MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Central Michigan used a three-run fourth inning to help lead it to a 6-2 victory in the series opener against the Miami University baseball team on Thursday. The RedHawks are now 36-15 overall and 15-9 in the Mid-American Conference. The Chippewas improve to 41-12 overall and 20-5 in the MAC.

CMU got on the board first with bases loaded walk in the bottom of the second. The damage came in the fourth however, when the Chippewas were able to use four hits to score three runs and take a 4-0 lead.

While Central starting pitcher Pat Leatherman kept the Miami bats quiet through the first six innings, the Red and White were able to strike in the top of the seventh. With two outs, senior right fielder Mackay Williams reached base on a bunt single. Junior catcher Cal Elvers followed with a double down the left field line that moved Williams to third. Redshirt junior left fielder Kyle Winkler hit a single up the middle that scored Williams and Elvers and cut the deficit to 4-2.

The Chippewas answered with two runs in the bottom of the seventh to push the advantage back to four. Miami loaded the bases in the top of the ninth, getting the tying run to the plate, but CMU was able to record the out to finish off the 6-2 win.

Winkler finished the game 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Elvers was 2-for-4 with one run scored.

The middle game of this three-game set between Miami and Central Michigan takes place Saturday at 3 p.m.