Mid-American Conference

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Evan Kratt drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth inning on Friday as the Central Michigan baseball team posted a 5-4 come-from-behind victory over rival Western Michigan in the opener of a three-game Mid-American Conference series at Keilitz Field at Theunissen Stadium.
 
CMU, 29-12, 11-5 MAC, trailed 4-0 after 3 ½ innings, then got a solo home run from Griffin Lockwood-Powell in the fourth before scoring four runs in the final three innings. The Broncos are 13-24, 16-8.
 
"We got in our own heads just a little bit trying to do too much," CMU coach Jordan Bischel said. "It was big for us to battle back and to do it with some guys who haven't been the guys that have carried us.
 
"Just some really, really positive things across the board."
 
Game two of the three-game series is scheduled for Saturday (1 p.m.). Pat Leatherman will pitch for CMU. The series finale is scheduled for Sunday (1 p.m.).
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Lockwood-Powell's team-leading eighth home run of the season cleared the center field fence in the fourth. Zach Gilles scored from first on Lockwood-Powell's seventh-inning double, cutting Western's lead to 4-2.
 
A two-run double by Zach Heeke tied the game, 4-4, in the eighth, setting the stage for the dramatic ninth.
 
Jacob Crum doubled to lead off the ninth, Jason Sullivan walked, and Garrett Navarra laid down a bunt single to load the bases. After a forceout at home, Kratt worked the count full and then drew the decisive walk, forcing home Sullivan with the winning run.
 
STRONG RELIEF
Ryan Palmblad (1-0) went the final two innings in relief of starter Cameron Brown for his first collegiate victory.
 
The Broncos managed just one baserunner while Palmblad was on the mound, and that came on an error to open the eighth. The freshman lefthander struck out the next three batters, and then got two strikeouts and a flyout in the ninth.
 
In 11 appearances, Palmblad has struck out 21, walked five and has a 1.68 earned run average.
 
Palmblad "was not on our travel roster when the season started," Bischel said. "Late in the fall I had Dylan (Fitchett), our strength and conditioning coach, come to me and say 'Hey, just so you know, Ryan's probably our hardest worker in here.'
 
"That's when I knew (Palmblad) might develop into something for us and obviously he has."
 
Chippewa starter Cameron Brown allowed four runs on six hits, walked three and struck out a season-high nine over seven innings. Western Michigan got a three-run double from Nate Grys in the first inning. Brown surrendered just one run on five hits, walked one, and struck out eight over his final six innings.

OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami University baseball team had all facets of its game working on Friday as it opened its series with Northern Illinois with a 12-0 victory. The RedHawks improve to 31-10 overall and 12-4 in the Mid-American Conference. The Huskies fall to 12-29 overall and 8-8 in the MAC.
 
Freshman pitcher Sam Bachman and senior pitcher Bailey Martin combined to throw Miami's second shutout of the season. Bachman went the first six innings, giving up four hits while striking out five to improve to 6-0 in his rookie campaign. Martin earned his first save of the season, pitching the final three innings and only allowing one hit.
 
The RedHawks scored two quick runs in the bottom of the first. With one out, junior shortstop Will Vogelgesang singled through the right side. Junior second baseman Landon Stephens doubled to right center to bring him home and put Miami on the board. Redshirt junior third baseman Jordan Stephens followed with a single to center to score Landon Stephens and make it 2-0.
 
Miami broke it open early with five runs in the bottom of the third. Landon Stephens and Jordan Stephens each drew walks to start the frame. A balk moved each of them up a base. Redshirt junior left fielder Kyle Winkler's sac fly scored Landon Stephens. Two batters later, senior right fielder Mackay Williams singled to score Jordan Stephens. Sophomore center fielder Parker Massman made it 5-0 when his triple to deep left center brought home Williams. After a walk from junior first baseman Charlie Harrigan, a single to left center by sophomore designated hitter Cristian Tejada scored Massman. Vogelgesang followed with a hit of his own to bring home Harrigan and make it 7-0.
 
A sac fly in the bottom of the fourth by Williams scored Winkler to give the RedHawks an 8-0 advantage. They made it 9-0 in the bottom of the fifth when a RBI groundout by Vogelgesang brought home Harrigan.
 
It remained that way until the bottom of the eighth. With the bases loaded and one out, an infield single by Tejada scored freshman Cole Andrews. On a pickoff attempt, the Huskies' catcher threw the ball away, allowing Massman and Harrigan to score and complete the 12-0 victory.
 
Tejada, Vogelgesang, Landon Stephens, Jordan Stephens, Massman and Harrigan each had two hits for Miami. Tejada, Vogelgesang and Williams drove in two runs apiece.
 
The series between Miami and Northern Illinois continues Saturday. Due to the threat of rain, the start time has been moved up to 1 p.m. The game will air on RedHawks All-Access for those who have a subscription.

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Redshirt sophomore Jeff Timko (Rochester Hills, Mich.-Brother Rice) provided the late-game heroics as the Eastern Michigan University baseball team defeated the University of Toledo in walk-off fashion, 6-5, Friday, April 26 at Oestrike Stadium.
 
After the Rockets (15-25, 3-11 MAC) rallied to knot the score at five in the top of the ninth inning, the Eagles (9-32-1, 4-12 MAC) responded by securing their first walk-off victory since sophomore Jared Kauffman (Springboro, Ohio-Bishop Fenwick) clinched a 6-5 win over Ball State, April 7, 2018. Freshman Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller) pulled a leadoff double down the left-field line, before Kauffman laid a bunt single toward the third-base side to put runners on the corners with nobody down. Senior John Rensel Jr. (Tallmadge, Ohio-Tallmadge) was intentionally walked to load the bases for Timko, who singled over the head of sophomore right fielder John Servello to drive in Hopkins and cap a back-and-forth series opener.
 
