With a doubleheader sweep over Ohio Saturday, the Central Michigan baseball team sits alone as the only undefeated team remaining in the Mid-American Conference.

The Chippewas (16-14, 5-0 MAC) defeated the Bobcats (15-14, 3-2) in both games in Athens, Ohio Saturday in two different ways.

CMU beat OU, 6-2, in 12 innings in game one before jumping out to a commanding lead and holding on for the 10-8 victory in game two.

Central Michigan has now won six-straight games — its longest winning streak since April of 2015.

Head coach Steve Jaksa is pleased with his team's recent success and said focusing on one game at a time has been the key.

“To me that’s all fine and dandy, but we’re going to try and just win tomorrow,” he said. “(The streak) makes us feel good and all, but we know how it goes. We want to hold serve and makes sure we have a good performance and move on.”

Offense Explodes

In game one, CMU went seven-straight innings without a run before breaking out with a four-run 12th inning. The hitting barrage carried over to game two as the Chippewas lead 7-0 after two innings.

Junior Daniel Jipping hit a grand slam (5) in the second inning after senior Robert Greenman started the inning with a home run of his own (3). Senior Alex Borglin scored off a wild pitch in the first inning and sophomore Jason Sullivan added a sacrifice fly in the second inning.

In the fifth inning, sophomore Dazon Cole, who pitched in game one, delivered a 2-RBI single to make it 10-1. All of the momentum was on the Chippewas’ side, but that wouldn’t last for long.

The Bobcats stormed back with RBIs in the fifth and sixth inning before scoring off a fielding error in the seventh. Ohio’s Rudy Rott then blasted a 3-run home run to cut deeper into CMU’s lead and make it 10-8.

Freshman left-hander Tyler Hankins went six innings, allowing four earned runs on six hits and four walks. In eight appearances this season, the Bartlett, Illinois native remains undefeated (3-0).Freshman Jake Raether came on in the seventh inning and junior Colton Bradley relieved him in the ninth inning to get the save.

“We were clutch in a lot of ways that game and did some nice things," Jaksa said. "Hankins pitched well and then just ran into a little hump that created a tough inning for us. It was a dogfight and we hung in there.”

Game One

Locked in a 2-2 stalemate in the 12th inning, sophomore Jason Sullivan laid down a bunt to bring home freshman Reed Adams and give CMU the lead and first run in eight innings.

Jipping broke the game open with a 2-RBI double, followed by an RBI-single from sophomore Evan Kratt later in the inning to put the game out of reach. Jipping finished with six RBIs on the day.

Cole (2-4) got the start for CMU and pitched 8 2/3 innings. The right-handed Pontiac native surrendered six hits and three walks while striking out two batters.

Jaksa said Cole's ability to impact the game on offense and defense has been a big asset to the team.

“He’s going to just keep getting better,” he said. “He got a lot of first pitch outs and kept his pitch count down. He’s got a strong arm and can handle the load. (I’m) very pleased with him.”

Borglin started the contest with a lead-off home run to right field. Greenman made it a 2-0 game in the fourth inning with an RBI-double to left field, which scored Kratt.

Raether, sophomore Michael Brettell and Colton Bradley came on in relief. Brettell was rewarded with the win.

Raether and Bradley combined to pitch 3 1/3 innings Saturday and surrendered no runs and only two hits.

What’s Next

The Chippewas and Bobcats meet Sunday for the third and final game of the series. First pitch is at 1 p.m.