Central Michigan University
Michigan State
Chippewas Fall to MSU, 9-8
4/27/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 27, 2005
LANSING -- Michigan State scored six times in the third inning en route to a 9-8 baseball win over Central Michigan University here Wednesday night at Olds Park.
CMU falls to 24-15 for the season while the Spartans are now 17-18.
The Chippewas scored early and often but couldn't maintain the advantage. CMU plated three runs in the first inning, one on an infield grounder, one on an error and the third on Ryan Peel's double.
MSU scored one unearned run in the bottom of the first to make it 3-1 but the Chippewas came back with one of their own in the second on Jeff LaFavor Jr.'s first homer of the season. The Spartans answered with one in the second to cut the deficit to 4-2 with a run in the second. CMU built the margin back to three, 5-2, in the third when Tyler Stovall singled in a run.
However, Michigan State took a 8-5 lead with a six-run third inning that featured six hits, a walk and two Chippewa errors. The Spartans made it 9-5 with a run in the fourth.
After being held scoreless for four straight innings, CMU tallied three in the eighth to make it 9-8. David Latour Jr. doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly. J.T. Jones then reached on an error and scored on a double by Kurtis Wells. Wells scored on a single by pinch-hitter Derek Schaller.
Freshman lefty Josh Ruhlman was the starter and loser (1-1) for the Chippewas. He only went two and one-third innings, allowing six hits and seven runs, five of them earned. Sophomore right-hander Mike Kirschenheiter went the next one and two-third frames. He gave up four hits and two earned runs.
A trio of Chippewa hurlers held MSU scoreless for the final four innings -- James Ricchio one, Jayson Ruhlman two and Nathan Pung one.
Jeff Gerbe picked up the win in relief for MSU to even his record at 1-1. Drew Mahan picked up his second save.
MSU had 11 hits and five errors while the Chippewas had 10 hits and three errors.
CMU returns to action at home on Friday with a Mid-American Conference game against Marshall at 3 p.m.
