Spartans' Waszak and Krill Take Home Big Ten Honors

The State News

By Sean Gagnier
@SeanGagnier 

The Big Ten Baseball Awards came out for the week and two Spartans earned honors. Junior right-hander Andrew Waszak was named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week and Ryan Krill was named Freshman of the Week honors from the Big Ten.

Waszak's performance in the first game of a double header on Sunday earned him his award. On Sunday Waszak threw seven scoreless innings while allowing just three hits against Indiana. Michigan State beat the Hoosiers in Waszak's start, due to his career-high five strike outs. The Spartans won 6-0 on Sunday.

With the win on Sunday Waszak improved his record to 4-2, it was also his eighth quality start of the season. Waszak ranks second in the Big Ten in ERA with a 1.82 mark and holds the lead in the conference with a .191 batting average against. His four wins has him tied for tenth in the Big Ten while his 59.1 innings pitched places him seventh.

Krill tore up pitching the past week, going 13-for-21, or .691 BA in the five games last week. On Tuesday against Notre Dame Krill went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run before racking up three hits and two RBI the following day against Eastern Michigan.

The weekend series with Indiana is where Krill really shined. During the series he hit .643, getting three hits in each of the three games. On Sunday, Krill went 3-for-4 and scored two runs in game one and went 3-for-6 in game two with four runs and two RBI.

With his efforts on the week Krill bumped his season batting average to .305 and is tied at fourth on the team in slugging at .421. The freshman has started 19 games at first base and four as designated hitter and has seen action in 31 games this season.

Spartans Sweep Doubleheader Against Indiana

By Sean Gagnier
@SeanGagnier 

After a rain out on Saturday the Spartans and Hoosiers met up on Sunday for a double header in which Michigan State came out the victor in both games. Michigan State finished the weekend in Bloomington, Ind. with the sweep of the double header to take the series, 2-1.

The first game of the double header was a 6-0 shutout by the Spartans and the second was a 20-10 slugfest that went the way of Michigan State.

With the temperatures in the upper-70's the Spartans racked up season high runs, 20, and hits, 25, in game two of the double header. Ryan Jones led the charge in the 20-10 route by collecting five hits, tying a career high, after recording just one hit in the day's first game. His six hit day pushed him over the 200-hit mark, making him just the 15th Spartan to accomplish that feat. Jones' 204 current hits has him ranked 12th in the all-time school hits record books.

Jones was not the only player to pile up the hits, Ryan Krill and John Martinez both got to Hoosiers pitching for six hits apiece. Krill scored six times on the day and split his six hits with three in each bout. Martinez used one of his six hits for his first career home run in the first game and came away with 3 RBI and four runs on the day.

Not to be outdone, Jordan Keur added five hits to the Spartans totals on Sunday. His performance improved his team-best batting average to .392.

By the third inning of game two the Spartans had already recorded 15 hits and had driven 12 runs home. Indiana's starter did not finish the first inning after he allowed four runs to score. His replacement faired no better and was ran off the mound in the second when Michigan State tacked on five more runs.

Jimmy Pickens chipped in with a home run in the third inning to make it 13-0, his fourth homer of the season which now has him tied with Torsten Boss for the team lead. The Hoosiers would scratch across two runs in the fourth but Michigan State responded by scoring two of their own in the fifth to make the score 15-2.

A homer in the seventh and four more runs in the ninth gave the Spartans their season-high 20, and earned a win for starter David Garner. Garner gave up six runs, four earned, but struck out a career-high nine batters while giving up just nine hits and not walking a hitter.

The Hoosiers made a run late, scoring eight runs in the final three innings, but the Spartans lead was too much to overcome.

Overshadowed by the fireworks of the second game, Andrew Waszak earned his fourth win of the season while tossing seven innings of three hit ball. He struck out a season-high five hitters and walked just one while keeping the Hoosiers off the board.

Michigan State collected runs from Martinez's two-run home run to left center and a Jones tally after a wild pitch in the fourth. With the score 3-0 the Spartans would add three more in the eighth when they began the inning with four straight singles, highlighted by a two-run single by Justin Scanlon.

Jeff Kinley was called on to give Michigan State a two inning save and despite loading the bases in the ninth, was able to toss two scoreless. With only one out Kinley allowed three straight hits but was able to close out the game with a popout and a strikeout.

