Fielding errors, untimely hits lead to fifth straight loss for baseball team
Central Michigan’s baseball team looked to bounce back from their home-opening loss to Bowling Green on Tuesday as they traveled to East Lansing on Wednesday to take on Michigan State.
However, CMU (4-17) gave up five errors in the first three innings as it lost its fifth straight game, 4-1 to the Spartans (15-3).
All four runs were surrendered by CMU starting pitcher Colton Bradley, who made his first pitching start of the season. Bradley went 2 and 1/3 innings giving up four runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks.
Reliever Jimmy McNamara came in during the third inning to replace Bradley. McNamara pitched 4 and 2/3 innings, giving up two hits.
On the offensive side, the Chippewas had more hits (eight) than the Spartans did (five). The Spartans got three of their four runs off CMU defensive miscues. Three of CMU’s hits were by sophomore shortstop Zach McKinstry while three more were off the bat of center fielder Ryan Heeke.
MSU scored its first run in the second inning. A throwing error by CMU catcher Evan Kratt on a Spartan steal put MSU’s runner on third base. That runner eventually scored on an RBI single.
The Chippewas made three more errors in the third inning, allowing three more runs to score. Kratt interfered to allow a Spartan on base, McKinstry made a throwing error and McNamara threw away the ball on a failed pickoff attempt.
The Chippewas will look to break their five-game losing streak this weekend as they host Mid-American Conference East Division favorites Kent State for a three-game series starting on Friday.
