankins and help on offense resulted in a 10-4 win for the Central Michigan baseball team to stay undefeated in the Mid-American Conference.
On a windy day at Theunissen Stadium, CMU improved to 8-0 in MAC play, and 19-15 overall.
After giving up two runs in the top of the first inning, Hankins got some help when the CMU offense loaded the bases on a two-out rally. Catcher Robert Greenman only needed two pitches to crank a grand slam into left field and CMU never looked back.
"It's always good to score runs early," Greenman said. "It gives you some confidence to come back and trust the stuff."
Central Michigan added runs in the second, fourth, sixth and eighth innings to keep the lead.
Western Michigan had two lead-off home runs in today's game. Each home run was hit to left field because of the strong winds at Theunissen Stadium.
Hankins lasted all nine innings in today's game. He finished with 4 strikeouts and gave up 12 hits.
"Western (Michigan) is a good hitting team," Hankins said. "So obviously, I have to go out there and compete every pitch. I was just leaving the ball up with the wind blowing around making it travel farther."
To end the top of the sixth inning, Jason Sullivan scooped a ground ball, tagged out the runner at first and then finished off the double play with a toss to Evan Kratt at first base.
Sullivan also did his part on the offensive end. In four at-bats, Sullivan recorded one double, one run, one RBI, and was walked with two hits.
Head coach Steve Jaksa said that they enjoy the wins, but the team has to switch their focus to tomorrow's game.
The Chippewas will look to take the third game of the series against WMU at 1:05 p.m. on Sunday at Theunissen Stadium.
