Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Central Mich
Central Michigan Holds Off Spartan Softball, 6-5
4/18/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 18, 2001
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State cut a five-run deficit to one in the sixth inning, but fell short in a 6-5 loss to Central Michigan Wednesday afternoon at Old College Field on the MSU campus. The Spartans fall to 17-30 for the season, while the Chippewas improve to 23-17.
Down 6-1 after four and a half innings of play, MSU started the comeback trail in its half of the fifth on a RBI single from Tiffany Wallace (So., Wildomar, Calif.) that brought home Shealee Dunavan (Sr., Yorba Linda, Calif.).
With the bases loaded and two outs in the sixth, Dunavan lined a three-run double down the left field line, cutting the CMU lead to 6-5. The Spartans stranded Dunavan to end the sixth, and were retired in order in the seventh to end the game. Dunavan finished the game 2-for-4 with a run scored and three RBI.
CMU held on to the lead the entire game. The Chippewas took advantage of a wild pitch and a Spartan error to plate two unearned runs in the first two innings.
MSU got on the board in the third, scoring an unearned run after CMU left fielder Jennifer Skuta bobbled a Brittney Green (Fr., Simi Valley, Calif.) base hit that allowed Margaret Schick (So., Grass Lake, Mich.) to score.
Central Michigan expanded its lead to a game-high five runs by scoring two runs in each the fourth and fifth innings.
Keri DeJong (Jr., Portage, Mich.) started on the mound for MSU and took the loss (4-6). DeJong threw three and two-thirds innings, allowing only one hit but four runs on four walks.
Amber Puchalski earned her 15th win of the season for CMU as she scattered three hits on one run in three and a third innings of work. Jenni Rasmussen picked up the save, her second of the season.
Michigan State returns to Big Ten action this weekend as it travels to Ohio State and Penn State. MSU will face Ohio State on Friday, April 20 in a doubleheader at 2:00 p.m. PSU and MSU meet in single contests on Saturday and Sunday.
NOTES:
* Shealee Dunavan stole her 12th consecutive base without being thrown out and remains a perfect 12-for-12 this season in stolen bases. Dunavan is sixth at MSU in career stolen bases with 29.
* Dunavan moved into third-place all-time at MSU in doubles with 35 for her career.
Game Summary R H ECMU 110 220 0- 6 5 1MSU 001 013 0- 5 9 1
WP: Puchalski-CMU (15-7)LP: DeJong-MSU (4-6)SV: Rasmussen-CMU (2)
