CMU baseball beats EMU 14-0 in seven innings
When exceptional hitting meets good pitching, stellar things happen.
Central Michigan (33-16, 24-9) got a 17-hit performance from its offense and seven shutout innings from its defense, adding up to a 14-0 win over Eastern Michigan (20-24, 14-19) in the two team's season opener Friday afternoon.
Key moments
CMU got a one-out triple from senior outfielder Zach Gilles in the bottom of the first. Gilles scored two batters later on a base hit from senior catcher Griffin Lockwood-Powell.
Eastern Michigan had two hard hit outs in the top of the second, one of which was a home run taken away by Chippewa junior outfielder Chase Rollin's leaping grab. CMU starting pitcher Jordan Patty worked around those hard hit balls to get out of the inning unscathed.
A two-run single in the bottom of the third from Jakob Marsee made it 3-0. Garrett Navarra singled in a run in the fourth before the Chippewas broke it open with seven runs in the fifth. The scoring outburst was highlighted by two-run doubles from Rollin and junior second baseman Mario Camilletti.
Senior first baseman Zach Heeke capped off the fifth with a three-run double, one of his three hits on the day. EMU starter Lucas McGuire (L, 5-6) allowed 10 earned runs on 13 hits in 4 1/3 innings pitched.
While the Chippewa bats worked on offense, Patty (W, 8-2) was solid on the hill. Across 5 2/3 innings, Patty struck out five and allowed just three hits. Redshirt freshman infielder Zach Lechnir singled in two runs in the sixth to put the finishing touches on the victory.
Freshman Ben Vitas sat down the final four Eastern Michigan batters in order. He needed just 10 pitches to do so.
Key performances
Heeke led the way with his three hit, three RBI performance. Four other Chippewas had two hits and each starter recorded a hit.
In addition to Zach Lechnir's single, Drew Lechnir also recorded a hit in a sixth-inning pinch-hit opportunity.
Eli Gora had two of EMU's three hits including a double in the second.
Record watch
Camilletti remains three walks shy of tying the program's single-season record for walks. Zavier Warren set the record in 2019, drawing 59 base on balls. Camilletti currently leads the country in walks.
Saturday's game marked the first since a May 2 victory over Miami (Ohio) in which Camilletti did not draw a walk. He has reached base in 10 straight games.
Up next
The Chippewas and Eagles square off in a Saturday doubleheader. The teams will play two seven inning games, with the first set to begin at one.
