MOUNT PLEASANT -- A six-run outburst in the sixth inning helped erase a 2-0 hole to guide the Central Michigan baseball team to a 6-2 victory and Mid-American Conference series sweep over rival Western Michigan at Theunissen Stadium on Sunday.
The Chippewas (30-19, 17-7 MAC) took the lead on a two-out, two-run single through the left side by
Ricky Clark after an RBI single by
Dale Cornstubble and RBI double by
Billy Anderson had tied the game at two. CMU swept the Broncos (12-38, 5-19 MAC) for the first time since 2007.
Robbie Harman scored Clark from second on a perfectly executed bunt and run and took third on a wild throw to the plate, allowing him to score on
Matt Faiman's single through the right side for the fourth two-out RBI of the frame.
After jumping out to a 2-0 lead and loading the bases with two down, the Broncos would manage just two hits the rest of the way. A leadoff single in the fifth and a two-out bloop single to left in the eighth were the only safeties for WMU in the final seven innings.
The Broncos did manage to load the bases on three walks after two were out in the ninth, but did not score.
Zach Cooper (3-2) picked up the win, giving up two runs on five hits and three walks over 6 1/3 innings of work.
Trent Howard tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief, allowing just one hit and fanning five despite three walks.
Eric Heckaman (0-9) took the loss for Western, giving up three runs on six hits and three walks over 5 1/3 innings of work.
Nate Theunissen and James Teas each added two hits in CMU's 11-hit attack.
Despite the sweep, Central Michigan got no help on the out-of-town scoreboard on the weekend. Both Ball State and Toledo completed sweeps on Sunday as well, so CMU will enter the final weekend of MAC play one game back of BSU for the MAC title, tied with UT.
The Chippewas return to Theunissen Stadium on Tuesday to host Michigan State in the final nonconference game of 2010.
Courtesy: Mike James
