Last season, MSU posted a 1-2 record against Central Michigan. In the two teams’ first meeting last year, the Spartans earned a dominating 20-3 victory at home. But in the next two games, held at a neutral site and then in Mt. Pleasant, the Spartans blew late leads en route to two tough losses.

MSU is hoping to earn some revenge at 3:05 p.m. Wednesday at Cooley Law School Stadium when the team will get its first crack at Central Michigan this season.

“It’s a big day for us,” MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. “Last year, we lost two leads late in the ballgame, and that was really part of our Achilles’ heel last season. (Central Michigan) is always a really good ball club, and that’s no different this year.”

Although it’s a nonconference game, the Spartans are expecting it to have the feel of a Big Ten matchup.

“Anytime you play a MAC school, they are going to come out and play their hardest,” senior infielder Chris Roberts said. “To beat a Big Ten team is big for them, and it would be a pretty big win on their schedule. At the same time, they are a team we should beat and a team we want to beat. We want to be the best team in Michigan, and we have to come prepared and bring everything we have.”

Freshman pitcher Tony Wieber (0-0) will get the start on Wednesday for the Spartans. Boss said he plans on giving several of his young arms a chance in the game in preparation for this weekend’s opening of the conference schedule.

“We aren’t sure how long Tony will go, but if he has success, we will stay with him,” Boss said. “We want everybody ready for the weekend. We want all hands on deck for the Big Ten season, so we could see a lot of guys throwing tomorrow.”

Wednesday’s game will be the Spartans’ first game of the season at Cooley Law School Stadium in Lansing, formerly Oldsmobile Park.

The game will be the only time the Spartans play at Cooley Law School Stadium before the Crosstown Showdown, which will take place April 7 against the Lansing Lugnuts.

“We don’t practice there all the time, and it will be our first time going over there,” senior right fielder Eli Boike said. “Wednesday’s game will give us a little tune-up before the Crosstown Showdown.”

The Spartans (16-4) currently are in first place in the Big Ten, riding a 10-game winning streak. Although the conference season hasn’t started yet, the Spartans want to keep the streak alive before opening Big Ten play this weekend with a three-game homestand against Iowa.

“It’s going to be important to get off to a good start in the Big Ten and keep this ball rolling,” senior left fielder Bo Felt said. “It’s going to be a good year for us.”