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 Brett Witczak had two hits and two runs scored Thursday at Central Michigan. |
March 20, 2008
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - The Wayne State baseball team (2-7) dropped its sixth straight game, 14-8, at Central Michigan (5-11) on Thursday afternoon.
The Chippewas scored in each of the first seven innings as the Warriors were dealt their fifth loss in as many years at Theunissen Stadium.
Derek Ranck (Clarkston, Mich.), who belted his first home run in over a year, was 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. Brett Witczak (Hudsonville, Mich.) also had two hits and scored twice.
Wayne State took an early 2-1 lead in the top of the second on an RBI double by Charlie Dunneback (Lansing, Mich./Grand Ledge) and a groundout by Tim George (Quincy, Mich.). After CMU tied it up in the bottom of the frame, the Warriors reclaimed their one-run lead in the third on a double-steal by Drew Churchward (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer) and Matthew Williams (Detroit, Mich./Royal Oak Shrine), who scored on the play.
Central Michigan scored five runs over the next two innings, however, including a two-run homer to left by James Teas in the bottom of the third.
Ranck's two-run shot to left, his first home run since March 18 last season in Florida against Nebraska-Omaha, made it a 7-5 game in the fifth, but the Chippewas answered with two runs in the inning and three more in the sixth.
Three hits and a CMU error led to three more scores for the Warriors in the top of the seventh, and Central tacked on two more in the bottom of the frame.
Cody Allen was 3-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored for the Chippewas, while Brandan Emmett had two hits and drove in three.
Six pitchers saw time on the mound for the Warriors. Josh Lewis (Harper Woods, Mich./Grosse Pointe North), who pitched the second and third innings, recorded his second loss of the season (0-2).
Wayne State will begin GLIAC play at Gannon this weekend with a four-game series beginning Friday, March 21 at noon.
NOTES
Wayne State's last win over Central Michigan was April 1, 2003, an 8-7 victory in Mount Pleasant ... two more Mid-American Conference opponents await WSU on its schedule, as the Warriors head to Toledo (March 26) and Western Michigan (April 2) ... Williams started in centerfield Thursday, his first collegiate start in the outfield ... Ranck's home run was the fifth of his career ... Ranck and Churchward each have three-game hitting streaks, longest on the team ... WSU has been outscored, 65-25, during the current six-game skid ... the Warriors have won 12 straight against the Gannon Golden Knights dating back to April 3, 2004.