Baseball looks to finalize lineups in final road trip before conference play
With conference play less than a week away, CMU baseball coach Steve Jaksa looks to finalize lineups and a pitching rotation this weekend when it travels to Normal, Ill., for a series with Illinois State.
CMU (6-6) plays four games in three days, beginning with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. today. Originally scheduled for Saturday, the doubleheader was moved in anticipation of inclement weather.
“Baseball’s a game of getting yourself ready to play every day, a little different than some,” Jaksa said. “You have to have some consistency in your approach to playing the game.”
Senior Jesse Hernandez (1-1, 7.56 ERA) gets the start in Game 1. Hernandez allowed six earned runs on seven hits in 5.2 innings in the team’s 7-3 loss against North Dakota State on March 13. Sophomore Trent Howard (1-1, 5.68 ERA) starts Game 2.
The Chippewas follow up with junior Jake Sabol (2-1, 3.10 ERA) Saturday and sophomore Rick Dodridge (1-1, 1.93 ERA) Sunday.
“This is a weekend we want to look at our rotation and the lineups we have,” Jaksa said. “(Robbie) Harman’s back in, so that throws a little different mix into it. This will give us an opportunity to solidify some things and get guys playing together that haven’t played together.”
WEDNESDAY WIN
Senior third baseman James Teas went 4-for-5 with three RBIs to help CMU beat Concordia 13-3 Wednesday, its second win in as many days.
Teas hit a two-run home run in the first inning that gave CMU the lead after falling behind 1-0 early.
“It’s good to get the bats going early,” Teas said. “I was happy to get some runs on the board. It’s always key when the other team scores to answer back as soon as possible.”
CMU maintained a 2-1 lead before Concordia scored a run in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game. The Chippewas answered with three runs, including a two-run double from senior first baseman Tyler Kipke (3-for-5, 4 RBIs).
The Chippewas had a five-run, two-out rally in the seventh inning highlighted by a two-run home run from catcher Jordan Adams (2-for-4, 3 RBIs) to seal the win.
“We had a few innings there where we kind of stood still,” Teas said. “It was good to get a lot of runs at the end.”
Junior Matt Faiman (1-0) got the win in his first career start, allowing one earned run on four hits in five innings pitched.
