FREE PRESS STAFF • May 22, 2009 Michigan State was eliminated from the Big Ten tournament Thursday after losing to Purdue, 12-9, in Columbus,
Ohio. The Spartans (23-31) fought back from deficits all afternoon and cut a five-run Boilermakers’ lead to three in the ninth, but could get no closer. “I was proud of our guys for the way they came back today,” Spartans coach Jake Boss said. “They gave us a chance to win.” Eli Boike and A.J. Shindler hit back-to-back home runs for MSU in the fifth inning. It was the Spartans’ first appearance in the Big Ten tournament since 2004. More baseball: Kent State thumped Central Michigan, 17-2, in the Mid-American Conference tournament at Chillicothe, Ohio. The Chippewas were forced to use eight pitchers in the game. The loss sends No. 8 Central (28-29) into the consolation bracket against No. 5 Miami (Ohio). The game is at 9 a.m. today. If Central wins, it will face Kent State again at 4 p.m. today.
Charity: Lions linebacker Ernie Sims will take part in the Michigan Humane Society’s Putts Fore Paws golf outing, June 8 at Forest Lake Country Club in Bloomfield Hills. The event will benefit the more than 100,000 animals MHS cares for each year. For information, go to .