Central Michigan University Athletics
Unearned Runs Costly in 7-6 Loss to Stetson
3/10/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
DeLAND, Fla. An unearned run with two outs in the eighth inning was the difference as Stetson defeated Central Michigan University, 7-6, Saturday night. It is the second one-run victory for the Hatters (13-5 overall) over CMU (6-7) in as many days.
CMU reliever Chris Kupillas retired the first two Stetson hitters in the bottom of the eighth before Casey Frawley reached on an error. The next batter, Braedyn Pruitt, doubled to right, scoring Frawley from first with what proved to be the winning run.
Robbie Elsemiller tossed a one-two-three ninth for Stetson to earn his sixth save of the season.
The Hatters scored once in the second and five times in the third to build a 6-0 lead. Jeremy Cruz tripled in Brian Pruitt for Stetson’s first run. Three of the Hatters’ five runs in the third were unearned.
CMU began chipping away at the lead in the fifth. The first three hitters reached base before Tyler Stovall’s sacrifice fly scored Sean Hoorelbeke. Cody Allen doubled in Jeff Helps and Eric Cannon scored on Scott Szpyra’s groundout to cut the deficit to 6-3.
The Chippewas pulled within 6-5 on Hoorelbeke’s two-run single in the sixth, then pulled even on James Teas’ two-out double in the seventh.
Hoorelbeke was 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI to lead the CMU offense, while Adam Tindle was 4-for-5 with two doubles, a triple and one run scored.
Kupillas (1-1) took the loss despite allowing just one unearned run on four hits in 5-1 1/3 innings of relief. He struck out five and walked two. Starter Kurt Lauscher departed after surrendering six runs, three earned, on six hits in 2-1 1/3 innings.
Justin Dechert allowed one run on two hits over three innings to earn the win in relief and improve to 3-0 on the year.
The teams wrap up their three-game series Sunday at 12:05 p.m. WMMI 830 AM will broadcast the game live.