Eastern Michigan Beats Michigan State, 13-5

Justin Wan / The State News

By Sean Gagnier
@SeanGagnier 

Michigan State was unable to keep their mid-week winning streak going on Wednesday afternoon after suffering a 13-5 loss to the Eastern Michigan Eagles at McLane Baseball Stadium in East Lansing, Mich.

Despite racking up 12 hits on Eagles pitching, the Spartans were unable to bounce back after a 12-run third inning by Eastern Michigan. Tim Simpson, a career reliever for the Spartans, made his first collegiate start on Wednesday.

The first six batters were no problem for Simpson, who retired them in order. However, in the third inning the wheels fell off. Brett Ohrman opened the floodgates for the Eagles in the third with a two run single, followed by another two run single by Jamie Simpson. The Eagles would record a three-run home run from Matt Hit, extending their lead to 7-0 before Simpson would get the hook.

Mike Mestdagh was called upon to stop the bleeding for the Spartans, but Eastern Michigan continued to pile on runs. Of the seven batters Mestdagh faced he allowed five of them to reach base with a hit. Coach Jake Boss, Jr. came out with the hook again with two outs in the third and gave the ball to Joe Zwierzynski.

Zwierzynski was able to finally get Michigan State out of the inning, but the Eagles had amassed a 12-0 lead. The Spartans would keep Zwierzynski on the mound through the fifth inning, allowing just three hits and keeping Eastern Michigan off the board.

The Spartans were able to get three runs back in the fourth and fifth innings off a two run double by Andy Johnson and a sacrifice fly by Ryan Jones. With the score sitting at 12-3 the Eagles tacked on another run in the seventh.

Ryan Krill capped off his career game with a two run single in the eighth to cut the Eagles lead to 13-5, but that's as close as the Spartans would get. Krill had a career-high three hits in the loss to Eastern Michigan.

Michigan State travels to Bloomington, Ind. to return to Big Ten action and take on the Indiana Hooisers in a three game weekend series.

Spartans Top Irish, 8-2 In Snowy Game

MSU Athletics

By Sean Gagnier
@SeanGagnier 

Michigan State improved to 20-10 on the season with their 11th straight victory of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at McLane Baseball Stadium on a snow filled Tuesday afternoon - winning by a score of 8-2.

Weather conditions were less than favorable with wind gusting throughout the game and snow flurries occurring on and off, at one point snowing enough to begin slight accumulation behind home plate.

RHP Mick VanVossen got his first collegiate victory after tossing 6.1 innings for the Spartans while giving up just two runs on six hits.

The Spartans jumped out to an early 2-0 lead when Jordan Keur and Ryan Jones recorded consecutive singles, giving Michigan State runners on the corners with no outs. Ryan Krill then laced another single to the outfield that scored Keur. Justin Scanlon extended the Spartans lead to two runs when he hit into a fielder's choice after Krill's single.

Things remained 2-0 in favor of Michigan State until the fifth inning when they piled on four more runs, giving them a 6-0 lead. Torsten Boss came up big for the Spartans in the fifth when he hit a bases loaded triple to right field. Scanlon was then able to drive Boss in to make the score, 6-0, on an RBI single later in the inning.

VanVossen was able to keep the Irish from scoring until the seventh inning. Notre Dame was able to drive home a run on a sacrifice fly to the outfield and were able to capitalize on a throwing error by Boss later in the inning for an unearned run.

Trey Popp relieved VanVossen in the sixth and would keep the Irish off the scoreboard for the last 2.2 innings. During his time on the mound Popp fanned three.

Michigan State tacked on two more runs in the eighth with an RBI single by John Martinez and an RBI triple by Jared Hook. The extra runs would push the Spartans in front of the Irish by a margin of 8-2.

Illini To Wear Camouflage In Series Finale With Spartans

On Sunday, May 6, the Illinois Fighting Illini baseball team will host "Honor and Serve Day" and to honor the occasion the team will be sporting commemorative blue and orange camouflage jerseys.

Honor and Serve Day and the team wearing the special uniforms is designed to honor University of Illinois student veterans and all of America's military heros.

