Eastern Michigan Beats Michigan State, 13-5

Justin Wan / The State News

By Sean Gagnier
@SeanGagnier 

Michigan State was unable to keep their mid-week winning streak going on Wednesday afternoon after suffering a 13-5 loss to the Eastern Michigan Eagles at McLane Baseball Stadium in East Lansing, Mich.

Despite racking up 12 hits on Eagles pitching, the Spartans were unable to bounce back after a 12-run third inning by Eastern Michigan. Tim Simpson, a career reliever for the Spartans, made his first collegiate start on Wednesday.

The first six batters were no problem for Simpson, who retired them in order. However, in the third inning the wheels fell off. Brett Ohrman opened the floodgates for the Eagles in the third with a two run single, followed by another two run single by Jamie Simpson. The Eagles would record a three-run home run from Matt Hit, extending their lead to 7-0 before Simpson would get the hook.

Mike Mestdagh was called upon to stop the bleeding for the Spartans, but Eastern Michigan continued to pile on runs. Of the seven batters Mestdagh faced he allowed five of them to reach base with a hit. Coach Jake Boss, Jr. came out with the hook again with two outs in the third and gave the ball to Joe Zwierzynski.

Zwierzynski was able to finally get Michigan State out of the inning, but the Eagles had amassed a 12-0 lead. The Spartans would keep Zwierzynski on the mound through the fifth inning, allowing just three hits and keeping Eastern Michigan off the board.

The Spartans were able to get three runs back in the fourth and fifth innings off a two run double by Andy Johnson and a sacrifice fly by Ryan Jones. With the score sitting at 12-3 the Eagles tacked on another run in the seventh.

Ryan Krill capped off his career game with a two run single in the eighth to cut the Eagles lead to 13-5, but that's as close as the Spartans would get. Krill had a career-high three hits in the loss to Eastern Michigan.

Michigan State travels to Bloomington, Ind. to return to Big Ten action and take on the Indiana Hooisers in a three game weekend series.