Michigan State University Athletics
Baseball Takes on CMU in Midweek Matchup
5/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
| Michigan State (33-15, 12-9 B1G) vs. Central Michigan (18-34, 10-11 MAC) | |
| Probable Pitching Matchup | MSU - RHP Andrew Gonzalez vs. CMU - RHP Dazon Cole, 1-1, 3.77 ERA |
| Date, Time | Tuesday, May 17, 4:05 p.m. |
| Location | Mount Pleasant, Mich. | Bill Theunissen Stadium |
| Overall Stats | Michigan State | CMU |
| Coverage | | Listen - Spartan Sports Network |
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The Michigan State baseball team travels to Mount Pleasant to take on Central Michigan in the final non-conference game of the regular season on Tuesday. First pitch will be at 4:05 p.m. and sophomore Andrew Gonzalez will get the ball for the Spartans. MSU is 33-15 overall and has defeated CMU in both matchups between the two teams so far this season.
Midweek Quick Hitters
• Jordan Zimmerman leads the Big Ten with a .395 batting average and is second in slugging percentage (.616) and on-base percentage (.482) . The junior has a hit in 45 of 48 games for the Spartans this season, including a current nine-game hitting streak.
• MSU owns 2.48 team ERA that is the best in the Big Ten and third in the country. The Spartans are 33-6 when scoring two or more runs in a game this season.
• With 403 strikeouts this season, the Spartan pitching staff is six shy of the single season school record of 409 set last year by the 2015 club. MSU has posted 10 or more strikeouts in 15 games this season to average 8.4 per game and rank third in the Big Ten.
• Dakota Mekkes leads the team and is fourth in the Big Ten with 83 strikeouts. The righty has 83 Ks in just 47.1 innings of work, good for a rate of 15.8 strikeouts per nine innings. With three more Ks, he will move into the top 10 on MSU's single-season strikeout list.
• Michigan State is 28-0 this season when leading after six innings. The bullpen owns a 2.24 ERA and has struck out 206 batters to just 82 walks.
• Starter Andrew Gonzalez is 3-2 this season with a 2.23 ERA. Gonzalez has allowed just two earned runs in his last nine innings of work spanning four appearances. In his six starts this season, the sophomore has allowed six earned runs in 30.2 innings, good for a 2-1 record and 1.76 ERA.
• The Spartans hit .292 as a team to rank third in the Big Ten with four starters batting better than .300
About the Central Michigan
All-Time Series: CMU leads, 66-60
Last Meeting: MSU 7, CMU 3 (14), April 13, 2016 -- Detroit, Michigan
Tuesday's meeting will be the 127th between the two clubs, with CMU owning a 66-60 advantage in the all-time series. The Spartans have won 12 of the last 16 games dating back to 2011. Since Boss took over in 2009, MSU owns a 15-8 record against Central.
The Chippewas enter Tuesday with an 18-34 record, including a 10-11 mark in the MAC. MSU has defeated CMU twice this season, including a 14 inning marathon that lasted 4:38 at Comerica Park.
Zack McKinstry leads the offensive attack for the Chips, hitting .344 while Daniel Jipping has a team-high 38 RBI.
Up Next
The Spartans close out the regular season this weekend with a three-game home series vs. Maryland. Because of the Big Ten Tournament the following week, the series will run Thursday-Saturday at McLane Baseball Stadium.
