Michigan State University
Central Mich
Baseball Falls At Central Michigan, 5-4
4/24/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 24, 2001
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State baseball team (20-21, 6-12) fell to Central Michigan Tuesday by a score of 5-4 in Mt. Pleasant, Mich. MSU struggled to generate offense through the first eight innings, as they got just four hits through eight frames. The Spartans would score three runs in the ninth on three hits, but it was not enough to overcome a four-run deficit. CMU improves to 26-15 on the year.
The Spartans took a one-run lead in the first when Chris McCuiston (Jr., Birmingham) scored after reaching on a single to rightfield. Central Michigan tied the game at one in bottom of the frame on a fielder's choice RBI by Mike Galloway.
The game remained tied at one until the bottom of the sixth when Matt Crowley hit an RBI double to score Brad Reid and give the Chippewas a 2-1 advantage. Galloway gave CMU a 4-1 lead when he hit a two-RBI double to right-centerfield. The play would have resulted in a three run triple but Central's Jason Helps was called out for not touching third base when he rounded the base to come home. CMU added an insurance run in the eighth to make the score 5-1.
The Spartans attempted to mount a rally in the ninth with the first three batters reaching safely. Scott Koerber (Fr., Grosse Pointe) walked, pinch-hitter Don Watchowski (Jr., Shelby Twp.) singled and pinch-hitter James Moreno (Fr., Holt) walked. Brett Wattles (So., Rochester) scored Koerber on a fielder's choice to make the score 5-2. Bob Malek (So., Canton, Mich.) and Brady Burrill (So., Newhall, Calif.) added RBI singles to cut the Chippewa lead to a single run. The Spartans loaded the bases, but were unable to tie the game as a fielder's choice putout at third base ended the contest.
Scott Brandell (Sr., DeWitt) started the game and pitched six innings for MSU, surrendering six hits and two runs while striking out two. With the loss, he falls to 1-5 on the season. In all, five Spartan hurlers would see action. Chad Pleiness earned the win for CMU, by pitching 3.0 hitless innings in relief. He improves to 4-2 on the season. Jason Frank earned a save for CMU.
The two teams will meet again tomorrow in the second game of the home and home series at Lansing's Oldsmobile Park beginning at 7 p.m. Admission for Wednesday's game is free to any MSU student, faculty or staff with a MSU ID and free for kids in the eighth grade or under accompanied by an adult. Tickets for adults are $3.
Central Michigan 5, Michigan State 4WP- Pleiness (4-2)LP- Brandell (1-5)Save - Frank (1)
Score By Innings R H EMichigan State 100 000 003 4 7 0Central Michigan 100 001 21x 5 10 2