The Illini will be closing out their series with Michigan State on May 6 when they wear the special jerseys. Jerseys that were donated to the team by the Fighting Illini Dugout Club and after the game the jerseys will be auctioned off with the proceeds going to the Don Moyer Boys and Girls Club.

Camouflage is nothing new to baseball, but has only recently made the jump into college baseball with Penn State donning camouflage recently.

Spartans Top Wolverines 10-8 in 13 Innings

MSU Athletics

By Sean Gagnier
@SeanGagnier

It took 13 innings on Sunday but the Spartans topped the Wolverines in the final game of the season series by a score of 10-8. With the win Michigan State remained perfect in games that extended into extra innings, improving their record to 4-0 in games longer than nine innings.

The winning run came around in the top of the 13th when Jimmy Pickens hit an RBI double to right-center to bring home Justin Scanlon. Pickens then himself scored off an RBI single by John Martinez to center to give the Spartans the 10-8 advantage.

Michigan State headed to Ann Arbor on Sunday trying to avoid being swept by their rivals after having dropped games the previous two days in Ann Arbor and East Lansing.

With Michigan State down 8-7 and one out Justin Scanlon singled and advanced to second when Pickens was hit by a pitch. Jared Hook walked to load the bases with two outs and Jordan Keur came to the plate. He too was struck by a pitch that forced in Scanlon to tie the game. The Spartans were unable to capitalize any further on the loaded bases in the inning.

Tony Wieber was once again the story for the Spartans, giving his team 3.2 innings of scoreless ball leading to his first win of the season. He was handed the ball in the 10th and stranded a Wolverine runner at second base. Wieber did not allow a run during his time on the mound, but did allow Michigan to get at least one baserunner on in each of the innings he threw.

Wind played a major factor in the game on Sunday, with gusts effecting play all day. Michigan State benefited from the environmental factors in the 13th when a pop fly to second base by Scanlon, but the gusts pushed the ball out of the reach of Michigan 2B Kevin Krantz and allowed Scanlon to reach second base.

Pickens then put a charge into the first pitch he saw and scored Scanlon with a double. Martinez then singled Pickens in to give the Spartans an insurance run, extending the lead to 10-8 heading into the bottom of the 13th.

The four and a half hour game finally ended when Wieber got the Wolverines out in the bottom of the 13th. Michigan State's next game is Tuesday against Notre Dame at McLane Baseball Stadium in East Lansing at 3:05 p.m.

Spartans Fall 4-3 To Michigan In Front of Record Crowd

MSU Athletics

By Sean Gagnier
@SeanGagnier 

Michigan State continued to struggle with runners on base for the second straight day, falling 4-3 to Michigan, in front of a McLane Baseball Stadium record 2,734 crowd, despite amassing 13 hits and leaving 10 runners on base. The loss dropped the Spartans record to 18-10, 2-3 in the Big Ten.

Five Spartans collected two hits apiece, but despite the efforts of Jordan Keur, Torsten Boss, Justin Scanlon, Blaise Salter and Anthony Cheky the Spartans couldn't hold onto an early lead.

Salter used his two hits to give the Spartans a 2-0 lead after four innings with his RBI singles in the second and fourth. The lead was short lived as Michigan tied things up in the fifth off a Dylan Delaney two-run single to center.

With things knotted at two, the Spartans regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth by capitalizing on two errors by the Wolverines. Keur singled to left to lead off the inning. Then on a wild pitch by Michigan starter Trent Szkutnik he advanced to second base, but the Wolverines catcher, Cole Martin, overthrew the bag and the ball landed in center field. Keur took advantage of this to advance 90 more feet to third base. Center fielder Patrick Biondi grabbed the overthrown ball and attempted to cut down Keur at third, he however, missed the bag which allowed Keur to cover the last 90 feet to give the Spartans a 3-2 lead.

The lead was not to be however, as the Wolverines tied and then passed the Spartans in the top of the sixth inning. Martin redeemed himself with an RBI groundout that tied the game at three. Then a John DiLaura single chased Spartan starter Andrew Waszak from the game leaving runners on first and third with two outs.

Spartans coach Jake Boss, Jr. turned to his beast in the bullpen, Jeff Kinley, who had not allowed a run in his previous four outings. Kinley was unable to keep that streak alive as he allowed a hit to pinch hitter Kevin Krantz that put the Wolverines ahead 4-3.

