Three-Run Eighth Lifts CMU Over Toledo, 5-4

April 28, 2006

MOUNT PLEASANT - Central Michigan University scored three times in the bottom of the eighth inning to rally for a 5-4 win over Toledo in game one of the teams' Mid-American Conference baseball series on Friday.

The victory extends the Chippewas' home winning streak to nine games.

Toledo tied the game at two with single runs in the sixth and seventh inning. Tom Stevison drew a pinch-hit walk with the bases loaded in the eighth to give the Rockets their first lead, 3-2.

The CMU offense, which had produced just four hits through seven innings, came to life to score three times on four hits in the eighth. Troy Moratti started the rally with a one-out single, then scored the tying run on Ben Humphrey's triple off the base of the wall in right. Toledo pitched around Bryan Mitzel, then summoned Mike Inselmann from the bullpen with one out and runners on the corners. Inselmann surrendered consecutive run-scoring singles to Eric Cannon and James Teas before getting out of the inning.

Two singles and an error allowed Toledo (20-19 overall, 7-9 MAC) to load the bases against James Ricchio with one out in the ninth, but the closer allowed just an unearned run to get out of the jam and earn his fifth save of the season.

Josh Ruhlman threw just five pitches, but improved to 2-0 for CMU (26-17, 11-5). He struck out the only batter he faced, Jake Swint, for the final out in the eighth inning.

J.T. Jones looped a single over a drawn-in infield to score Noah Lankford and give the Chippewas a 1-0 lead in the third. CMU would load the bases with two outs in the inning, but Cody Allen was caught attempting to steal home for the final out.

That play was key for Toledo, as Bryan Mitzel, who was at the plate when Allen was tagged out, lined a home run over the left-field fence on the first pitch of the fourth inning. His team-leading 12th roundtripper of the year made the score 2-0 in favor of CMU.

Toledo scored single runs in each of its final four at-bats, but also left at least two runners on base in each of those frames. Toledo had the bases loaded with one out and one run in in the eighth, but Mark Lundquist and Ruhlman pitched the Chippewas out of the jam.

Eight different players had one hit apiece for CMU, while Dan Stong was 3-for-4 with three singles to lead Toledo.

The two teams get back together for game two of the series on Saturday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Theunissen Stadium.