Baseball Splits At Ball State

April 15, 2000

MUNCIE, IN--The Central Michigan University baseball team (21-9 overall, 6-2 Mid-American Conference) split a doubleheader at Ball State University (16-14, 4-4 Mid-American Conference) on Saturday afternoon.

Central lost the opening game by an 8-5 count but rebounded to take the nightcap, 4-3, in eight innings.

The Chippewas raced out to a 4-0 lead after two innings in the opening game. Scott Pieratt (Mount Pleasant/Sr.) homered in the first inning and the Chippewas scored three unearned runs in the second but Ball State scored two runs in the second, one in the third and fourth and two runs in each the fifth and sixth to take a commanding 8-4 lead.

The Chippewas scored in the seventh on an RBI single by Pieratt to make it 8-5 but CMU could get no closer.

Starter Mike Fawcett (Marquette/Sr.) took the loss for Central to make his record 4-2 on the year. He pitched 4 1/3 innings and gave up six hits and six runs (five earned) and struck out two. Jeff Garner (Hemlock/Fr.) came on in relief for the final 1 2/3 innings and gave up two hits and two runs and struck out two.

Pieratt went two-for-four with a home run and two RBI to lead CMU.

In the nightcap, Pieratt kept up the offensive fireworks with a home run in the top of the eighth inning to break a 3-3 tie and give the Chippewas the 4-3 lead.

CMU took the early lead with three runs in the first inning. Jake Sanborn (Grand Ledge/Sr.) and Mike Galloway (St. Thomas, Ontario/Fr.) hit back-to-back home runs to help the Chippewas to the 3-0 advantage.

Ball State quickly tied it up at 3-3 with three runs of its own in the second inning. That would be all of the scoring until the Pieratt homer in the eighth.

Righty Mike Steele (Midland/Sr.) remained unbeaten at 5-0 with the win for CMU. He went the distance in givng up seven hits and three runs while striking out eight.

Offensive leaders for Central included Tim Groves (Clare/Fr.) who hit two-for-three with an RBI and Galloway who went two-for-four with one RBI.

The Chippewas play two more against the Cardinals on Sunday.