Sunday, March 26
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
2 p.m.
Central Michigan University
13-9, 4-2-0\
2
vs
1
Kent State
16-7, 4-2-0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
KENT STATE
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
8
2
Central Michigan
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
X
2
7
0
Christian Mitchelle crosses the plate for the Chippewas' first run in their 2-1 win on Sunday over Kent State at Keilitz Field at Theunissen Stadium.
Photo by: Jack Reeber '23,M'25 - @jackreeber.raw
Navarra Throws a Gem as Baseball Takes Series from Kent State
3/26/2023 6:49:00 PM | Baseball
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Garrett Navarra was superb on the mound and Central Michigan played small ball at the plate on Sunday in downing Kent State, 2-1, in the finale of a three-game Mid-American Conference baseball series at Keilitz Field at Theunissen Stadium.
After dropping Friday's series opener in 12 innings, the Chippewas won the final two games from the Golden Flashes, improving to 13-9, 4-2 MAC.
Kent State, which entered the series having won 13 of its previous 14 games, is 16-7, 4-2. The Chippewas and Golden Flashes are tied for second in the MAC behind Ball State, which is 8-1 in league play.
The Chippewas play at Michigan in a nonleague game on Tuesday, March 28, and then entertain Bowling Green in a three-game MAC series next weekend.
"Kent State, they are a pretty potent team," CMU coach Jordan Bischel said. "They're going to do a lot of damage this year. To bounce back and win two and three was big for our confidence and that obviously at some point could end up big in the standings."
Navarra (2-2), a graduate left-hander, struck out nine and allowed five hits over seven shutout innings. He walked just one and the Chippewas played error-free defense behind him.
"It wasn't just me today; our defense was phenomenal today," said Navarra, who allowed two hits in the first inning. "Going back to pregame, my body felt good, and it really speaks volumes to the preparation that our coaches and our catchers put in. … Our coaches had a really good game plan and it really just showed today."
The Chippewas took a 1-0 lead when Christian Mitchelle doubled with one out in the third inning. He stole third and then scored on a Marquis Jackson groundout.
CMU added a run to make it 2-0 when Robby Morgan IV singled to lead off the sixth and then Nick Dardas walked. Morgan stole third and scored on Luke Sefcik's sacrifice bunt.
"We talk a lot, and people really focus on offense a lot, but at the end of the day if you pitch and play great defense you give yourself a great chance to win and obviously that was the case today," Bischel said. "(Navarra) was just outstanding.
"He's worked so hard to put himself in these spots. He pitched some as a freshman and just kept getting a little bit better, a little bit better, a little bit better. There's probably not a better game-three guy out there than Garrett."
Nate Ross worked the final two innings for his fourth save. He allowed two hits in the eighth and then surrendered a run-scoring double with one out in the ninth. He worked out of it, however, stranding the tying run at third when he got a popup and then a game-ending groundout.
"He didn't have his best outing," Bischel said. "He's kind of beating himself up a little after the game but hey, they had the tying run on third with one out and he got the popup, and he got the groundball and we ended up with one more run than they had and that's your job when you're pitching at the end of the game.
"I'm proud of him that on a not-so-good day, he got the job done."
As did the Chippewas after dropping the series opener on Friday, 4-3, when they stranded 13 baserunners and made some uncharacteristic, and costly, mistakes on the base paths.
"It wasn't perfect and it's not going to be, even if we keep improving," Bischel said. "But when it's not perfect you've got to handle adversity, you've got to keep grinding and you've got to keep going. You're starting to see growth from guys.
"We're getting better, that's the biggest thing, and what I like about this team so far is every tough loss we've really bounced back quickly. We're making progress. We're a much better team than we were six weeks ago and three weeks ago and that's really the goal."
After dropping Friday's series opener in 12 innings, the Chippewas won the final two games from the Golden Flashes, improving to 13-9, 4-2 MAC.
Kent State, which entered the series having won 13 of its previous 14 games, is 16-7, 4-2. The Chippewas and Golden Flashes are tied for second in the MAC behind Ball State, which is 8-1 in league play.
The Chippewas play at Michigan in a nonleague game on Tuesday, March 28, and then entertain Bowling Green in a three-game MAC series next weekend.
"Kent State, they are a pretty potent team," CMU coach Jordan Bischel said. "They're going to do a lot of damage this year. To bounce back and win two and three was big for our confidence and that obviously at some point could end up big in the standings."
Navarra (2-2), a graduate left-hander, struck out nine and allowed five hits over seven shutout innings. He walked just one and the Chippewas played error-free defense behind him.
"It wasn't just me today; our defense was phenomenal today," said Navarra, who allowed two hits in the first inning. "Going back to pregame, my body felt good, and it really speaks volumes to the preparation that our coaches and our catchers put in. … Our coaches had a really good game plan and it really just showed today."
The Chippewas took a 1-0 lead when Christian Mitchelle doubled with one out in the third inning. He stole third and then scored on a Marquis Jackson groundout.
CMU added a run to make it 2-0 when Robby Morgan IV singled to lead off the sixth and then Nick Dardas walked. Morgan stole third and scored on Luke Sefcik's sacrifice bunt.
"We talk a lot, and people really focus on offense a lot, but at the end of the day if you pitch and play great defense you give yourself a great chance to win and obviously that was the case today," Bischel said. "(Navarra) was just outstanding.
"He's worked so hard to put himself in these spots. He pitched some as a freshman and just kept getting a little bit better, a little bit better, a little bit better. There's probably not a better game-three guy out there than Garrett."
Nate Ross worked the final two innings for his fourth save. He allowed two hits in the eighth and then surrendered a run-scoring double with one out in the ninth. He worked out of it, however, stranding the tying run at third when he got a popup and then a game-ending groundout.
"He didn't have his best outing," Bischel said. "He's kind of beating himself up a little after the game but hey, they had the tying run on third with one out and he got the popup, and he got the groundball and we ended up with one more run than they had and that's your job when you're pitching at the end of the game.
"I'm proud of him that on a not-so-good day, he got the job done."
As did the Chippewas after dropping the series opener on Friday, 4-3, when they stranded 13 baserunners and made some uncharacteristic, and costly, mistakes on the base paths.
"It wasn't perfect and it's not going to be, even if we keep improving," Bischel said. "But when it's not perfect you've got to handle adversity, you've got to keep grinding and you've got to keep going. You're starting to see growth from guys.
"We're getting better, that's the biggest thing, and what I like about this team so far is every tough loss we've really bounced back quickly. We're making progress. We're a much better team than we were six weeks ago and three weeks ago and that's really the goal."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Navarra, Garrett (2-2)
L: Eric Chalus (2-1)
S: Ross, Nate (4)
Batting:
2B: Collin Mathews 1 ; Brody Williams 1
RBI: Brody Williams 1
SH: Kyle Jackson 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Mack Timbrook 1
Batting:
2B: Mitchelle, Christian 1
RBI: Jackson, Marquis 1 ; Sefcik, Luke 1
SH: Jackson, Marquis 1 ; Sefcik, Luke 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Morgan IV, Robby 1 ; Mitchelle, Christian 1
SB: Morgan IV, Robby 1 ; Mitchelle, Christian 1
HBP: Morgan IV, Robby 1
PO: Morgan IV, Robby 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
cf/rf
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
C
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballINF/RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
LHP/OF
/ Baseball
INF
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