Baseball

May 12, 2008

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State baseball team travels to Central Michigan Tuesday, May 13 at 3 p.m. at CMU's Theunissen Stadium. The Spartans, who are 8-2 over their last 10 games, enter the contest with a 24-24 record. CMU is 26-24 after getting swept by Western Michigan last weekend. Tuesday's game is the second of two contests between the two schools this season. Central Michigan defeated the Spartans, 10-7, on April 16 at Oldsmobile Park.

Michigan State is coming off a 3-1 week in which it won two of three games at Purdue. Michigan State won the series opener on Friday, May 9 before splitting a doubleheader the next day. Last Wednesday, MSU defeated Western Michigan, 8-6. Junior Eric Roof had four RBI - including a three-run homer - to lead the Spartans.

Sophomore Chris Roberts has led Michigan State's resurgence. The outfielder from Oshkosh, Wis., is hitting a team-high .369 with six triples and 32 RBI. He batted .400 (6-for-15) with six RBI last week. Roberts' .438 batting average in Big Ten play is the second-highest mark in the conference. Junior Kyle Day is hitting .314 with seven home runs and 43 RBI.

Central Michigan is in the middle of a seven-game homestand to close the regular season. The Chippewas are led by Tyler Stovall, who is hitting .325 with six homers and 45 RBI. CMU's Sean Hoorelbeke leads the team in home runs (14), RBI (48) and doubles (17).

Freshman right-hander A.J. Achter (1-2, 4.18 ERA) is scheduled to start on the mound for the Spartans. He was slated to start Sunday's game at Purdue, but missed the start due to rain. Central Michigan is scheduled to start a right-handed pitcher to be announced.

MSU's hot streak has gotten the team back in the hunt for a berth in the Big Ten Tournament. The Spartans are currently a half-game behind Northwestern for the sixth spot and one game behind Ohio State for fifth place in the Big Ten standings. The top six teams in the regular season advance to the Big Ten Tournament.

The Spartans (12-14 Big Ten) will play a four-game series against Indiana (11-17 Big Ten) beginning Thursday, May 15 at Kobs Field. Thursday's first pitch is set for 3 p.m.

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