Rensel Jr. was stellar at the plate for the Green and White, going 3-for-3 with two doubles, an RBI, and two runs scored prior to his intentional pass in the final frame. Sophomore Nate Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI, while Kauffman went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles and a run scored.
 
Senior Jackson Shaver (Grand Rapids, Mich.-Forest Hills Northern (Grand Rapids C.C.)) pitched a season-high six innings and surrendered two earned runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out three. Senior Mitchell Sparks (Willis, Texas-Carmel (Ind.) (Iowa Lakes C.C.)) was credited with his first win of the season after tossing three innings of relief, allowing three earned runs on six hits while adding a strikeout.
 
The Eagles started the scoring with an unearned run in the bottom of the third. Kauffman sent a routine ground ball to short, but was awarded second base when Toledo freshman Thomas Eitniear's throw sailed over the glove of freshman first baseman Ryan Thompson and bounced out of play. EMU quickly took advantage of the miscue, as Rensel Jr. lined a single into right to drive in Kauffman.
 
Despite opening the top of the fourth with three consecutive singles to load the bases, Toledo managed just one run during the frame. Freshman Darryn Davis lifted a sacrifice fly to center that was deep enough to score sophomore Trace Hatfield and even the game at one apiece.
 
The Rockets grabbed a 2-1 lead with a two-out single in the top of the sixth, but the Green and White jumped back in front with two runs in the home half of the inning. Rensel Jr. one-hopped a double to the wall in right-center, and was joined on the basepaths by junior Zachary Owings (Saline, Mich.-Saline) after the latter's first intentional walk of the night. Junior Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) grounded an infield single to short, and advanced to second on another wild throw that allowed Rensel Jr. to come home. Nate Jones then through the right side to plate Owings and give the Eagles a 3-2 edge.
 
The Rockets reclaimed the lead in the top of the seventh when senior Brad Boss hit a two-run single through the right side to make it a 4-3 contest. However, EMU bounced back by scoring twice in the last of the eighth. Rensel Jr. doubled into the right-field corner to start the rally, while Owings eventually reached on an intentional walk to put runners on first and second with one out. Two batters later, Nate Jones smashed a two-out base hit up the middle to drive in Rensel Jr., before junior Drake Peggs (Knightstown, Ind.-Knightstown Community) reached on Toledo's third error of the game that also permitted Owings to score from second to put the Eagles back in front, 5-4.
 
After Toledo's first batter of the ninth was retired on one pitch, the visitors used three straight singles to restore parity, but failed to complete their comeback bid despite having the final third of the Eagles' order due up in the bottom of the inning.
 
Eastern Michigan returns to Oestrike Stadium to continue its series against Toledo Saturday, April 27, and Sunday, April 28. Both games are scheduled to start at 1 p.m.

ATHENS, Ohio – The Kent State University baseball team (20-19, 8-6 MAC) scored early and often, tagging three home runs in a 12-3 win over Ohio University (14-25, 8-8 MAC) at Bob Wren Stadium Friday evening. In addition to Kent State's 12 runs on 17 hits, senior Connor Wollersheim's eight-strikeout, 6.0-inning performance on the mound tamed the Bobcats in the first game of the Mid-American Conference series.
 
Redshirt sophomore Ben Carew, freshman Collin Mathews and senior Pavin Parks each laced home runs while the Flashes collected six additional extra-base hits on the night. Junior Cam Touchette extended his hitting streak to 11 games and led the offense, going 4-for-6 at the plate with two runs scored. Carew went 3-for-5 on the night, coming up a triple short of the cycle and tallying two runs and two RBIs, while Mathews also collected three hits with two runs and two RBIs.
 
Senior Kian O'Brien knocked two doubles for three RBIs and crossed the plate twice on the night. Parks and redshirt sophomore Alex Ronnebaum each added a pair of hits, combining for three RBIs and two runs scored.
 
Wollersheim (4-5) quieted the Ohio offense, allowing just one run on five hits while earning the win in his 11th start of the season. Freshman Max Rippl earned his first career save, finishing the game with 3.0 innings of work.
 
Carew led off the top of the first inning with a double smoked to left field and junior Cam Touchette followed with a single to second base. Senior Kian O'Brien collected two RBIs with a double that barely stayed fair down the left field line to give the Flashes a 2-0 lead.
 
Held scoreless for the next two innings, the Flashes extended the lead to 4-0 with two long balls in the top of the fourth inning. Mathews led off the inning with a solo shot off the batter's eye in center field and Carew followed just two batters later with a home run blasted over the trees beyond the wall in left field.
 
The Flashes poured on four additional runs in the next inning, bringing the score to 8-0. Senior Pavin Parks launched the third home run of the day to right field to start the inning. With one out, Mathews singled and stole second before eventually scoring on a sacrifice fly by Carew. Kent State then capitalized on defensive miscues by the Bobcats to add two more runs.
 
The Bobcats responded in the bottom of the fifth, managing its first run of the day with a two-out single. Mathews, however laced an RBI-double in the top of the sixth to bring the score to 9-1.
 
Ohio ripped just its fifth hit of the day in the bottom of the seventh, a two-run home run to left-center field to make it 9-3.
 
In the top of the eighth inning, senior Josh Hollander legged out his second triple of the season and eventually scored on a single off the bat of Ronnebaum.
 
The Kent State offense wasn't done yet, adding its final two runs of the game in the top of the ninth. O'Brien and Parks came up with back-to-back RBI doubles to bring the final score to 12-3.
 
The Flashes and the Bobcats will continue the three-game set on Saturday, April 27 at Bob Wren Stadium. The game time has been moved forward to a 1 p.m. first pitch.