May 14, 2003

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TODAY IN SPARTAN BASEBALL:

TEAMS: Michigan State (18-32) at Central Michigan (24-24)

WHERE: Mount Pleasant, Mich. - Theunissen Stadium (2,046)

WHEN: 3 p.m.

SPARTAN GAME NOTES:

* CMU leads the all-time series, 50-41, and defeated the Spartans twice earlier this season.

* The Chippewas beat the Spartans 9-2 on March 4 in Jacksonville, Fla., behind CMU starter Jeff Garner's 14 strikeouts. It was Garner's only appearance of the season due to an injury.

* Central edged MSU, 4-3, on April 23 at Oldsmobile Park in Lansing. MSU scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to cut the lead to one run, but stranded a runner at third base with one out in the ninth.

* Michigan State was mathematically eliminated from the Big Ten Tournament last weekend after getting swept by Ohio State.

PROBABLE MSU STARTER:
#30 Jon Kowalski
RH * So. * Sterling Heights, Mich.
(2-0, 4.86 ERA, 16.2 IP, 7 K, 3 BB, OBA - .313)

JON KOWALSKI NOTES: This is Kowalski's third career start. He brings a 2-0 record into the contest after defeating Siena Heights (4/22) and Eastern Michigan (5/7). Last week against EMU, he threw a career-high six innings and only allowed two earned runs on six hits.

PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN BRADY BURRILL OUT FOR SEASON: Senior catcher Brady Burrill had a spectacular career at Michigan State, but it ended on a sour note as he broke his left foot May 9 at Ohio State. He will miss the remainder of the season. Burrill was second in Big Ten play with a .392 batting average and 10th with a .432 on base percentage. Burrill was named a preseason All-American by Collegiate Baseball and a Fab 50 senior by Baseball America.

LITWHILER AND ROBERTS TO BE HONORED SUNDAY: MSU will retire the first numbers in program history in a ceremony honoring former MSU head coach Danny Litwhiler and Hall of Famer Robin Roberts before the Penn State game at Kobs Field this Sunday, May 18. Litwhiler coached at MSU for 19 seasons and is the winningest coach in program history, while Roberts was a two-sport letterwinner before pitching 19 seasons in the Major Leagues and winning 286 games. Litwhiler will also be honored as the MSU Baseball Alumnus of the Year at the annual banquet Monday, May 19.