Despite giving up the run in the sixth Kinley gave Michigan State 3.1 innings of solid work, allowing just two more hits and striking out three batters. Waszak was charged with all four runs and the loss on Saturday. He was only able to stay on the mound for 5.2 innings while surrendering eight hits, walking one and striking out four.

Michigan State threatened but did not score in the bottom of the sixth after a leadoff single by Scanlon chased Szkutnik from the mound. The Wolverines handed the ball to Alex Lakatos who was able to wipe the runner from the diamond with a double play. However, he got himself into another jam when he walked Ryan Krill and then giving up a frozen rope to Cheky which reached the right field gap, but a late jump by Krill allowed him to be cut down at home to end the inning.

Like their game on Friday, the Spartans struggled with men on base, managing to get runners on base in the final three innings but failing to get any of them around to score. Michigan State left runners on base in seven innings on Saturday.

The Spartans once again threatened in the eighth when Jimmy Pickens singled and was able to advance to second off a wild pick off toss. A groundout moved him to third base but a popout to second base ended the threat by Michigan State.

Michigan State was able to get Boss on base with two outs in the ninth, but pinch hitter Jared Hook struck out to end the Spartans threat and the game. 

Wolverines Drop Spartans 4-0 in Ann Arbor

MSU Baseball Facebook

By Sean Gagnier
@SeanGagnier 

Michigan's Brandon Sinnery proved to be too much for the Spartans as he tossed 8.1 scoreless innings in the Wolverines 4-0 victory of the series opener with Michigan State in Ann Arbor on Friday night.

Michigan State has ace Tony Bucciferro on the mound and, as always, he gave them a good outing, throwing 7.2 innings while striking out seven. The loss was reminiscent of Bucciferro's first Big Ten outing this season against Ohio State. During his two starts against the Buckeyes and Wolverines Bucciferro has allowed just four runs but has not received any run support of his own.

The Wolverines had their own ace on the mound in Sinnery, who turned in a stellar performance. He was eventually relieved from the mound, but only after throwing 127 pitches in 8.1 innings of scoreless ball while fanning five, walking just one and scattering nine hits.

UM shortstop Dylan Delaney gave the Wolverines all the runs they would need in the first inning when he connected with a Bucciferro pitch in the bottom of the first and drove it over the left field wall for a solo home run.

Bucciferro held the score at 1-0 until Patrick Biondi launched a pitch over the right field wall for a home run and John Lorenz plated a runner with a single to left. Coley Crank drove a Bucciferro pitch down the left field line in the eighth for an RBI double, giving the Wolverines a 4-0 advantage.

Michigan State outhit Michigan nine to eight, but struggled with runners in scoring position, stranding nine men on base in the game and four in the eighth and ninth innings.

The Spartans threatened in the sixth inning when the top of the order clicked and combined for three straight singles to load the bases with two out. Michigan stymied the rally when Sinnery was able to get Tony Wieber to pop out to end the inning.

In the eighth the Spartans threatened once again, getting Jordan Keur and Torsten Boss on base on back to back singles. But with the runners on and two out the Spartans were unable to cash in on the scoring opportunity.

Michigan State gave one last effort with one out in the ninth when they loaded the bases. But a Jared Hook grounder that was turned for a double play ended the rally and the game for the Spartans.

The Michigan victory is their first in their last four opportunities, with the losing skid dating back to the 2010 season. The series shifts to McLane Baseball Stadium in East Lansing on Saturday before closing out back in Ann Arbor on Sunday.

Lugnuts Top Spartans 7-0 in Sixth Annual Crosstown Showdown

Tom Kelly / Gang Green

By Sean Gagnier
@SeanGagnier 

The Spartans headed down Michigan Ave. on Thursday night to take on their in-town counterparts, the Lansing Lugnuts, Single-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, in the sixth annual Crosstown Showdown. Thursday was not the Spartans night as the Lugnuts beat them 7-0 after six innings of two hit ball.

Each season the Crosstown Showdown draws more people, in its first season a few thousand people attended the exhibition match between the two squads but on Thursday 12,997 people took in the game. It was the first game for the Lugnuts in Lansing fresh out of spring training in Dunedin, Fla. and an exhibition match for the Spartans between their Wednesday night game against Eastern Michigan and a weekend series with Michigan.

