MSU sweeps CMU baseball; no love lost
DETROIT -- Central Michigan baseball has the upper hand in the Michigan State rivalry, but it did not show in 2012.
In three games CMU lost 5-6, 1-11 and 2-5 this season against the highway 127 rival. The latest loss came Tuesday night at Comerica Park making it the first time MSU has swept the season series since 2005 – when it was a two game series.
CMU head coach Steve Jaksa was quick to point out that the Chippewas still held an overall rivalry advantage at 62-51.
“I’ll hold off on the frustration in part because if you look over the course of all the game we have done really well,” Jaksa said. “But we recognize we are 0-3 this year and we don’t like it.”
Jaksa said he did not want to get tied up in frustration in front of us, but that he would beat his head in a wall somewhere else.
“That is what a rivalry is, you don’t want to lose,” Jaksa said. “It is an important rivalry and we want to keep it going, it is good for both our schools.”
MSU coach Jake Boss Jr. was grateful for his team’s success against CMU this season.
“It is tough to beat any team three times in a year and we did that and we feel fortunate against a program like that,” Boss said.
It was senior Eric Wrozek’s final game against MSU. He knocked a solo home run over the right field wall in the seventh inning.
He said not only playing at Comerica Park made it special, but it always means more against MSU.
“It is important to us,” Wrozek said, who personally knows players on MSU. “We are always looking forward to it.”
On the other side of the diamond, Justin Scanlon could not be happier with how his last season playing in the rivalry went.
“It is great, as a senior,” Scanlon said, he went 3-for-3 with two walks a run scored and knocked in a run. “To (sweep) a program like that, CMU, and at Comerica Park, it tops my senior year.”
No love lost
Although both sides talked about the importance of the game and beating the other team, both clearly respect each other.
“Jake and I have known each other long time,” Jaksa said. “We are friends off of the field and we get along on it. We both want to win and are going play to win every game.”
Boss went on to say praises to Jaksa and the CMU program.
“We have a great relationship,” Boss said of Jaksa. “He has a fist full of rings and runs a first-class program. I know him, I know his family. His daughter and I are both Alma alum. We have a lot of respect for how good his program is and has been in the past.”
MSU has not seen one of the CMU weekend starters that will most likely throw in the Mid-American Conference tournament, but Boss said he has seen their numbers and expects CMU to make a deep run in the MAC tournament.
“It is fun to compete against a good program,” Boss said. “We feel fortunate to come out 3-0.”
