Big innings lead to CMU's comeback victory over Oakland, 24-10
Central Michigan baseball coach Jordan Bischel watches the Chippewas face Ball State April 7 at Theunissen Stadium.
Jordan Bischel wasn't proud of the energy to start the game, which saw the Central Michigan baseball team trailing after four innings.
However, two seven-run innings turned the whole situation upside down.
he bats were hot for Central Michigan’s baseball team in their nonconference game April 9.
The Chippewas (24-8, 7-2 in Mid-American Conference) took on Oakland (7-21, 6-6 Horizon League) looking to bounce back after a 10-0 loss to Ball State in their last outing.
CMU rebounded well and got a 24-10 victory over the Golden Grizzlies on April 9 at the Oakland University Baseball Field in Rochester.
After two innings Oakland held the lead 5-0, but CMU would start the comeback by scoring three runs in the third.
"I was disappointed with our energy and focus to start the game," Bischel said. "We did a good job competing offensively after we fell behind."
CMU was still trailing after four innings and then erupted for seven runs in the fifth inning to take the lead 14-9. From there it was all CMU. The Chippewas would have another seven-run inning in the seventh to take a commanding 22-9 lead.
Plenty of Chippewa bats performed well in the game, including Zavier Warren, Chase Rollin and Zach Heeke who each had three RBIs.
CMU designated hitter Griffin Lockwood-Powell had a three-run home run in the seventh inning. He now has seven long balls and 47 RBIs, both tops in the Mid-American Conference.
Left-hander Garret Willis started on the mound for the Chippewas but was taken out after just one inning due to allowing five runs on four hits.
Sophomore Logan Buczkowski was the third pitcher used in the game, and he earned the win for his first of the season.
Central Michigan will now return to MAC play to take on Kent State (13-17, 3-4 MAC) in a three-game series April 12-14 in Kent, Ohio.
Kent State has not been dominant so far this season, but the Golden Flashes’ third baseman Kian O’Brien was recently named MAC Player of the Week. He has been an offensive juggernaut lately and will present a challenge for the Chippewa starting pitchers who have pitched well to this point in the season.
