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EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The Central Michigan baseball team exploded for three runs in the top of the 11th
inning Sunday to break open a 2-2 tie and grab a 5-2 extra-inning victory over the host University of Evansville Purple Aces in the final game of the 2008 Dunn Hospitality Diamond Classic at Charles H. Braun Stadium in Evansville.
After Evansville had rallied from a 2-0 deficit with single runs in the fourth and ninth innings on an RBI single by sophomore Andy Pascoe and a game-tying solo home run to left field by junior first baseman Derek Melton, Central Michigan would take advantage of a pair of UE errors in the 11th inning to grab the 5-2 victory.
After a two-base error in right field opened the inning, CMU outfielder Tyler Stovall singled sharply back up the middle just off of the glove of UE relief pitcher J.R. Carbonell (0-1) to score lead-off man Cody Allen and give the Chippewas a 3-2 lead. A hit batter and an error later led to a bases loaded situation for CMU infielder James Teas, who singled sharply to left field to score two runs and push the lead to 5-2.
The three-run cushion was more than enough for Central Michigan reliever Jesse Hernandez (1-2) in the bottom of the 11th inning, as he set down the Aces in order to record his first victory of the year. Hernandez struck out three men in two innings of work, giving up just one hit to record the victory. Carbonell suffered the tough-luck loss after giving up three runs (two earned) on four base hits in three-plus innings of work while striking out four.
Teas led the Central Michigan offense by going 2-for-5 with two RBI, while catcher Dale Cornstubble also had two hits. Redshirt freshman second baseman Shawn Kuester went 3-for-4 for UE, while Melton added his first career home run as a Purple Ace.
With the victory, Central Michigan improves to 4-11 on the year, while Evansville falls to 1-15. Earlier in the afternoon, North Dakota State took home the 2008 Dunn Hospitality Diamond Classic title with a 5-3 victory over Cleveland State. The Bison used a three-run rally in the fourth inning to overcome an early 3-2 deficit and win its third game on the weekend at the tournament.
Evansville will return to Charles H. Braun Stadium next on Tuesday afternoon, as the Purple Aces will battle longtime Tri-State rival Kentucky Wesleyan at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday’s game is a make-up for an earlier rain-out against KWC in February.
