Baseball starts season 2-2 in Opening Weekend
After going 1-1 on Opening Day against Stephen F. Austin and Texas-Rio Grande Valley, the Central Michigan baseball team returned to the diamond for a rematch against both teams in the following two days of Opening Weekend.
The Chippewas (2-2) fell for the second time against UTRGV, 6-3, and downed SFA, 10-8, in the Al Ogletree Classic at Edinburg Stadium.
UTRGV 6, CMU 3
On Feb. 17, the Chippewas got into a 6-0 hole on a three-run home run by junior outfielder Ryan Fish in the seventh inning.
CMU, coached by Steve Jaksa, made the game interested in the eighth inning, responding with three runs off redshirt junior right-hander Jerred Quartier. Junior infielder Jason Sullivan launched a two-run shot, while sophomore infielder Zach Heeke drove in a run on an infield single.
Of CMU’s seven hits against UTRGV, Heeke contributed two of them. The Vaqueros’ redshirt senior left-hander Jorge Flores pitched the first four innings, allowing just three walks while striking out four.
Junior right-handed pitcher Pat Leatherman received the start for the Chippewas and earned a loss. He was the first member of the Chippewas starting pitching staff to take a loss this season.
Leatherman allowed three runs on six hits over six innings. He struck out nine batters.
CMU 10, SFA 8
Heading into the seventh inning, CMU owned a 6-3 lead over Stephen F. Austin on Feb. 18.
Moments later, a four-run inning, courtesy of a two-run double by junior catcher Evan Kratt, put the Chippewas ahead by seven runs, 10-3.
In the top of the eighth, the Lumberjacks got four runs back on the board by back-to-back home runs off the bat of freshman first baseman Jared Martin and sophomore catcher Skylar Black.
Junior right-handed pitcher Dazon Cole, who earned the loss to UTRGV on Feb. 16, relieved closer Colton Bradley in the ninth after he issued four-straight walks with two outs.
With the bases loaded, Cole got the last out of the game for his first career save.
Against SFA, sophomore righty Zach Kohn received the starting nod and went four innings, allowing one run (zero earned) on one hit and three walks. He struck out five Lumberjacks.
Next Game
CMU returns to Mount Pleasant until Feb. 22, which is when the Chippewas travel to Albuquerque to take on New Mexico in a four-game series.
