CMU baseball sweeps NIU in weekend series
Central Michigan improves its record to 9-15, 5-1 in conference play
CMU baseball falls short in league-opener to Northern Illinois University 2-1, Friday, April 26, Keilitz Field at Theunissen Stadium. The Chippewas return to Theunissen Stadium tomorrow for game 2 against NIU. (CM-Life | Hailey Urbane)
The Central Michigan baseball team traveled to DeKalb, Illinois, to play the Huskies of Northern Illinois in a weekend series. The Chippewas swept NIU in all three of the games, improving their overall record to 9-15, 5-1 in conference play.
Game 1
Neither team could get a run on the board to start the game on Friday. Central Michigan finally scored in the top of the fourth inning as junior designated hitter Rees Campanale hit his first home run of the season into left field.
Northern Illinois also found some momentum on offense in the fourth, scoring two runs to take the lead before the inning ended.
The Chippewas scored twice more in the top of the sixth. Campanale’s afternoon continued to heat up as he hit a single down the right field line, collecting an RBI as freshman shortstop Cayden Smith crossed home plate for the first of those runs.
NIU added another run to its tally in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at three.
After allowing one run by the Chippewas in the top of the inning, Northern Illinois took the lead of the game with three runs in the bottom of the seventh, putting the pressure on Central Michigan.
In the end, however, it was an error by the Huskies midway through the final inning that allowed Central Michigan to score three runs of its own, taking the 7-6 victory in game one of the series.
Game 2
The first game of the doubleheader played on Saturday started in familiar fashion, with no runs scored by either squad in the first two innings.
The first runs of the game came with a bang as Central Michigan’s junior second baseman Aaron Piasecki hit a home run to put two on the board for the Chippewas.
CMU scored three more runs to take a five run lead in the fifth inning thanks to home runs from both Smith and sophomore designated hitter Nathan Ball.
Northern Illinois finally found something on offense in the bottom of the fifth inning. Central Michigan junior right-handed pitcher AJ Kostic started to struggle, giving up a double along with two walks. With the bases loaded, CMU surrendered three total runs before getting taken out.
The Chippewas added one more run to their lead in the seventh before giving up two in the bottom of the eighth.
In the bottom of the ninth, Northern Illinois scored a single run to tie the game at six, forcing the game into extra innings.
After a scoreless 10th inning for both teams, the Chippewas exploded at the plate in the 11th, scoring five total runs and putting the game out of reach for good, winning 11-6.
Game 3
The Chippewas used the momentum from the game earlier in the day to dominate the final game of the series Saturday afternoon.
The Chippewas scored an early run in the second inning to take the lead. In the top of the third, Campanale hit his second homer of the weekend, adding two runs to the tally.
Central Michigan didn’t let its foot off the gas, scoring three more runs to top off a five-run third inning. Junior center fielder Zach Knowlton sent a single down the right side of the field, allowing a run to score. Sophomore left fielder Mikey Murphy then went yard, increasing the score to 6-0 to end the inning.
The Huskies were ultimately unable to catch up to the Chippewas, resulting in an 8-4 win and a weekend sweep for Central Michigan.
The Chippewas will be back at home for their next game against Grace Christian on Tuesday at 3 p.m.
