Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
Michigan State
Chippewas Hold Off MSU For Third-Straight Win
3/21/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Thade Hultzsch, CMUChippewas.com
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Evan Kratt's seventh-inning single put Central Michigan ahead for good and freshman Brandon Reed pitched out of a ninth-inning jam for his first collegiate as the Chippewas downed Michigan State, 3-1, in a nonconference baseball game on Wednesday at the Spartans' McLane Baseball Stadium.
It was the third consecutive win for CMU (5-15-1), which opens Mid-American Conference play with a three-game series this weekend at Northern Illinois.
ON THE MOUND
Jack Collins (1-1), the fourth CMU pitcher on a staff day, earned the win. Collins allowed three hits, walked one and struck out three over 2 1/3 innings.
Sophomore Cameron Brown made his first career start for the Chippewas. Cameron Miller, Zach Kohn, Colton Bradley and Reed pitched in relief.
Jesse Heikkinen (0-1) took the loss in relief of Andrew Gonzalez.
AT THE PLATE
Jacob Crum and Kratt had CMU's only two hits of the day. The Spartans outhit CMU, 9-2.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Jordan Patty was hit by a pitch leading off the CMU seventh. A walk to Daniel Robinson and a Jacob Crum bunt put Patty on third and Robinson on second, and then Kratt delivered the two-run single to break a 1-1 tie.
Michigan State drew a walk leading off the ninth and Reed relieved Bradley. Reed struck out the next two batters, and then issued a walk. He got the final out on a fly ball.
Bradley surrendered a lead-off triple in the seventh inning, but then got three consecutive outs -- a popup, a strikeout and a lineout -- to work out of the jam.
NEXT
The Chippewas will play at NIU in a doubleheader on Friday (1 p.m. EDT). The Huskies are 5-14.
COACH Steve Jaksa
"The ability to finish games, that's something we've said is important, finish games. And that's what we've been able to do and today was maybe the toughest of the three (consecutive) that we've won."
"I told the guys tonight on the scoreboard you see two hits, but we also walked 10 times. Those are quality at-bats in our book. Being able to get on base, that's huge."
"We had not won down there in quite some time. Pretty happy overall with the pitching and how it went. We didn't make an error. Pitched it well. That's what we have to do this weekend, stay in it, and get the timely hits."
