Top-ranked Ball State tops CMU in weekend series ... but not without a fight
The Chippewas lost the first two games but avoided the sweep with a shut-out win on Sunday
The Central Michigan University Men’s Baseball team line up to welcome the starters for the third game against Ball State at Theunissen Stadium on Sunday, April 27, 2025. (CM Life | Jasmine Brookins)
Central Michigan hosted the Cardinals of Ball State over the weekend, as the Chippewas looked to stay in conference tournament contention. The Cardinals, who hold the top spot in the Mid-American Conference, won the series in the first two games, but failed to complete the sweep, thanks to a Chippewa shut-out in game three.
“I thought we played good baseball,” head coach Jake Sabol said. “Not great baseball. I still think there's more out there, but three games against the top team in the league that, down the stretch, we ... had opportunities to seize."
Game 1
In the first game of the series, the Cardinals jumped out to a commanding lead in the second as the team scored five runs in the inning. Ball State scored a sixth run in the fifth inning before the Chippewas finally scored one of their own. Junior second baseman Aaron Piasecki hit a double to center field and junior center fielder Zach Knowlton scored the run to get Central Michigan on the board.
The Cardinals scored two more with a home run in the seventh to take an 8-1 lead. The Chippewas tried to complete a comeback but fell short as Ball State took game one with a score of 9-6.
Game 2
In contrast to game one, it was the Chippewas that got out to a hot start in game two. In the third inning, junior catcher Aydin Wright grounded into a double play but gave junior first baseman Brady Krzciok a chance to score the opening run of the game.
In the fifth, sophomore left fielder Mikey Murphy sent a double down the left field line, allowing Knowlton to score. Piasecki followed the play up with a single into right center, allowing Murphy to cross home. Sophomore designated hitter Nathan Ball finished off the scoring in the fifth inning with a single to right center, scoring a fourth run as Piasecki found home.
Unfortunately for Central Michigan, after the fifth, the offense ground to a halt. Its opponents, however, did the opposite as they found their momentum and flipped the script. The Cardinals used a three-run seventh inning to close the gap and a three-run eighth to take a two-run lead.
The Chippewas were ultimately unable to recover, and Ball State scored one final run in the ninth to ice game two with a score of 7-4.
Game 3
Much like game two, the Chippewas got going early in the final game of the weekend. In the bottom of the first, Piasecki hit a triple into deep right-center field, allowing both Murphy and Wright to cross home plate. Central Michigan scored another run as Ball hit a single down the middle of the field and Piasecki scored.
Just four batters into the game, Ball State was forced to make a pitchers change as the Chippewas had already collected three hits and three runs with zero outs.
Central Michigan continued to pressure the Cardinals, scoring a fourth run in the bottom of the second. Wright collected the RBI as he sent a single into center field and Murphy was able to score.
Neither team was able to score any more runs for the rest of the game, and the Chippewas avoided the weekend sweep with the 4-0 win.
The Chippewas only pitched three players on Sunday, sophomore right hander Jared Hanson (starter), senior right hander Hayden Bailey and junior right hander Nate Ross. The group collected five strikeouts while only allowing five total hits.
“I'm just proud of those guys for sticking to the process and working their tail off every single day to get better, and (they) took advantage of some great opportunities today,” Sabol said.
Central Michigan currently sits in seventh place in the MAC standings, one spot out from making the conference tournament. With 12 games remaining on the schedule, the Chippewas have work to do to keep themselves in the hunt.
The Chippewas will face Ohio State in an away game on Tuesday, at 6 p.m. for their next matchup.
In the next two weeks, the team will face in-state rivals Western and Eastern Michigan in two crucial series that may impact who advances to the playoffs.
Eastern Michigan currently has an identical conference record to CMU, 9-12, but it sits one spot ahead in the standings with a better overall record. Western Michigan is one game behind both squads in conference wins with an 8-13 record.
Central Michigan's final MAC series of the season will be against Toledo.
“They're all winnable series for us, which is what we need to do in order to put ourselves in that position (to make the tournament),” Sabol said. “But we're just gonna enjoy this one and make sure the momentum carries over into the week. We just gotta take it one day at a time.”
