Rochester, Mich. – For the third time in 2022, Oakland will square off against a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) when the Central Michigan Chippewas visit Rochester on Tuesday, April 12 at 2:30 p.m.
The Golden Grizzlies are 2-0 against MAC opponents this season, having previously topped the Eastern Michigan Eagles and Bowling Green Falcons on March 22 and April 5, respectively.
Overall, Oakland will enter Tuesday at 15-15, including a 7-5 mark in Horizon League play. This .583 conference winning percentage is good for second in the seven-team league, behind only the Wright State Raiders at 7-2 (.778).
All-time series against the Chippewas
First meeting on May 11, 2009, the Golden Grizzlies have clashed with Central Michigan 20 times, with the Chippewas holding a 15-5 edge.
Starting with a victory on April 28, 2010 and ending with another on April 11, 2012, Oakland won three of the first four in the series, but Central Michigan will take a nine-game win streak into play on Tuesday, which dates to April 27, 2016.
About Central Michigan
Atop the MAC standings at 18-10 (13-1), the Chippewas are in the midst of a 13-game conference win streak and have won eight straight overall.
Qualifying for two consecutive NCAA Tournaments, Central Michigan is led by fourth-year head coach Jordan Bischel, who spent four years (2015-18) at the helm of the Northwood Timberwolves in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) prior to relocating to Mount Pleasant.
One of two Chippewas to start all 28 games, left-handed-hitting sophomore right fielder Jakob Marsee boasts a team-high .364 batting average (36-99). Tied for the team lead in home runs (three) and second in RBI (28), Marsee paces Central Michigan with a 1.074 OPS.
Senior second baseman Mario Camilletti, another lefty bat and the Chippewas' leadoff man, has numbers that compare favorably to Marsee.
Leading the club with 34 runs, Camilletti is hitting .359 (33-92) with nine doubles, good for second on the team, trailing only sophomore first baseman Danny Wuestenfeld's 10.
Out of the bullpen, junior left-hander Ryan Palmblad has been lights out for Bischel, having yet to allow an earned run in 15.1 innings of work over eight appearances.
Sophomore righty Ryan Insco has been very strong, as well, as he has not walked a batter and has struck out 20 over 13 outings and 17.1 innings.
Probable starting pitchers
Oakland – Freshman right-hander
Hunter Pidek: 1-0, 4.05 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, .231 OBA, 13.1 IP, 4 BB, 9 SO
Central Michigan – Freshman left-hander Adam Mrakitsch: 1-0, 3.86 ERA, 2.04 WHIP, .325 OBA, 9.1 IP, 6 BB, 13 SO
