AVON, Ohio – Pat Leatherman didn’t get a chance to pitch in the Mid-American Conference baseball tournament last spring, when the Chippewas bowed out in two games.
He made the most of his opportunity in his first career tournament start on Friday.
Leatherman, a redshirt freshman right-hander, was dominant into the seventh inning as the inspired Chippewas took an emotional 5-3 victory over Miami (Ohio) in an elimination game at All-Pro Freight Stadium.
The Chippewas (23-36) will play rival Western Michigan (20-31) in their third consecutive elimination game at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. If the Chippewas win, they will face Western again on Saturday afternoon for the right to play in Sunday’s championship game.