Spartans Bounce Back with Win Over No. 25 Baylor

Photo from MSU Baseball Facebook Page

By Sean Gagnier
@SeanGagnier

The Spartans bounced back from a weekend drubbing in College Station, Tex. to ride the performance of David Garner to a 4-0 win over No. 25 Baylor in Waco, Tex. The sophomore RHP Garner tossed six scoreless innings while scattering three hits and fanned four Baylor Bears.

Coming off three straight losses to No. 5 Texas A&M and a loss earlier in the season to then No. 15 Louisville the victory over No. 25 Baylor was the Spartans second win over a ranked team this season. Michigan State defeated No. 11 St. John's on Opening Day in Dunedin, Fla.

Baylor countered Garner with freshman Austin Stone, who was making his first collegiate start, but he was pulled from the mound after throwing just 1.2 innings. Stone got the hook after walking two straight Spartans before hitting another to load the bases. Michigan State was unable to capitalize on Stone's miscues and were unable to plate any of the runs that were on base.

The Bears pitching struggled with control all game, walking 10 batters on the day over the six pitchers that were called to the mound. 

Torsten Boss got things rolling for the Spartans in the third when he lead off the inning with a bunt before advancing to second on a throwing error. Ryan Jones was able to drive in the run with a double but got greedy and was thrown out at third trying to stretch his double into a triple.

Michigan State again added to it's lead in the sixth on a Boss groundout that scored Anthony Cheky, who was making his first collegiate start in center field. The Spartans stretched their lead to 3-0 on a Jimmy Pickens RBI infield single.

Cheky came around to score again for the Spartans in the seventh when Jordan Keur drove him in on an RBI single. Following Garner to the mound was Jeff Kinley, Trey Popp and Tony Wieber who each threw an inning of relief to close out the game.