Despite the game not officially meaning anything on the stats sheets both teams played for hometown bragging rights and what looked like a pitchers duel through six innings turned into a seven run blowout for Lansing. The Lugnuts now hold a 4-2 series lead in the Crosstown Showdown over the Spartans.

The game was slow for six innings with both teams getting only one hit each, but the Lugnuts rallied for seven runs on six hits in the bottom of the seventh inning. Michigan State had Tim Simpson start on the rubber, making his first start after 43 previous appearances out of the bullpen. Simpson gave the Spartans two scoreless innings with two strikeouts.

Lansing countered with Aaron Sanchez, a 2010 supplemental first-round MLB draft pick and a Top 10 prospect for the Blue Jays. He pitched the first inning and fanned two Spartans while walking two.

Jesse Hernandez then took the ball for the Lugnuts and threw five scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Michigan State had a revolving door on the mound with Chad Nielson seeing action in the third and fourth inning and Cody Huge, Chase Rihtarchik and Mike Mestdagh each tossing an scoreless inning.

Lugnuts hitters got to Spartan pitchers in the seventh when Chris Schaeffer led of the inning with a single and was followed by a Bryson Namba double to right. With runners on second and third, Markus Brisker singled two center, scoring two. Kenny Wilson, in a return stint with the Lugnuts, doubled down the right field line scoring two more runs, making the score 4-0.

Jonathan Berti then singled to center to drive in two more RBI extending the Lugnuts lead to 6-0. Pierce Rankin finished the rally with an RBI groundout to put Lansing on top 7-0.

Lansing pitching held the Spartans to just two hits on the day, with Anthony Cheky getting a single in the fifth and Ryan Krill reaching on a single in the ninth.

Spartans Roll In Yspilanti, Beat Eastern Michigan 6-1

MSU Baseball Facebook

By Sean Gagnier
@SeanGagnier
 
The Spartans took a ride to Ypsilanti, Mich. on Wednesday to take on Eastern Michigan where they beat the Eagles 6-1 to improve to 18-8 on the season. With the win the Spartans have claimed victory in 14 of their last 16 games.

Wednesday's game looked a lot like the Spartans last series with Ohio State with the game being tied at one until the fifth inning. The Spartans exploded in the sixth inning for five runs to put them over the top of the Eagles.

Jordan Keur got things going in the sixth by drawing a leadoff walk before Tony Wieber was hit by a pitch to give the Spartans two men on with no one out in the sixth. Joel Fisher drove in Keur with an RBI single to left. Ryan Krill and John Martinez kept things going with back-to-back singles with Martinez's single scoring Wieber to extend the Spartans lead to 3-1.

Jimmy Pickens grounded out but was able to drive in Fisher making it 4-1. Ryan Jones then continued his hot streak and launched a two-run single to center. With the score sitting at 6-1 the Spartans bullpen shut down Eastern Michigan and finished out the game.

Mick VanVossen, making his second career start, gave the Spartans four innings of four hit baseball, but once again did not earn himself a decision. Wednesday's start was a good bounce back for VanVossen who was coming of a 4.1 inning, five run outing against Central Michigan in his first start.

Trey Popp again took the ball in relief for Michigan State in the fifth. Popp continued his scoreless streak by throwing two scoreless innings in the fifth and sixth and earned his second win of the season. Bryce Jenney came in for the Spartans in the seventh and eighth, and kept the Eagles off the scoreboard.

David Garner closed out the game for Michigan State in the ninth, retiring the Eagles in order.

Spartan pitching held Eastern Michigan to just six hits on the day while collecting nine hits of their own.

Spartans Score 8 In First En Route to 10-5 Victory over Buckeyes

By Sean Gagnier
@SeanGagnier
 
The Spartans took the rubber game of their series with Ohio State on Monday with an eight-run first inning en route to a 10-5 victory. Michigan State's victory was their 13th in their last 15 and seventh of eight at McLane Baseball Stadium this season.

Monday's game was the opposite of the first two of the series which were pitchers duels, on Monday the two teams racked up 11 runs and eight hits. Ohio State got out in front of the Spartans early with a three run first inning before Michigan State answered with eight of their own in the bottom of the first.

