Baseball Runs Win Streak To 4 With MAC Sweep At Miami

OXFORD, Ohio – Central Michigan baseball got solid pitching from starters Andrew Taylor and Garrett Navarra as the Chippewas swept Miami (Ohio) on Sunday, 5-4 and 8-2, in a Mid-American Conference doubleheader at the RedHawks’ McKie Field.
 
CMU, which has won four straight games, is 8-8, 4-1 MAC. Miami is 7-10, 4-3.
 
The Chippewas and the RedHawks are scheduled to close the four-game series on Monday (1 p.m.).
 
Game 1
Taylor (2-2) worked 4 1/3 innings for the win, striking out five in the seven-inning opener. He allowed one run from five hits and walked two.
 
“(Taylor) felt good coming in and had a little bit of arm tightness, so just as a precaution we took him out of the game,” CMU coach Jordan Bischel said. “He pitched really well, so hopefully nothing major, just precautionary, and we’ll go from there.”
 
The Chippewas scored five runs in the fifth inning, getting an RBI single from Aidan Shepardson and then three consecutive walks to force in two runs. Jakob Marsee then hit a two-run single to put CMU up, 5-0.
 
Taylor left midway through the fifth for Ryan Insco, who inherited loaded bases with two outs. The Chippewas gave up a fielder’s choice run in the fifth frame and Insco allowed two sixth inning runs before exiting.
 
Jake Jones hurled the final 1 2/3 frames for his third save of the season.
 
“(Jones) comes in and holds his own,” Bischel said. “He goes after hitters and he did a good job again today, definitely really composed, really experienced and did a good job at letting the defense play behind him again.”
 
Game 2
The Chippewas led, 4-2, through seven innings and then added four insurance runs in the eighth – highlighted by Wuestenfeld’s three-run triple — to nail down the sweep.
 
Chippewa starter Garrett Navarra (2-2) struck out seven through seven innings for the win. He allowed two runs on five hits while walking two.
 
Freshman Adam Mrakitsch threw the final two frames, striking out four while surrendering two hits and walking one.
 
“(Mrazkitch) has been really good,” Bischel said. “He’s very quiet, kind of reserved guy, so he takes a little time to come into his own, but he pitches with a lot of confidence.
 
“He’s got a lot of ability and has looked pretty good for us all year. We have a lot of faith in Adam and he came in and did a tremendous job for us today.”
 
Wuestenfeld led the Chippewas with two hits and four RBI, the first on a third-inning sacrifice fly. Drew Lechnir added a two-run double.