Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewas Top Evansville in Extra Innings, 5-2
3/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- A pair of clutch singles by Tyler Stovall and James Teas combined with outstanding pitching pushed the Central Michigan baseball team past the University of Evansville, 5-2, in 11 innings during the Diamond Classic, hosted by UE.
"Teas got his pitch and fired the ball over the shotstop's head and gave us some breathing room," head coach Steve Jaksa said. "We got a couple nice bunts down to set up the inning, which was crucial. We've been tied late in so many games this season, to get the lead was huge."
Lawrence, in just his second start of the season, allowed two runs (one earned) on just five hits and didn't walk a batter. He struck out seven with pin-point control throughout and dominated the Evansville lineup.
"It was a tough no decision for him, but it was a good team win," Jaksa said. "If he pitches like that he'll get a lot of chances. He had good command and put together a great performance."
Jesse Hernandez (1-2) picked up the win in relief, throwing two shutout innings and fanned three. He allowed a single but a double-play ball helped him face the minimum.
The Chippewas took the lead in the third, 1-0, on a sacrifice fly by Cody Allen. Jeff Helps crossed the plate after he led off the inning on a single, moved up to second on an error by the left fielder and took third on Jeff Digati's single. Back-to-back walks issued to Tyler Stovall and Billy Anderson followed by a double-steal put two more runners in scoring position for Sean Hoorelbeke, who drilled a ball to left field but was robbed of extra bases by UE left fielder Jared Baehl.
Central added a run in the fourth after a one-out double by Teas, who moved up on a groundout by Noah Lankford and scored on a single by Dale Cornstubble.
The Purple Aces got a run in the fourth to cut the lead in half. The score stayed 2-1 until the bottom of the ninth, when Evansville's Derek Melton blasted a solo home run to left to knott the game at two.
Neither team scored in the 10th, but Central pieced together a rally in the 11th. Allen reached second on an error to start the inning off and scored in a Tyler Stovall single. Anderson was hit by a pitch to put two aboard, and the Chippewas loaded the bases on a miscue on a sacrifice bunt by Rod Helsen. Teas lined a single into left field to plate Stovall and Anderson, giving CMU a 5-2 lead. Another sacrifice bunt put two more runners in scoring position, but reliever Corey Davisson got the next two batters to retire the side.
The Chippewas (4-11) travel to South Bend, Ind., to face Notre Dame on Monday.
