Baseball carries undefeated MAC record into Buffalo home series
Baseball hopes to keep one streak alive after another was snapped Wednesday.
After losing to Michigan, ending seven-straight wins, Central Michigan hopes to keep its unbeaten Mid-American Conference record this weekend against Buffalo.
"We'll focus on (Buffalo) when we get back (to Mount Pleasant)," said head coach Steve Jaksa following the 6-3 loss to the Wolverines. "By (Thursday), it'll be time to turn the page on to the weekend against Buffalo."
The Bulls have improved in recent years, going from 10-16 in MAC play in 2012 to 19-7 last season. As a team, they are in the top five in the MAC in slugging percentage, on-base percentage, triples, home runs, sacrifice flies and are patient at the plate with 104 walks (No. 4 in the MAC).
In pitching, Buffalo is No. 3 in team ERA at 4.05, two spots behind CMU at 2.66. Opposing batters are hitting a MAC-worst .231 against Buffalo with 164 hits and 87 runs earned, No. 2 in the MAC behind the Chippewas (70).
"We know Buffalo pretty good," Jaksa said. "We know they've got a good ball club and I'm excited we're going to playing at home again this weekend."
With a three-game weekend series, CMU wraps up a five-game week.
The bullpen has seen increased innings of work this week, but Jaksa said it's part of the game.
"You have to be able to handle the highs and lows of a game," he said. "We play mid-week games every year and we have to look (at) what happened in those games and strike to improve from them."
Jaksa hopes to see an improved effort on defense this weekend. The Chippewas recorded six errors in two mid-week games this week, resulting in nine unearned runs.
"That's the key," Jaksa said. "How do you get better when you're playing one or two mid-week games."
The series begins at 3:05 Friday when junior right-handed pitcher Jordan Foley takes the mound at Theunissen Stadium. Saturday's game starts at 2:05 p.m. and Sunday's series conclusion starts at 1:05 p.m.
BOB
Central Michigan (17-11, 6-0 MAC) vs. Buffalo (12-10, 3-2 MAC) at Theunissen Stadium.
Game 1: Friday at 3.05 p.m.
Game 2: Saturday at 2:05 p.m.
Game 3: Sunday at 1:05 p.m.
