Baseball team travels to Toledo after MSU win

MIDLAND – Casey Ingle sat on the bench until the ninth inning, when the baseball team was behind 6-3.

He did not register an official at-bat, but his only plate appearance pushed CMU past Michigan State, 7-6, Wednesday at Dow Diamond in Midland.

With the bases loaded and no outs, MSU closer Peter Wolff hit Ingle, which allowed junior left fielder Billy Anderson to touch home plate for the game’s winning run.

Ingle said being hit was the last thing he expected.

“I was just calm and hoping to put the barrel on the ball – there was a lot of ways to win that game,” he said. “The count was 3-and-1, I thought at least he would put it across the plate.”

The team returns to Theunissen Stadium and Mid-American Conference play today at 3:05 p.m. against Toledo. Jaksa will send his trio of left-handers to the mound this weekend to go against Toledo right-handers, starting today with senior Steve Teno against Justin Callop. The series continues Saturday at 2:05 p.m., pitting senior Dan Taylor against Matt Kuna and the 1:05 p.m. Sunday series closer will pit freshman Trent Howard against Mike Inselmann.

The win against the Spartans avenges a 17-run loss CMU suffered on April 1 in East Lansing.

“That seems like eons ago,” said coach Steve Jaksa. “That was just one game. No questions it was in the back of our mind, but that was one loss.”

Wednesday’s comeback walk-off win gives the team a boost heading into the weekend. CMU sits two games behind division-leading Toledo.

“I think the big thing is the confidence in the guys knowing what they can do,” Jaksa said. “They recognize what they did . Toledo doesn’t care that we won today.”

With the Chippewas down to their last at-bat and down three runs, consecutive bunt-singles loaded the bases with no out.

Anderson then blooped a single into short left field, scoring two. Next, junior second baseman Tyler Kipke singled to short center, tying the game and setting up Ingle after MSU walked sophomore right fielder Matt Faiman.

“We had some clutch hits in the end and some great bunting,” Jaksa said. “I’m really happy for the guys.”

Freshman left-hander Rick Dodridge started and earned a no-decision after allowing five runs on six hits during four innings.

Freshman right-hander Harvey Martin earned his first collegiate win, throwing a hitless ninth inning.

Central was held hitless until the third inning and scoreless until the sixth. The team capitalized with the bases loaded and one out when three runs scored on a pair of hits, highlighted by senior catcher Dale Cornstubble’s two-RBI single to left center.

But MSU was ahead 6-0 before Central cut it to 6-3.

CMU failed to score with the bases loaded and one out in the seventh inning.

sports@cm-life.com