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CMU Chippewas sweeps RedHawks

Brianna Nixon - The Miami Student
Brianna Nixon - The Miami Student

After snapping a two-game skid with two victories over Northern Kentucky and Xavier on March 28 and 29, Miami (7-19) fell back to their losing ways. The RedHawks were on the receiving end of a three-game sweep on Saturday and Sunday, courtesy of Central Michigan University (13-14).

Miami pitching fell short on the road in the trio of affairs by scores of 13-7, 6-4 and 5-1. The RedHawks would lose their second Mid-American Conference series.

Game one of the series brought optimism as the 'Hawks entered the set on a two-game winning streak -- the second such streak they have had all season.

The positivity was quickly extinguished in the bottom of the first inning.

CMU junior outfielder Daniel Jipping dealt the first blow with an RBI single to right field, in the first game of the Saturday doubleheader.

Sophomore first baseman Evan Kratt followed suit for the Chippewas, driving home another runner off an RBI single to right field to make the score 2-0.

The second inning saw little fanfare as CMU still held their two-run advantage entering the top of the third. Thanks to Ross Haffey and Adam Yacek this lead would be short-lived.

The pair of infielders -- Haffey, a Redshirt junior and Yacek, a Redshirt senior -- each had RBI singles to knot the score at 2-2. This score wouldn't stand for long, as Central Michigan exploded at the plate in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings.

An error by MU that plated home one run for CMU got the two-out rally for the home side, opening the door for Central Michigan's shortstop Alex Borglin. The senior ripped a two-run double down the right field line to make the score 5-2. Sophomore second baseman Jason Sullivan added another run with an RBI single to left field to finish the inning.

Miami got back on the board in the top of the fifth. An RBI double from freshman left fielder Cal Elvers and an RBI single from sophomore center fielder Dallas Hall brought the score to 6-4.

This would be the closest the 'Hawks would come to catching the Chippewas for the rest of the game. Central Michigan would tack on four more runs in the bottom of the fifth behind the efforts of senior catcher Robert Greenman and Sullivan.

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Greenman had a two-run homerun to make the score 8-4, while Sullivan singled to bring home two runners and increase the lead to 10-4 -- putting the game out of the reach for MU.

Even though the RedHawks would send home three runners in the top of the ninth to spice up the game, the Chippewas took game one. MU's sophomore pitcher Zach Spears would take the loss, and CMU's sophomore pitcher Cole Dazon would earn the win.

The latter affair of Saturday's doubleheader provided a much tighter game. After three innings, Miami held a 3-0 lead.

The three runs were scored in the opening trio of innings by freshman second baseman Landon Stephens' second inning, RBI single down the right side and Haffey's third inning, two-run double.

While the RedHawks dominated the first three innings, the Chippewas scored five runs in bottom of the fifth and sixth innings. Jipping had an RBI double to cut the deficit, while junior designated hitter Nick Stokowski tied the game with a two-run single to center field.

The fifth inning saw Central Michigan take a 5-3 lead behind the bats of Jipping and Greenman, who each had RBI singles.

Each side would add runs over the final three innings. The 'Hawks did their damage with one run in the top of the seventh, but CMU had one run in the bottom of the eighth, ensuring a 6-4 Chippewas victory.

Sophomore righthander Shane Smith (1-1) took the loss in the second game on Saturday.

The ultimate game of the three game set was put to bed in a swift manner. Over the first four innings, Central Michigan scored all five of their runs en route to victory.

The first inning saw CMU assert their dominance by scoring three runs via a hit-by-pitch against Greenman and a two-run single from Stokowski, making the score 3-0.

Right fielder Daniel Robinson made the score 4-0 for the Chippewas in the next inning with an RBI double to right field. CMU put Miami out of their misery in the fourth inning as Robinson made another appearance and hit an RBI single.

Freshman righthander Grant Hartwig (0-4) suffered the loss on Sunday.

The series sweep drops Miami to the basement of the MAC East Division with a 1-5 conference record. Central Michigan moves to the top spot of the West Division with a perfect 3-0 record in MAC play.

The next time the RedHawks play, it will be at home, as they take on the University of Cincinnati on Tuesday. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.