Baseball drops Mid-American Conference opener in Grand Rapids
The Central Michigan baseball team moved to Grand Rapids for its Mid-American Conference opener, Friday, but could not move up in the win column.
The Chippewas fell to Kent State 17-5 at Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex at Davenport University. CMU falls to 4-18 and 0-1 in MAC play and has lost six straight games.
Kent State batted around on the Chippewas early, scoring four runs in the first inning after seven consecutive runners reached. The Golden Flashes sent 10 men to the plate against CMU junior southpaw Nick Deeg in the first inning.
With two outs in the second inning, Deeg gave up a two-run shot to Kent State's Conner Simonetti, who propelled the lead to 6-0.
Deeg would eventually pick up one-two-three innings in the fifth and sixth innings but fell to 1-5 this season.
The Chippewas scored two runs in the eighth inning off a double from senior outfielder Ryan Heeke and added three runs in the ninth off a home run from senior infielder Zack Fields.
CMU had multiple chances to score runs early but only mustered three hits, all singles, in the first six innings. The Chippewas loaded the bases with one out in the second inning before freshman infielder Jason Sullivan grounded into a double play to end the threat.
In the third inning, sophomore infielder Zack McKinstry stole second and third base, but Golden Flashes' ace lefty Eric Lauer struck out freshman outfielder Daniel Robinson, sophomore outfielder Daniel Jipping and sophomore infielder Alex Borglin.
Lauer stuck out seven Chippewas in the first three innings. He exited after pitching 5 2/3 innings.
In the sixth inning, pinch hitter freshman infielder Jarrod Watkins executed a successful hit-and-run to put runners on the corners with two outs. Senior catcher Robert Greenwood popped out to end the inning.
Kent State added three runs in the seventh inning and eight more in the ninth. Simonetti finished the game with 8 RBI.
CMU will place its second game against the Golden Flashes at 2:05 p.m. Saturday at Theunissen Stadium in Mount Pleasant.