During their eight-run first the Spartans sent 12 men to the plate, racked up five hits and knocked Buckeye starter Brett McKinney out of the game. Tony Wieber lead the rally in the first when he sent a single up the middle that scored two.

With two runners in and Wieber on base Joel Fisher hit a frozen rope down the left field line that scored Wieber to tie the game at three. Ryan Krill then hit a sacrifice fly to center field that plated Fisher before Ryan Jones got his second hit of the inning that scored another two runs.With the hit Jones knocked McKinney out of the game.

Ohio State turned to John Kuchno in relief - his first batter was Jordan Keur, who promptly sent a double down the left field line to bring home another two runs to increase the Spartans lead to 8-3.

On the mound for the Spartans was Mike Theodore, who despite being knocked around in the first, bounced back allowing one run in the second before retiring nine consecutive batters. However, he was unable to get out of the fifth inning. Coach Jake Boss, Jr. took the ball from Theodore after 4.2 innings and handed it off to Jeff Kinley with the bases loaded and two outs.

Kinley proved the trust his coach had in him was well placed by getting out of the bases loaded jam with a flyout and providing the Spartans with 4.1 innings of scoreless, two hit work. During his time on the mound Kinley recorded a career-high six strikeouts and earned his fourth win of the season. Kinley has been on high of late, not allowing an earned run in his last four appearances.

In the bottom of the eighth Torsten Boss launched a one-out triple before being plated on a Wieber double to extend the Spartans lead to 10-5. The victory gives the Spartans their first series win over Ohio State since 2007. 

Buckeyes Beat Spartans 1-0 in Big Ten Opener

MSU Athletics

By Sean Gagnier
@SeanGagnier

The Ohio State Buckeyes edged out a hard fought victory over the Spartans in the Big Ten Opener on Saturday 1-0. It turned into a pitchers duel with both pitchers playing exceedingly well, but the Buckeyes were able to get to the Spartans relief pitching late for the win.

Spartans starter Tony Bucciferro tossed eight scoreless innings while fanning nine and ultimately allowing just two hits. The Buckeyes broke up Bucciferro's no-hit bid in the seventh. But that performance wasn't good enough to beat Buckeye's starter Jaron Long who threw a complete-game, allowing only five hits.

Bucciferro had to be given the hook after the eighth inning as his pitch count was at 122, Head Coach Jake Boss, Jr. turned to David Garner in the ninth to keep things knotted at zero. Ohio State had other ideas however and scored the game-winning run in the top of the ninth.

Garner walked the first two batters he faced and was lifted for reliever Trey Popp. Popp lasted just one batter after Kirby Pellant sacrificed the runners to second and third. Coach Boss then turned to his closer to get his team out of the jam. Tony Wieber faced off against David Corna, and Corna won. Corna drove a 2-1 pitch to right field that brought home the game-winning run.

Wieber was able to stop the bleeding to just one run and strand Buckeyes on first and third, but the one run was all Ohio State would need to top the Spartans on Saturday.

Michigan State still had a chance in the bottom of the ninth when Andrew Cheky drew a leadoff walk - the only walk allowed by Long all game. However, Cheky got greedy and was thrown out attempting to steal second base for the first out of the inning. With the bases clear Ryan Jones hit a single but Jordan Keur ended the game by hitting into a double play.

Saturday's game was a classic pitchers duel with the Buckeyes collecting just three hits on the day and the Spartans only amassing five. Bucciferro has yet to allow a runner to score in his two outings at McLane Baseball Stadium, but has yet to earn a decision at home. No earned runs have been scored against Bucciferro since the first inning of the Spartans game against Cincinnati on March 16th.

  

Spartans Walk-Off Against Chippewas

Photo from MSU Athletics

By Sean Gagnier
@SeanGagnier

With the game tied at five apiece in the bottom of the ninth Spartans Head Coach Jake Boss Jr. tapped Jared Hook as the pinch-hitter and he delivered. Hook stepped into the box against Central Michigan's Dietrich Enns, a Cape Codd League All-Star, and launched a fly ball into the outfield that allowed Torsten Boss to tag from third base and score the game winning run giving the Spartans a 6-5 victory.

Wednesday's win is the Spartans 11th in their last 12 and their third straight over the Central Michigan Chippewas.

