Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Central Michigan
Baseball Downed Late by CMU, 5-2
5/21/2010 5:37:36 PM | Baseball
Chippewas score three runs in the bottom of the eighth to take game two
Box score
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Despite out-hitting Central Michigan University, 8-5, the Eastern Michigan University baseball team dropped game two of its three-game set with Chippewas, as the Eagles fell, 5-2, Saturday afternoon, May 21, at Theunissen Stadium.
EMU drops to 25-29 overall and 13-13 in the Mid-American Conference, while CMU improves to 32-20 (19-7 MAC) with the victory.
With the score tied 2-2 in the bottom of the eight, the Chippewas scored three runs with two outs without tallying a hit to take a 5-2 lead, as hit batsmen and walk with the bases loaded and a throwing error led to three runs for CMU and a late lead, which they would hold on to in the final inning.
Junior Corey Chaffins (New London, Ohio-New London) just missed tallying his MAC-best sixth complete game of the season, as he went seven and two-thirds innings, giving up five runs (four earned) on five hits and three walks, while fanning seven batters.
Sophomore Brent Ohrman (Adrian, Mich.-Adrian) and junior transfer Aaron Chavez (Milpitas, Calif.-Milpitas-Ohlone C.C.) both tallied a team-best two hits in the loss.
Facing a 2-0 deficit in the top of the seventh inning, the Eagles capitalized on a Central Michigan throwing error earlier in the frame to tie the game, as a two-out single through the right side by senior Aaron Crooks (Toledo, Ohio-Ottawa Hills) scored Chavez and freshman Daniel Russell (Grandville, Mich.-Grandville), giving EMU its first runs of the series and making it a 2-2 game.
The Eagles threatened an inning later, as a double by senior Andrew Marshall (Mason, Mich.-Mason) and walks to senior Todd Graves (St. Marys, Ohio-St. Marys Memorial) and sophomore Wally Gerbus (Fairfield, Ohio-Stephen T. Baden) loaded the bases. However, CMU reliever Trent Howard managed to get out of the inning without any damage and keep the game tied, 2-2.
But the Chips scored the go-ahead run in the bottom half of the inning, as Nate Theunissen was hit by junior Rob Wendzicki's (Brook Park, Ohio-Midpark) offering on a 1-2 count with the bases loaded, giving Central Michigan a 3-2 advantage. CMU tacked on two more in the inning to take a 5-2 lead, one they would not relinquish in the top of the ninth.
The Eagles and Chips wrap up the regular season tomorrow afternoon, May 22, at 2:05 p.m. Freshman Steve Weber (North Royalton, Ohio-North Royalton) is scheduled to start on the mound for EMU.
