Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
Eastern Mich
Baseball Salvages Split With Eastern Michigan
4/30/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 30, 2000
YPSILANTI--It was another extra inning game for the Central Michigan University baseball team but with a different result on Sunday afternoon at Eastern Michigan University.
The Eagles won the opening game of the doubleheader in nine innings by an 8-7 count while the Chippewas rebounded in nightcap to claim an 8-4 victory and split on the day. Central is now 33-12 overall and 13-5 in the Mid-American Conference while EMU is 15-31 overall and 5-15 in the conference.
CMU won three-of-four in the weekend series with Eagles, including an 8-5 win in eight innings on Saturday.
In the opening game, CMU held a 7-6 lead going into the bottom of the seventh but the Eagles tied the game up when Vince Thomas blasted a solo home run to tie the score at 7-7 and force extra innings.
The Eagles won the game in the bottom of the ninth when Gregory Anglin hit a two-out single to score pinch-runner Jesse Cogswell.
EMU scored the opening run of the game in the first inning but the Chippewas answered with two runs in the second inning when Shaun Gragg (Grant/Sr.) slammed a two-run home run to give CMU a 2-1 advantage.
Central added another run in the third inning when Matt Crowley (Grand Rapids/Jr.) walked with the bases loaded to make it 3-1.
Eastern responded with three runs in the third and two more in the fourth to take a 6-3 lead. The Chippewa offense answered with four runs in the fifth to re-take the lead at 7-6. Tim Bullinger (Jackson/So.) had the key hit with a single that scored a pair to put CMU ahead.
Reliever Jeff Garner (Hemlock/Fr.) took the loss to make his record 5-3 on the year. He pitched five innings and gave up four hits and two runs while striking out seven. Adam Bolthouse (Spring Lake/Sr.) started and went the first 3 2/3 innings. He was tagged for nine hits and six runs (five earned) and struck out four.
Bullinger hit two-for-four with two RBI while Scott Pieratt (Mount Pleasant/Sr.) and Jason Helps (Wyoming, Ontario/Jr.) each added two hits to lead CMU.
The Chippewas scored four runs in the seventh inning of the nightcap to break a 4-4 tie and come away with the 8-4 victory.
Bryan Scheurer (Portland/Jr.) knocked in the first two runs with a pinch-hit single in the seventh while CMU also scored when Helps walked with the bases loaded and the final run came on an error.
The Chippewas scored first with a pair of runs in the fifth. Bullinger knocked in one with a double while the other scored on a double play.
EMU made it 2-1 with a run in the bottom of the fifth but CMU quickly took the lead back with two more in the sixth. Crowley hit a two-run homer to give CMU the 4-1 lead.
The lead was short lived as the Eagles scored three in the sixth to knot the score at 4-4.
Pete Nemeth (Midland/Sr.) picked up the win in relief to make his record 3-0. He pitched 1 2/3 innings of hitless ball. Starter Dan Schell (Mount Pleasant/Sr.) went 5 1/3 inings and gave up six hits and four runs.
Bullinger hit two-for-four with a double and an RBI to lead CMU. Scheurer and Crowley each had two RBI to pace the Chippewa offense.
The Chippewas host Toledo in a weekend series on May 6-7.
