Top two MAC teams clash at Theunissen Stadium this weekend
It's No. 1 versus No. 2 in the Mid-American Conference this weekend when baseball hosts a three-game set against Ball State.
Central Michigan has held the top spot overall in the MAC from the beginning with an 8-0 start to conference play and has not dropped a MAC series since May 2013 against Akron. CMU will put its first-place overall record and a six-series winning streak in the MAC on the line against the top competitor in the standings, the Cardinals.
"This is going to be a turning point in the season," said junior outfielder Nick Regnier. "If we win this series, we're sitting good to try to win out the MAC. I'm sure they are just as ready as we are, so we have to put pressure on them first."
Ball State has won nine-straight MAC series since April 2013.
Pressure will be on the MAC's best pitching staff.
The Chippewas feature a league-best 2.97 team ERA, while Ball State is either No. 1 or No. 2 in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, runs scored, hits, RBI and home runs.
"We haven't talked about that," Jaksa said. "I always thought good pitching beats good hitting. We just have to go and do what we do well."
With a big weekend like this, it is important to set the tone.
That job will go to junior right-handed pitcher Jordan Foley (5-2, 2.77 ERA), CMU's ace.
"If you look at a game as a must win, then you're approaching it wrong," Jaksa said. "The cream always rises to the top and if Jordan's in a good place then we'll be in a good place."
The Cardinals will send out senior right-handed pitcher T.J. Weir (5-1, 3.61 ERA) who came into this week leading the conference in strikeouts with 80.
CMU will have to improve on its 250 strikeouts, ranking third in the MAC.
BREAKOUT BOX
Friday: CMU junior RHP Jordan Foley (5-2, 2.77) vs BSU senior RHP T.J. Weir (5-1, 3.61)
Saturday: CMU senior RHP Pat Kaminska (6-1, 2.10) vs BSU junior RHP Scott Baker (5-4, 4.69)
Sunday: CMU freshman LHP Nick Deeg (3-4, 4.14) vs BSU freshman RHP Scott Plesac (7-2, 2.73)
MAC West Standings
Central Michigan (25-13, 12-3 MAC)
Ball State (27-14, 11-3 MAC)
Toledo (16-23, 8-8 MAC)
Northern Illinois (11-26, 6-9 MAC)
Western Michigan (14-21, 5-10 MAC)
Eastern Michigan (12-24, 2-13 MAC)
