Baseball Wins Home Opener, 8-3

Tuesday, March 24

East Lansing, Mich.

3:05 PM

Michigan State University

10-11

Central Michigan

15-10

Central Michigan

Michigan State

Alex Troop pitched five innings, allowing one run on two hits to earn his second win of the season.

3/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

March 24, 2015

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EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State baseball team won its home opener on Tuesday afternoon, defeating Central Michigan, 8-3, at McLane Baseball Stadium. The Spartans jumped out early when they put a three runs on the board in the first inning and held onto the lead for the remainder of the game. MSU improved to 10-11 on the year, while CMU fell to 15-10.

Junior centerfielder Cam Gibson doubled to center to get the Spartans started in the opening frame, followed by two free passes that loaded the bases with nobody out. A wild pitched allowed Gibson to score the game's first run, followed by a groundout to third that scored Ryan Krill. MSU plated its final run of the inning on a sacrifice fly by freshman Chad Roskelly for his 11th RBI of the season that made it 3-0.

"We talk about trying to get out quickly and set the tone for the ball game and we were able to do that today," said head coach Jake Boss. "It helps the guy on the mound relax a little bit, especially when you have a freshman going. You put up a three spot in the first and it lets him settle in a little easier."

After the Chippewas got a run back on a home run to left by Daniel Jipping in the fourth inning, the Spartans tacked one two more of their own in the bottom half of the frame. A bad throw on a bunt single by Gibson allowed Kory Young, who singled earlier in the inning, to advance to third. With runners on second and third and nobody out, a groundout by Krill and a single to center by Mark Weist pushed both runners across to open up a 5-1 lead.

Freshman Alex Troop got the start on the mound and earned the win for the Spartans to improve to 2-1 on the year. Troop went 5+ innings, allowing one run on two hits and striking out four. Walter Borkovich came on in relief with two runners on and nobody out in the sixth, working out of the jam and stranding three men on base to hold CMU scoreless and preserve the lead.

Michigan State outhit Central Michigan 13-6 for the game, while the Chippewas had four errors.

"I thought we made some progress offensively which was good," said head coach Jake Boss. "Defensively we played well and for the most part I thought we pitched it pretty well. We need to learn how to pitch with a lead. Overall, it is a good win for the home opener. Central is a good ball club. They have beaten a lot of good teams this year, so no doubt a good win for us."

Brandon Hughes went yard for his second homer of the season in the fifth to make it 6-1 before Central closed the Spartans' lead to three with a two-run seventh. Joe Mockbee stranded two runners in the seventh to limit the damage, and then MSU responded in the eighth with two runs of its own, bringing the score to its final 8-3 count.

Gibson lead the way for the Michigan State offense, going 3-for-5 at the plate, scoring three runs and adding a stolen base. Five different Spartans recorded RBIs in the contest, led by Blaise Salter who had two.

Michigan State returns to action again tomorrow at home vs. Oakland at 3:05 p.m. The Spartans are in the midst of a five-game home stand that ends this weekend with a three-game series vs. Illinois in the Big Ten home-opener.