Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
Evansville
Naplin Sparkles in 5-4 CMU Baseball Win
3/5/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 5, 2002
DeLAND, Fla. - Senior right-hander Lee Naplin made the most of his first collegiate start in leading Central Michigan University to a 5-4 baseball win over the University of Evansville here Tuesday afternoon in the Stetson Invitational.
The Chippewas are now 4-2 for the season while the Purple Aces fall to 4-1. Both teams are 1-1 in the Stetson tourney.
The hard-throwing Naplin went seven and one-third innings, allowing three hits and two earned runs while striking out 10 against two walks. Naplin, a winner in relief in CMU's 8-7 victory over Rollins College in the first game of the season, is now 2-0.
Central Michigan allowed two unearned runs in the second and trailed until posting a five-run fifth inning. Tommy Grubb doubled in the first run while Scott Pickens doubled in two more and Mike Gates drove in the final two with a two-run homer.
Evansville chased Naplin and reliever Nick Zastrow in the eighth, scoring twice on just one single. Redshirt freshman Travis Osborn came to the rescue, collecting the third out in the eighth with the bases loaded and then putting the Purple Aces down in order (two on strikes) in the ninth for his first career save.
CMU returns to action in the four-team tourney on Wednesday with a game against Penn State at 2 p.m. Junior right-hander Dan Horvath will start for the Chippewas.
