CMU baseball blasts past Grace Christian
Central Michigan University junior infielder Brady Krzciok swings his bat to avoid a strike in Theunissen Stadium on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (CM Life | Jasmine Brookins)
Already ahead 1-0 in the first inning, junior Rees Campanale stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded. On the first pitch of the at-bat he unloaded on a ball, sending it to deep left field as it left the ballpark putting Central Michigan Baseball up 5-0.
The Chippewas scored two more runs in the inning, in route to a seven-inning, 26-1 win over Grace Christian on Tuesday. The win extends the CMU win streak to five games, as the team inches closer to .500 on the season.
“I think it’s just building on what we’ve done the last nine or 10 games, just trying to be better every time out,” head coach Jake Sabol said about the team’s offensive output.
After a scare 6-5 walk-off win over Cleary last week, CMU had to get the bats going early and that is exactly what it did.
“Last week with Cleary coming in here it was the same type of deal:, a smaller school wanting to come in here and beat you,” Sabol said. “I think our guys were determined to not let what happened last week play out again today.”
Central Michigan’s offensive onslaught was powered by eight extra base hits, including five home runs. The output led to a season high in runs, hits and home runs for the Chippewas.
One of the homers came in the second inning off the bat of sophomore Nathan Ball, who extended the Chippewa lead to 9-1. CMU would add two more runs in the third, extending the lead to 11-1.
Redshirt sophomore Bryson Webb was the next Chippewa to round the bases, sending his first of two home runs in the fourth and extending the Chippewa lead to 12. In the fifth, the last two homers came off back-to-back shots by redshirt junior Spencer Verburg and Webb’s second of the game, which put CMU ahead 18-1.
The Chippewa bats stayed hot in the fifth, as they added four more runs by the end of the inning. In the sixth CMU would add four more, eventually bringing the score to 26-1.
On the pitching side, CMU was just as dominant. Right-handed pitcher Hayden Bailey got the start for Central Michigan, allowing one run over four innings and striking out seven batters.
Junior Jack Otis and redshirt sophomore Carter Campau both entered the game in relief for the Chippewas. While both gave up a hit, Otis struck out three Grace Christian batters.
Central Michigan is tied for first in the Mid-American Conference at 5-1. It welcomes 7-2 Bowling Green to Theunissen Stadium in a three-game set starting at 3 p.m. Friday.
“They (the players) know it’s gonna be a fun weekend because the defending MAC champs are coming in here,” Sabol said. “But we’re just trying to play the same style of baseball we’ve played the last 10 games. If we make it anything bigger than that, we’re gonna let the moment be too big for us.”
