Chippewas trump Timberwolves 5-1 in Tuesday tilt
Hockey sticks, boxing gloves and a Scooby Doo onesie from Northwood's bench matched Central Michigan’s dynamic energy in the dugout.
However, the props proved to be of no help to the Timberwolves as the Chippewas earned a 5-1 win Tuesday at Theunissen Stadium.
Both teams combined to use 15 pitchers and accumulate 16 hits as CMU improves to 31-13 overall, 13-4 at home in 2021 and 36-6 all-time against Northwood, who is now 25-11.
Key Moments
The Chippewas struck first in the opening inning behind a sacrifice fly from Jakob Marsee and an RBI single from Garrett Navarra to take a 2-0 lead. Navarra was ultimately the final out of the inning when he was caught in a rundown between first and second base, allowing Zach Gilles to score and give CMU a 3-0 lead after one inning.
Redshirt freshman Nick Dardas extended the Chippewa advantage to four runs when he smacked a 1-1 pitch for an RBI double. Freshman Danny Wuestenfeld reached second base behind two defensive mishaps by the Timberwolves in the fourth, and later scored when Dardas earned his second RBI double of the game when he snuck a 2-2 pitch just to the right right of the third base chalk for a 5-0 CMU lead.
The Timberwolves added their first run of the game in the top portion of the sixth inning behind an RBI double to center field from Rhett Evans to cut the home team’s lead to 5-1. The Chippewas loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but a fielder’s choice from Wuestenfeld led to a force out at home plate and a strikeout from Dardas ended the scoring threat.
Clayton Brock, Aaron Husson and Logan Buczkowski slammed the door shut in the final three innings, allowing one hit with three strikeouts.
Key Performers
Mario Camilletti drew three walks. His 51 free passes not only leads the country, but places him tied for fifth in school history for single-season base on balls with Dan Cronkright and Pat MacKenzie, who achieved the milestone in 1985 and 2015 respectively. Zavier Warren holds the program record with 59 in 2019.
Navarra, Wuestenfeld and Dardas earned six of the Chippewas nine hits. Seven CMU pitchers combined to allow one earned run off seven hits with 10 strikeouts and issuing no walks.
What’s Next
The Chippewas travel to Kalamazoo to start a four-game Mid-American Conference series with arch-rival Western Michigan at 3 p.m. Friday.
