Central Michigan 8, Michigan State 7: Chippewas rally in ninth inning to top Spartans at Comerica Park
Under the lights of Comerica Park in Downtown Detroit, junior first baseman Morgan Oliver was the hero for the Central Michigan University baseball team.
Oliver's two-out walk-off base hit in the bottom of the ninth inning clinched the Chippewas 8-7 win over Michigan State University on Wednesday night during the fifth annual Clash at Comerica.
"We never give up until the last out is done," Oliver said. "I kind of blacked out. I just let the ball get deep. I turned around and just saw (my team) charging at me. It was surreal."
The victory improves the Chippewas to 25-12 overall and 1-1 against the Spartans this season. The two teams play once more at 3:05 p.m. on May 12 in Mount Pleasant.
The Chippewas fell behind 7-0 early, before mounting the late comeback.
"We weren't as good in approach in the first couple of innings," said Head Coach Steve Jaksa. "I knew as soon as (Oliver's base hit) was hit the game was over. I just enjoyed the dogpile after that."
CMU's starter, sophomore right-handed pitcher Blake Hibbitts, loaded the bases in the top of the first inning with nobody out. The Spartans scored their first run on a sacrifice fly out from senior Blase Salter.
MSU plated another unearned run in the top of the second inning thanks to a fielding error by Chippewas third baseman Alex Borglin.
The Spartans picked up two more runs in the top of the third inning after Hibbitts was replaced by reliever Jimmy McNamara. Spartan right fielder Alex Troop doubled in a pair of baserunners to push MSU's lead to 4-0.
One inning later, MSU's Dan Durkin drove in a run with two outs to push Sparty's lead to 6-0. MSU scored its final run of the game in the top of the eighth inning on a base hit from senior infielder Ryan Richardson.
The Chippewas' comeback
The Chippewas scored two runs on a wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth inning and then a sacrifice RBI from senior outfielder Nick Regnier.
Oliver started the ninth-inning rally with a double to left centerfield. A few batters later, senior second baseman Pat MacKenzie hit a run in with a groundout to second base cutting MSU's lead to 7-3.
Backup catcher Robert Greenman's single brought in two more CMU runs and the Spartans led 7-5 with one out in the inning.
A hit batter and a bunt single by Nick Regnier loaded the bases for CMU. A sacrifice fly from Daniel Jipping tied the game at seven runs a piece and brought Oliver to the plate for his game-winning at bat.
"It's a really long season," Oliver said. "I know I haven't been in the lineup here and there. We're all working for that (Mid-American Conference) Championship."
