Morrow throws complete game, CMU continues winning ways at MAC tournament
How things change from one day to the next.
After allowing nine runs on 13 hits in Wednesday’s Mid-American Conference tournament opener, the Central Michigan baseball team limited fifth-seed Bowling Green offensively Thursday en route to an 8-1 win at VA Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe, Ohio.
Junior Bryce Morrow threw a complete game, yielding one earned run on four hits while striking out nine for the Chippewas. Bowling Green entered the game with the highest batting average (.344) in the conference.
"I was just throwing my fastball all day," Morrow said. "I threw a couple of mid-sliders but it was just really the fastball, and they didn’t seem to make any adjustments."
CMU (35-20) capitalized off a couple of fielding errors in the second inning to take an early 6-0 lead.
Senior Billy Anderson reached base on a throwing error by Falcons’ second baseman Logan Meisler, creating a first and third situation after senior Dale Cornstubble (2-for-5, two runs scored) singled to start the inning. Another error by Logan during the next at-bat allowed Anderson to score and sophomore Scott Phillion to reach base.
The Chippewas got an infield bunt single from senior Ricky Clark before the hits started falling. Junior Robbie Harman singled to left field to make it 2-0 before junior Matt Faiman (2-for-4, two RBIs, two runs scored) hit a two-run double down the left field line.
CMU added two more on a sacrifice fly and fielder’s choice ground ball.
"From our standpoint, we were real pleased with how the inning went," said coach Steve Jaksa. "They made a mistake with a groundball that Billy hit. They probably should have just taken an out instead of trying to turn a double play.
"As soon as that happened, it was all our way after that."
Phillion (1-for-5, two RBIs, run scored) would double to left-center field in the fifth inning to extend the score to 7-0.
Morrow retired the Falcons in order for the first three innings and carried a no-hitter into the fifth until Falcons shortstop Jon Berti doubled to lead off the inning. Bowling Green would score its only run of the game before Morrow bounced back to get three consecutive batters and end the inning.
"We made one error, but we made some nice plays defensively and did a good job scoring runs for him," Jaksa said. "That combination puts us in the position where he had a pretty good performance."
In CMU’s 12-7 win against Bowling Green on March 24, Morrow gave up four earned runs on seven hits in 2 1/3 innings pitched. Since being moved to the No. 2 position in the starting rotation, he is 2-0 with a pair of complete games.
"I was really trying to get some arm strength back," Morrow said. "The first half of the season didn’t go how I wanted it to, but after that was over I told myself that it was in the past and now I just needed to go out there and help my team."
Senior James Teas had another good day hitting the ball, going 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Kevin Leady took the loss for Bowling Green (29-22-1).
Even with the win, CMU could play the Falcons again. The Chippewas advance to play the winner of BGSU-No. 4 Ball State at 4 p.m. Friday
Friday's tournament schedule No. 5 Bowling Green vs. No. 4 Ball State, 9 a.m. No. 2 Kent State vs. No. 3 Toledo, 12:30 p.m. No. 1 CMU vs. BGSU-BSU winner, 4 p.m. No. 7 EMU vs. KSU-UT winner, 7:30 p.m. (Miami and Ohio were eliminated on Thursday)
