MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (Interstat) — The Central Michigan Chippewas erupted for four runs in the first inning and never looked back, cruising to a 12-2 victory over the Youngstown State Penguins in a non-conference baseball game Wednesday at Bill Theunissen Stadium.

The game, which began in the afternoon and concluded in the evening, was dominated by the Chippewas’ offense, which amassed 15 hits. The Penguins managed only three hits against four Central Michigan pitchers.

The most important sequence of the game came immediately after the first pitch. Youngstown State, entering with a 5-29 record, loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the first on two walks but failed to score. Central Michigan then responded emphatically in the bottom half, sending nine batters to the plate against Penguins starter Luke Rhodes.

Bryson Webb led off with a single, sparking a rally that featured five consecutive hits. Cole Prout drove in Webb with a groundout, and RBI singles from Jacob Krzciok and Joey Milto, followed by a run-scoring single from Marquis Knowlton, staked the Chippewas to a 4-0 lead before many in the crowd had settled in.

That early outburst provided more than enough support for Central Michigan starter Jack Griffiths, the game’s top star. The right-hander delivered six strong innings, allowing just two hits and one earned run while striking out seven. He effectively silenced the Penguins’ bats after the first-inning threat, retiring 10 of 11 batters at one point.

Central Michigan extended its lead in the third inning. After a sacrifice fly by Justin Correa made it 5-0, Webb launched a two-run homer to left field, his third hit of the day, to push the advantage to 7-0. Webb finished 3 for 4 with two RBIs and three runs scored.

Youngstown State scratched across its first run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Misael Uriepero. Their second run came in the eighth when Braeden Shannon walked, advanced on a single and a double play, and scored on a wild pitch from reliever Jake Brown.

The Chippewas put the game out of reach with a three-run sixth inning, highlighted by an RBI double from Prout, who went 2 for 4 with two RBIs. They added three more in the eighth on a two-run single by Robby Bowman and an RBI double by pinch-hitter Nathan Ball.

Youngstown State reliever Aidan Dorsch took the loss, allowing two earned runs over 2 2/3 innings despite not giving up a hit. Bryce Palms followed with 1 1/3 scoreless innings for the Penguins.

For Central Michigan, Mitchell Tarnowski and Jake Brown pitched an inning each in relief of Griffiths. The Chippewas’ bullpen combined for three innings, allowing one run on one hit.

The victory improved Central Michigan’s record to 13-19, while Youngstown State fell to 5-30. The result defied the pregame projection from Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast a narrow 3-2 win for the Chippewas. Their ELO rating system gave Central Michigan a 74.5% probability to win.

Central Michigan opens a three-game home series against Ohio on Friday. Youngstown State travels to face Oakland for a three-game series starting the same day.