EAST LANSING— Coming off a series against Indiana in which the Spartans were outscored 38-8 in a three-game sweep, the Green and White looked to get back in the win column with a non-conference matchup against Central Michigan at McLane Stadium.
Michigan State committed four errors in the 6-5 loss to the Chippewas, as well as only allowing one earned run, the other five coming via errors.
“We didn’t take care of any details whatsoever,” MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. “It continues to happen over and over and over again. “We continue to address it, and we continue to see a lot of the same results.”
Freshman Aiden Donovan started on the hill for MSU, he came in his fifth start of the season with a 6.89 ERA and a 0-2 record. For the visiting Chippewas, it was Senior Hayden Bailey on the mound. This was also his fifth start of the year, his era standing at 9.00 with a 2-1 record.
The Spartan freshman opened his account on the game strongly, striking out two Central Michigan batters in a 1-2-3 inning. Michigan State wouldn’t waste any time getting on the board as sophomore Ryan Mckay would send a ball to the wall in left center, giving MSU a 1-0 lead.
Two Central Michigan errors gave the Spartans a bases-loaded opportunity; two sacrifice flies and a single came out of that opportunity, extending Michigan State’s lead to 4-0.
A Central Michigan runner would reach base via an error in the top of the second, but no damage would be dealt by the Chippewas. The MSU offense slowed down with a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the second.
Central Michigan notched its first hits and runs of the game, with an error and a single setting up freshman Cayden Smith, who sent a ball over the tall right field wall for a three-run blast, bringing the MSU advantage to one.
After a single in the following at-bat, Donovan’s day came to an end, his final line was 2 2/3 innings, three hits and three runs — all of them, however, were unearned. Lefty sophomore Gannon Grundman came in to hopefully stop the bleeding for the Spartans, he did just that as he retired the first batter, then he forced a weak groundout back to the mound.
The Spartans were unable to respond on the offensive side, as they failed to tally any runs, leaving the score at 4-3.
Another Spartan error posed the threat of scoring for CMU, a passed ball and a bit by pitch put runners on the corners for the Chippewas.
The game-tying run would be cashed in double down left field line from junior Zach Knowlton. This would be the only run allowed by Michigan State. The bats would get MSU right back in the lead with a two-out round-tripper for sophomore Parkey Picot, making it a 5-4 game.
Grundman wouldn’t see action in the third as senior Dominic Pianto would start the fifth for the Green and White. Grundman’s final line sat at 1 1/3 innings, one hit, one run and one strikeout. Pianto forced the first two Chippewa batters to fly out to right field before allowing the first walk of the game for Central Michigan.
Nothing would come from it, though, as the next batter flew out to left, maintaining the slim one-run advantage. The Spartans would get a runner on base in the bottom half of the fifth, but no runs were produced.
Central Michigan would do Michigan State one better as they got right back in the lead, a single, and MSU’s fourth error of the game tied the game up at five apiece. Bailey’s day would end for Central Michigan, he finished with five innings, four hits, five runs (two earned), two walks and two strikeouts. Junior Nate Ross came in relief for the Chippewas, making his eleventh appearance of the season. A hit by pitch and a single were all the Green and White could amass against the new arm in the bottom half.
MSU would turn again to the bullpen, as sophomore Garrett Brewer took over pitching duties for Pianto in the top of the seventh. Pianto finished with two innings pitched, one hit, one run and one walk. Brewer opened his account with a strikeout, followed by a single.
He would also be the first Spartan pitcher to give up an earned run as Brady Krzciok drove in the go-ahead run on a single to left center field. That would be the only run allowed, but Central Michigan would enter the later third of the game up 6-5. Junior Jack Otis would become the third pitcher for the Chippewas, ending Ross’s day.
Ross ended one inning of work with one hit and two strikeouts. Otis walked the first batter he faced, but the Spartans couldn’t tie or take the lead as Otis retired the next three batters.
Michigan State turned to the fifth pitcher of the game in the eighth inning, sophomore Logan Pikur replaced Brewer. Brewer closed his account for the game with one inning pitched, two hits, one run and one strikeout.
Central Michigan wouldn’t waste any time attacking the new MSU pitcher, sophomore Mikey Murphy blasted a lead-off double onto the right field hill, but the Chippewas couldn’t add on to their lead as Pikur retired three straight Central Michigan hitters.
CMU also went to the pen in the eighth inning. Junior Justin Morgan took the mound for CMU, ending Otis’s day. Otis’s solo inning featured one walk and one strikeout. The Spartans failed to get anyone on base, as their chances to come back whittled down.
Graduate student Tyler Horvath was tasked with the job of holding the CMU advantage to one as he became the sixth MSU pitcher.
Pikur finished his only inning with one hit and one strikeout. Horvath started with a strikeout; back-to-back Central Michigan singles gave the Green and White faithful a scare but Horvath was able to not allow any damage before the bottom half of the ninth.
CMU made a change on the mound for the final frame, junior Liam Stumpf took over for Morgan in an attempt to close out the game. Morgan finished his single inning with one strikeout, no runs or hits. Stumpf started his save attempt with a strikeout, he then got a groundout in one pitch in the next two at-bats to hand Michigan State a 6-5 defeat.
MSU has now lost seven out of its last eight games, including two non-conference defeats. Boss Jr. kept it very short when talking about the outlook on the rest of the homestand.
“We’ll find out on Friday, won’t we?” Boss said.
The Spartans will next welcome the Wildcats of Northwestern to McLane Stadium for a three-game road weekend series, starting April 11 with first pitch of game one set at 5:32 p.m.
