Wednesday, April 3
East Lansing, MI
4:05 PM ET
Michigan State University
5-21
6
vs
8
Central Michigan
21-7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Central Michigan
2
3
1
0
0
2
0
0
0
8
8
1
Michigan State
0
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
6
9
3
Photo by: Jeremy Fleming
MSU Clipped By CMU Wednesday, 8-6
4/3/2019 8:21:00 PM | Baseball
Walker and Iverson both went 2-for-4.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State baseball was clipped by Central Michigan, 8-6, Wednesday afternoon at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field.
After CMU had taken an early 5-0 lead, MSU rallied with a five-run bottom of the second to tie it, but the Chippewas added a run in the third and two more in the sixth for an 8-5 lead. The Spartans tried to rally in the bottom of the ninth, scoring one run and getting the tying run on base and the winning run at bat, but a fly out ended the game.
"Tough loss today, we didn't play well enough to win," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "We had some chances, but I'm disappointed in some of the things that we did that didn't allow us to win. We need to play better fundamental baseball, take care of the basics and do the little things the right way, and we should be okay."
Sophomore infielder Zach Iverson was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored, while freshman outfielder Zaid Walker was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Freshman infielder Reese Trahey was 1-for-2 with two RBI and a run scored. Senior infielder Marty Bechina and junior outfielder Bryce Kelley were both 1-for-3, with Bechina posting an RBI and Kelley scoring a run. Sophomore catcher Adam Proctor was 1-for-2 with a run scored and junior infielder Bailey Peterson was 1-for-1.
Walker posted his fourth multi-hit outing of the season and the two runs scored tied a season-high.
"He's a good player, he's starting to settle into it," Boss said about Walker. "He had a couple of hits last week too. He's a talented kid and he's just starting to feel his way. He's showing glimpses and we're going to need him or anybody really. We need to score some more runs."
Â
Kelley added a stolen bases, as he now has nine stolen bases on the season, including three in the last two games, after a pair of swipes Tuesday night at Comerica Park. The junior outfielder now has 55 career stolen bases, continuing to close the gap to Brandon Eckerle with 61 swipes at No. 3 on MSU's career stolen base list.
Five different pitchers took the mound for the Spartans, totaling 10 strikeouts on the day, while scattering eight hits.
CMU jumped out to a 5-0 lead after two runs in the first and three in the top of the second. Following an RBI double in the first, Zach Warren added a three-run home run in the second stanza.
While it took the Chips two innings to score five runs, the Spartans did it with five of their own in the home half of the second. MSU batted around, sending nine batters to the plate, with Proctor leading off with a single, then Walker doubled to left. Redshirt-freshman infielder Joe Stewart drove Proctor in with a sacrifice fly. Iverson followed with a triple to right center. After Kelley walked, Trahey laced a two-run single to left center, plating both Kelley and Iverson. Trahey moved up to second on a wild pitch and scored on a RBI single by Bechina to level the score at 5-all.
Unfortunately, the score wasn't tied for long. CMU went ahead in the top of the third on a solo opposite field home run by Jason Sullivan down the right field line, just squeezing it inside the right field foul pole for a 6-5 advantage. The Chips plated a pair in the top of the sixth on a two-run single by Jacob Crum, to lead 8-5.
Walker sparked the rally with a single to right center. Two batters later, Iverson drove Walker in with a single to right and advanced all the way to third after a CMU error on the play. Kelley followed with a bunt single to put two Spartans on the bases, but a fly out ended the game.
The Spartans remain at home for the weekend, welcoming Indiana State for a three-game non-conference series, Friday-Sunday. The series opens Friday night at 6:35 p.m. in the inaugural night game at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field, under the newly installed lights.Â
Saturday's game two is slated for a 4:05 p.m. first pitch, before wrapping up the series on Sunday at 1:05 p.m.
Fans can also follow this weekend's Spartan baseball action through "Live Stats," "Listen Live" and "Watch Live" links found at MSUSpartans.com. The games will be video streamed on BTN2Go, and will also be carried on the Spartan Sports Network live audio stream. The broadcast will be available exclusively at SpartanSportsNetwork.com and on the network's 24/7 app for mobile devices (available on iTunes and Google Play). Broadcast veteran Scott Moore calls the action alongside former MSU manager/bullpen catcher David Greenberg in select games.
Any schedule updates will be announced on www.MSUSpartans.com and on twitter @statebaseball.
Â
After CMU had taken an early 5-0 lead, MSU rallied with a five-run bottom of the second to tie it, but the Chippewas added a run in the third and two more in the sixth for an 8-5 lead. The Spartans tried to rally in the bottom of the ninth, scoring one run and getting the tying run on base and the winning run at bat, but a fly out ended the game.
"Tough loss today, we didn't play well enough to win," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "We had some chances, but I'm disappointed in some of the things that we did that didn't allow us to win. We need to play better fundamental baseball, take care of the basics and do the little things the right way, and we should be okay."