The game was anything but clean defensively as the teams combined for seven errors, which may or may not have been due to the nearly constant 25 mph winds.

Mick VanVossen made his first collegiate start for the Spartans - he spent 4.1 innings on the mound. During his time on the rubber VanVossen gave up six hits and five runs, only two of which were earned. He used his 86 pitches to fan two Chippewas while issuing four walks.

VanVossen did not however earn the victory, Jeff Kinley earned that honor after throwing 4.2 innings of relief. Kinley did not allow a run while striking out four on the day.

Central Michigan countered VanVossen with Matt Trowbridge who went five innings while giving up four runs, two earned, eight hits while striking out five batters.

After four innings the Chippewas held a 5-3 lead over the Spartans but Michigan State caught up with runs in the fifth and sixth to tie the game. Justin Scanlon delivered an RBI in the fifth before Boss hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth to tie the game.

The Big Ten Conference opener begins on Friday when the Spartans host the Ohio State Buckeyes for a three game series.

Spartans Win Seventh Straight, Beat Bowling Green

From MSU Baseball Facebook Page

By Sean Gagnier

@SeanGagnier

The Spartans racked up their seventh consecutive victory on Tuesday afternoon when they beat up on the Bowling Green Falcons 13-3. Michigan State piled up 16 hits off Falcons pitching including four from Jordan Keur.

David Garner took the mound for the Spartans but only lasted three innings despite fanning a season high seven batters. In his three innings Garner surrendered just four hits and gave up one unearned run to Bowling Green.

The Falcons jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the 1st before the Spartans went on to score nine unanswered through six innings. Blaise Salter earned his first collegiate RBI in the 2nd that scored Joel Fisher.

Junior Trey Popp came in as relief of Garner in the fourth inning and gave the Spartans three more innings. Popp fanned three and gave up just one hit in his three scoreless innings of work.

The Falcons cut into the lead by scoring two in the seventh to make the score 9-3 but the Spartans tacked on four additional runs in the bottom of the seventh to extend their lead to 13-3. With the win the Spartans have won 10 of their last 11 games.

Michigan State takes on Central Michigan today at 3:05 p.m. with Mick VanVossen making his first collegiate start for the Spartans.

Spartans Take Home Opener Against Oakland

Photo from Sean Gagnier

By Sean Gagnier
@SeanGagnier

Tony Bucciferro toed the slab at McLane Baseball Stadium at Kobs Field for the first time this season and he refused to give up an earned run to the Golden Grizzlies of Oakland. The Spartans ace took the ball from Coach Jake Boss Jr. and went seven solid innings in a 2-1 Spartans win.

Oakland was able to plate their only runner of the game in the first inning when Tim Ryan reached base on a throwing error by Justin Scanlon. From there the Grizzlies showed how aggressive they play ball as Ryan stole second followed quickly by another swipe of third. Aaron Cieslak then singled Ryan in, an unearned run, before himself stealing second. Bucciferro was then able to get Spencer Marentette to ground out to end the inning.

Michigan State was unable to get a runner home until the third when Jared Hook hit a lead off double to center ahead of a Anthony Cheky sacrifice bunt to move him to third. With Hook on third Ryan Jones flew out to center to allow Hook to tag and score.

Bucciferro took advantage of the aggressive Oakland team, picking two runners off first base during his seven innings of work. During his time on the mound Bucciferro allowed seven hits, even pitching out of a bases loaded one out jam in the second, while walking two and fanning four.

Jeff Kinley entered the game in relief of Bucciferro in the eighth and retired Oakland without allowing a hit while walking one. Tony Wieber, the designated hitter for the game, drove in Jordan Keur on a double to left. Keur reached base on a walk before being plated by Wieber. Jimmy Pickens then struck out looking before Kevin Goergen grounded out to third.

In the ninth Coach Boss turned to David Garner who walked one and retired one before being hit by a throw from catcher John Martinez.

With an Oakland player on first he took off for second and Martinez rose and fired towards second base to try to catch him stealing, but instead caught Garner square in the back causing him to double over. He attempted to get back on the mound but was unable to which meant that Tony Wieber took over for the last 2/3 of the inning.

Wieber faced two batters in his time in the ninth, he struck one out looking before getting Todd Dunham to pop out to third to end the game.