Baseball aims to reconnect against in-state rival Michigan


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Junior pitcher Dazon Cole throws during the second game in the three game series against Northwestern at Theunissen Stadium on March 17.

Led by head coach Steve Jaksa, the Central Michigan baseball team picked up five straight wins before falling in the series finale against Northern Illinois on March 25. 

The Chippewas (7-16-1) head two hours southeast for a dual against Michigan (12-11) at 4 p.m. on March 28 in Ann Arbor at Ray Fisher Stadium. 

“It’s an in-state rival,” Jaska said. “We need to get back on track with the way we play.” 

Last season, the two teams met three times – once in Mount Pleasant and twice in Ann Arbor. The Chippewas earned a 4-3 win at home but dropped both games on the road.

“We beat them the last time we played them, so I’m sure they remember that,” Jaksa said.

Starting for CMU will be junior right-hander Dazon Cole, who is 0-4 with a 5.26 ERA. 

Earlier in the 2018 campaign, on March 14, Michigan took on Lawrence Tech and lost by five runs, 8-3. Five days later, CMU defeated Lawrence Tech at Theunissen Stadium, 14-1. 

Junior outfielder Daniel Robinson is off to a slow start, hitting just .221 over 23 games played. He has struck out 11 times and grounded into one double play. In game three against Northern Illinois, he got back on track with two RBIs and a home run in CMU’s loss. 

“I’m just to the place now where he needs to play every game,” Jaksa said. “He doesn’t need to read anything or talk to anybody.

“He had a good day and needs to continue. That’s the biggest thing.”

The Chippewas are led by redshirt freshman catcher Griffin Lockwood-Powell, who has played in 20 games. He leads the program with a .351 batting average, along with two doubles, one home run and 11 RBIs. 

“He’s going to hit and will continue to hit,” Jaksa said. “He’s been pretty steady when he’s been able to play. He’s proven to us that he can do it.”

Junior infielder Jason Sullivan guides CMU in the runs batted in column with 16 but struggles at the plate with a .213 batting average. He has struck out a team-high 25 times. 

For Michigan, freshman outfielder Jordan Nwogu only has earned six starts and played in 15 total games this season, but he leads the Wolverines with a .391 batting average, racking up one home run and 10 RBIs. 

Junior outfielder Jonathan Engelman slugs the baseball for the Maize and Blue, collecting a .322 batting average with three doubles, one triple, three home runs and 21 RBIs. 

Opposing Cole for the Wolverines is junior right-hander Troy Miller. He enters the game 0-1 with a 4.96 ERA. 

Up Next

Following a one-game battle against the Wolverines, CMU heads to Muncie, Indiana for a three-game series against Ball State from March 30 to April 1. 

Michigan plays a four-game series against Delaware over the same dates with a doubleheader on March 31. 

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