Chippewas fall in extra innings to non-conference foe
Chris McCartyWhen things go wrong sometimes it’s best just to forget it and move on.
That’s what Judd Folske and the CMU baseball team are going to try to do after Wednesday’s 8-7 10 inning loss to Wayne State.
“A loss is a loss. We are going to put this behind us,” said CMU head coach Judd Folske.
The Warriors of Wayne State put together a three-run tenth inning and defensively held on to gain the victory over the Chippewas.
It was not without a fight, however, as senior centerfielder Matt Crowley hit a two run homer in bottom half of the tenth.
A combination of errors, missed opportunities and bad hops contributed to the defeat as CMU committed a total of six errors, all of which were costly.
“It was pathetic. If we’re not going to play defense, we’re going to sit,” Folske said.
The first error came in the first inning as Aaron Lawson hit a single to leftfield with a man on and the ball went right by Tim Groves, allowing Dan Fairchild to score from first and put Wayne State ahead early.
The Warriors never looked back and took a 2-0 lead at the end of their first turn at bat.
The Chippewas came back and tied the game at 2 in the bottom half of the second.
Two more Wayne State runs in the third inning put the Warriors back on top, while CMU earned back a run in the bottom end of the inning.
The Warriors added one more in the sixth to put them ahead 5-3 until the Chippewas took one in the eighth and ninth to tie the game and put it into extra innings.
Despite the defensive difficulties, CMU still came up with 14 hits and put itself in a chance to win in the ninth inning.
Ryan Krueger singled in the game tying run, while advancing Tim Bullinger.
Two batters later, Bullinger bolted for home in an attempt to steal, but was thrown out at the plate, ending the Chippewa run in the ninth.
Although the loss hurts, Folske was using the outing as a chance to rotate some players, work in some pitchers and rest the ailing Jason Helps, who made just one plate appearance Wednesday in a pinch hitting situation in the ninth inning.
“Any time you pull a starter it hurts,” Folske said of Helps not playing.
In the long run, though, working in the reserves and a backup lineup is what Folske is hoping will pay dividends, a lesson he learned from last season.
“Last year we had no backup infielders. This year we have our backside covered. You need a backup; you have to establish depth,” Folske said.
That is what was attempted as David LeMieux started at the shortstop position in Helps’ absence.
He also started Tim Groves in leftfield and Mike Galloway at the thirdbase slot.
Galloway, who came into the game batting .342 with 12 RBI, went 0-for-3 for the day. He is someone, in particular, Folske is looking for to move to the next level
“We need to get Galloway on track. We’re waiting for him to break out,” Folske said.
The Chippewas also used an array of pitchers as each inning, they brought someone else to the mound.
Sophomore Dan Horvath started the game, but it was Chad Pleiness who suffered the loss in the top of the 10th.
Up next for the Chippewas is a weekend Mid-American Conference series against the Zips of Akron.
The series begins today at 3 p.m. and continues with a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m. and ends with a noon start on Sunday. All games will be at Theunissen Stadium.