Sophomore infielder Zach Iverson was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored, while freshman outfielder Zaid Walker was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Freshman infielder Reese Trahey was 1-for-2 with two RBI and a run scored. Senior infielder Marty Bechina and junior outfielder Bryce Kelley were both 1-for-3, with Bechina posting an RBI and Kelley scoring a run. Sophomore catcher Adam Proctor was 1-for-2 with a run scored and junior infielder Bailey Peterson was 1-for-1.
Walker posted his fourth multi-hit outing of the season and the two runs scored tied a season-high.
"He's a good player, he's starting to settle into it," Boss said about Walker. "He had a couple of hits last week too. He's a talented kid and he's just starting to feel his way. He's showing glimpses and we're going to need him or anybody really. We need to score some more runs."
Â
Kelley added a stolen bases, as he now has nine stolen bases on the season, including three in the last two games, after a pair of swipes Tuesday night at Comerica Park. The junior outfielder now has 55 career stolen bases, continuing to close the gap to Brandon Eckerle with 61 swipes at No. 3 on MSU's career stolen base list.
Five different pitchers took the mound for the Spartans, totaling 10 strikeouts on the day, while scattering eight hits.
CMU jumped out to a 5-0 lead after two runs in the first and three in the top of the second. Following an RBI double in the first, Zach Warren added a three-run home run in the second stanza.
While it took the Chips two innings to score five runs, the Spartans did it with five of their own in the home half of the second. MSU batted around, sending nine batters to the plate, with Proctor leading off with a single, then Walker doubled to left. Redshirt-freshman infielder Joe Stewart drove Proctor in with a sacrifice fly. Iverson followed with a triple to right center. After Kelley walked, Trahey laced a two-run single to left center, plating both Kelley and Iverson. Trahey moved up to second on a wild pitch and scored on a RBI single by Bechina to level the score at 5-all.
Unfortunately, the score wasn't tied for long. CMU went ahead in the top of the third on a solo opposite field home run by Jason Sullivan down the right field line, just squeezing it inside the right field foul pole for a 6-5 advantage. The Chips plated a pair in the top of the sixth on a two-run single by Jacob Crum, to lead 8-5.
Walker sparked the rally with a single to right center. Two batters later, Iverson drove Walker in with a single to right and advanced all the way to third after a CMU error on the play. Kelley followed with a bunt single to put two Spartans on the bases, but a fly out ended the game.
The Spartans remain at home for the weekend, welcoming Indiana State for a three-game non-conference series, Friday-Sunday. The series opens Friday night at 6:35 p.m. in the inaugural night game at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field, under the newly installed lights.Â
Saturday's game two is slated for a 4:05 p.m. first pitch, before wrapping up the series on Sunday at 1:05 p.m.
Fans can also follow this weekend's Spartan baseball action through "Live Stats," "Listen Live" and "Watch Live" links found at MSUSpartans.com. The games will be video streamed on BTN2Go, and will also be carried on the Spartan Sports Network live audio stream. The broadcast will be available exclusively at SpartanSportsNetwork.com and on the network's 24/7 app for mobile devices (available on iTunes and Google Play). Broadcast veteran Scott Moore calls the action alongside former MSU manager/bullpen catcher David Greenberg in select games.
Any schedule updates will be announced on www.MSUSpartans.com and on twitter @statebaseball.
Â
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: FRAZER, Grant (1-0)
L: Heikkinen, Jesse (0-2)
S: MILLER, Cameron (4)
Batting:
2B: WARREN, Zavier 1
HR: WARREN, Zavier 1 ; SULLIVAN, Jason 1
RBI: WARREN, Zavier 4 ; LOCKWOOD-POWELL, G. 1 ; CRUM, Jacob 2 ; SULLIVAN, Jason 1
SH: HEEKE, Zach 1
Base Running:
RUNS: HEEKE, Zach 2 ; WARREN, Zavier 3 ; SULLIVAN, Jason 1 ; COLE, David 1 ; ROLLIN, Chase 1
CS: CRUM, Jacob 1
Batting:
2B: Walker, Zaid 1
3B: Iverson, Zach 1
RBI: Trahey, Reese 2 ; Bechina, Marty 1 ; Stewart, Joe 1 ; Iverson, Zach 2
SF: Stewart, Joe 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kelley, Bryce 1 ; Trahey, Reese 1 ; Proctor, Adam 1 ; Walker, Zaid 2 ; Iverson, Zach 1
SB: Kelley, Bryce 1
CS: Peterson, Bailey 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
INF
/ BaseballINF/OF/RHP
/ BaseballOF/LHP
/ Baseball
IF/OF
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
1B
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballPursuit to Greatness | Spartans All-Access
Monday, May 19
Jake Boss | Baseball Press Conference | April 17, 2025
Thursday, April 17
Jake Boss | Baseball Press Conference | Mar. 25 2025
Tuesday, March 25
Jake Boss | Baseball Press Conference | Mar. 11 2025
Tuesday, March 11