A nine-run eighth inning spoiled an otherwise dazzling effort by freshman left-hander Trent Howard, as the Central Michigan baseball team was eliminated from the Mid-American Conference Tournament in a 10-4 loss.

No. 8 CMU rode the left arm of Howard and an early two-run double by Billy Anderson to a 3-0 lead through six innings, but the defense and bullpen faltered in the late innings and saw No. 5 Miami score 10 unanswered runs in its final two turns at the plate.

Anderson finished with a pair of doubles and Matt Faiman added three singles among CMU’s 11 hits. Robbie Harman also had a pair of singles and his fifth RBI of the tournament.

Dale Cornstubble singled to lead off the fourth and Faiman lined a single through the left side to put two aboard. After a pair of fielder’s choices, made it runners on the corners with two down, Anderson stepped in and smashed a double to right center to score a pair and put CMU ahead 2-0.

In the fifth, CMU would put a pair in scoring position on a walk to Andrew Thomas and a single by Tyler Kipke, aided by a throwing error. An intentional walk to Cornstubble loaded the bases with two down for Faiman, who beat out a ball hit to short for an RBI infield single.

Howard, a second team All-MAC choice, retired 12 of the first 13 batters he faced and worked around three hits in the fifth to carry a 3-0 lead into the seventh, but the RedHawks got a leadoff double in the seventh followed by an RBI single to dent the armor of the freshman hurler.

In the eighth, Howard’s defense let him down and cost the Chippewas the lead. After a leadoff single by Jon Edgington, Howard appeared to induce a bases-clearing double play ball on a grounder to short, but the transfer from Robbie Harman to Ricky Clark went awry, allowing everyone to reach safely.

A sacrifice bunt moved the potential tying runs into scoring position, and spelled the end of the day for Howard. He left having given up six hits over 7.1 innings without walking a batter and fanning four.

Chris Kupillas came out of the pen to try and keep CMU in front, but his first offering was slapped on the ground and found the hole between first and second to score a pair of runs and tie the game at three.

The RedHawks went in front, 4-3, on an RBI triple by Chris Nadeau, and after an intentional walk put runners at the corners, another free pass loaded the bases with one out.

Miami would end up sending 14 men to the plate, scoring nine times and forcing CMU to use five different pitchers in the frame.

The loss brings CMU’s season to an end at 28-30. It’s just the third time since 1965 that the Maroon and Gold have finished with a record below .500.