University of Toledo
CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Toledo Drops Heartbreaker to Central Michigan, 3-2
4/10/2004 12:00:00 PM | Baseball
TOLEDO, OH - Toledo (8-18, 2-6 MAC MAC) dropped the second game of a three-game Mid-American Conference series against Central Michigan, 3-2, this afternoon at Scott Park. The Chippewas (15-13, 4-1 MAC) tallied the winning run with two outs in the top of the ninth inning.
CMU's Jim Geldhof singled off UT senior reliever Raul Lopez (1-1), scoring Jeremy Crum from second base with the game-winning run.
Jayson Ruhlman (3-2) picked up the win in relief for CMU, while David LeMieux tossed a perfect ninth inning to earn the save. Lopez was the hard-luck loser for the Rockets, surrendering two runs on four hits in two innings of action.
Junior RHP J.R. Duffey provided the Rockets with another solid start. Duffey struck out five Chippewas in seven innings and allowed seven hits and one run.
Central Michigan had the contest's first opportunity to score in the fourth with the bases loaded and one out. Derek Schaller lifted a fly ball to left field and Kurtis Wells tagged up from third and attempted to score, but UT LF Shawn Hurst's throw to the plate was perfect to keep the game scoreless.
CMU eventually plated the game's first run two innings later on a RBI double by David Latour.
In the bottom half of the sixth, the Rockets responded with their two runs to take a 2-1 lead. Sophomore Dan Stong led off with a single and advanced to third on a double by senior Sean Dobson. Stong then scored the game-tying run on a wild pitch by CMU starter Ty Dunham, while Dobson advanced to third on the play. Hurst followed with a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Dobson and giving UT the one-run lead.
The Chippewas looked to tie the score in the seventh having runners on second and third with two outs and had their hottest hitter, Geldhof, at the plate. Fortunately for Duffey and the Rockets, Geldhof popped out to senior Chris Arvay at shortstop to end the rally.
Having dodged a bullet in the top half of the seventh, Toledo attempted to add to its lead in the bottom half, putting runners on first and second with one out and forced CMU into a pitching change. Dunham was pulled in favor of Ruhlman. UT senior Aaron Rouser singled to right off Ruhlman and sophomore pinch hitter Nick Lance tried to score from second, but rightfielder J.T. Jones' throw to the plate was on the mark to end the inning.
CMU tied the score at 2-2 in the eighth on back-to-back doubles by Latour and Wells, setting up for the dramatic finish.
The two teams will conclude their three-game series on Sunday, April 11 with a single game beginning at 1:00 p.m.
