Baseball falls to Toledo, drops to second place
A series-opening loss to Toledo threw a wrench in Central Michigan baseball's conference title dreams.
Falling 4-2 Thursday, the Chippewas (36-16, 28-7 Mid-American Conference) drop to second place behind Ball State, who won its series opener against Miami (Ohio). The Cardinals (35-17, 29-7) have a 0.5 game lead with three to play.
It was a slow start for CMU against the Rockets, who scored first on a second inning solo shot from Mason Sykes. Toledo's lead grew to 2-0 in the fourth on an RBI single from Trey Wright.
CMU senior second baseman Mario Camilletti cut the deficit in half with an RBI single, scoring outfielder Jacob Donahue in the fifth inning.
Starter Jordan Patty (L, 6-4) pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits. The third run charged to the Midland native scored after he exited the game, as Ryan Palmblad allowed an RBI groundout to the first batter he faced.
Palmblad allowed an unearned run with two outs in the sixth, as Toledo's Scott Mackiewicz reached on first baseman Danny Wuestenfeld's error which allowed Jeron Williams to score.
The Chippewas got a run back in the bottom of the eighth when Jakob Marsee scored Camilletti with a single. However, it was a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth for the offense against Toledo's Cal McAninich that sealed their fate.
Up next
CMU and Toledo will play a doubleheader Friday beginning at noon before finishing the season with one game at 1 p.m. Saturday.
