Michigan State University
Central Michigan
Baseball Holds Off Central Michigan, 9-8
4/27/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 27, 2005
LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State baseball team held off a late scoring surge by Central Michigan to secure its second consecutive victory by a score of 9-8 at Lansing's Oldsmobile Park. With the win, MSU improves to 17-18, while CMU falls to 24-15 on the season.
A run-scoring single by senior Ryan Peel helped Central Michigan take advantage of two MSU errors, taking an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Michigan State cut its deficit to 3-1 in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by sophomore left fielder Ryan Basham (Lowell, Ind.), scoring freshman center fielder Ryan Sontag (Monroe, Mich.), who reached on a fielding error.
A solo home run by senior Jeff Lafavors Jr. off MSU starting pitcher John Dwan (Libertyville, Ill.) increased the Chippewas' lead to 4-2. The Spartans pulled to within 4-3 in the bottom of the second as junior first baseman Alan Cattrysse hit a one-out double to center field and later scored on an RBI single to right center by third baseman Oliver Wolcott (Plymouth, Mich.).
Central Michigan added another run in the top of third to increase its lead to 5-3. Senior Kurtis Wells led off the frame with a single through the left side and scored on a single by freshman Tyler Stovall. MSU produced six runs on six hits off Central Michigan starting pitcher Josh Ruhlman in the bottom of the third to claim an 8-5 advantage. A two-run double to left field by Cattrysse and a run-scoring double by Wolcott highlighted the rally.
The Spartans increased their lead to 9-5 in the fourth inning on an RBI fielder's choice by Cattrysse, scoring Basham who walked with one out.
Central Michigan cut its deficit to one at 9-8 in the eighth inning thanks to a run-scoring double by Wells and an RBI single by senior Derek Schaller. With the bases loaded and two outs, freshman reliever Drew Mahan (Okemos, Mich.) forced freshman Noah Lankford to end the inning on a groundout. Mahan shut down a potential rally by the Chippewas in the ninth inning to seal the victory for MSU.
Cattrysse (2-for-4, 2 runs, 3 RBI) and Wolcott (2-for-4, run, two RBI) paced the Spartan offense. Junior Jeff Gerbe (1-1) earned the win for Michigan State, throwing two and one-third shutout innings with six strikeouts and three walks. Mahan earned his second save of the season, allowing only two hits in one and one-third innings.
Wells (2-for-5, 2 runs, RBI) and senior David Latour Jr. (2-for-3, run) led Central Michigan with two hits apiece. Ruhlman (1-1) took the loss for the Chippewas, giving up seven runs (five earned) on six hits in two and one-third innings pitched.
Michigan State opens a Big Ten series against Michigan on Friday, April 29 at Oldsmobile Park in Lansing, beginning at 7 p.m.
