Baseball loses to MSU; MAC coming up

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The baseball team returns to Mid-American Conference play today following its 17-run loss to Michigan State on Wednesday.

Central Michigan opens a three-game series against Bowling Green at 3:05 p.m. today at Theunissen Stadium.

Coach Steve Jaksa said the team needs to put its 20-3 loss to MSU in the past.

“The only game that matters is the next one,” he said after Wednesday’s game.

The series continues at 2:05 p.m. Saturday and closes at 1:05 p.m. Sunday.

Bowling Green right-hander Brennan Smith is Friday’s probable starter, with left-hander Matt Malewitz likely starting the second game. Right-hander Ross Gerdeman will close out the series on Sunday.

Jaksa will start his usual weekend rotation of senior left-hander Steve Teno in the opener, senior left-hander Dan Taylor on Saturday and freshman left-hander Trent Howard in the series finale.

In his last start, Teno earned the win after lasting eight innings, giving up one unearned run.

“You go out into every game looking to get a quality start and give your team a chance to win,” he said. “This is a MAC weekend, so the team’s going to be pretty pumped knowing that Bowling Green’s a good team.”

Bowling Green has a 2-3 conference record after splitting two games with Northern Illinois last weekend. On Tuesday, the Falcons (11-12) went to Ann Arbor and beat the University of Michigan 8-3.

CMU comes into the series after allowing a season-high 20 runs to MSU.

“Obviously, it was disappointing,” Jaksa said. “We weren’t able to accomplish our goal of making it a competitive game. We just didn’t score quick enough to get back in the game and they steam-rolled a bit.”

The Spartans scored seven runs in the second inning after scoring three in the first inning to take an early 10-0 lead.

Junior right-hander Jesse Hernandez started for the Chippewas. He lasted into the second inning, allowing 10 runs – eight earned – on seven hits.

Hernandez took the loss, bringing his record to 0-3.

Michigan State was up 17-0 before sophomore center fielder Rod Helsen hit a double to center field that brought in sophomore shortstop Robbie Harman.

CMU added two more runs, scoring once in the eighth inning and again in the ninth inning on sophomore Casey Ingle’s pinch-hit solo home run to right field.

MSU finished with 25 hits to Central’s 10.

TENO HONORED

Steve Teno earned the Mid-American Conference West Division’s pitcher of the week honors after his performance last Friday against Buffalo.

Teno lasted eight innings and gave up one unearned run on seven hits. He kept the Bulls in check while the Chippewas scored five runs in the eighth-inning to come back and win 5-2.

KRAZY TAILGATE

The Hot Korner Krazys will host a tailgate in the Theunissen Stadium parking lot starting at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Sigma Nu will provide a disc jockey in recognition of Greek Day.

sports@cm-life.com