Hoosiers Walk-Off Against Spartans, 3-2

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By Sean Gagnier
@SeanGagnier 

It wasn't the ending the Spartans had envisioned, Tony Wieber threw a wild pitch to the plate that allowed Indiana's Michael Basil to hustle the 90 ft to home to score the game-winning run. With Basil's intelligent play the Hoosiers beat the Spartans 3-2 on Friday night.

The game was billed to be a pitchers duel and Michigan State's Tony Bucciferro and Indiana's Joey DeNato proved to live up to that hype. Bucciferro, who lead the Big Ten in strikeouts heading into the game, gave the Spartans seven innings on the mound while surrendering just four hits, two runs and fanning seven.

DeNato, not to be outdone, also turned in seven innings of work while giving up two runs on seven hits.

The Hoosiers would score first when they got a solo shot from Dillon Dooney in the fourth to give them a 1-0 lead. Michigan State was able to answer in the fifth when a Justin Scanlon groundout scored Blaise Salter who had reached base on a double earlier in the inning.

In the bottom of the fifth Indiana would again grab the lead before the Spartans were able to drive home Ryan Jones who doubled to lead off the sixth inning.

With the game tied at two in the ninth, Michigan State threatened but did not score. Bases loaded and one out for Jordan Keur, who lined out to left field, but it wasn't deep enough to allow Anthony Cheky to score. Cheky took off down the third base line but was thrown out at home to end the inning.

Indiana also would threaten with the bases loaded in the ninth, but they are able to convert on the opportunity. With the bases loaded and two outs, Bryce Jenney was lifted for Wieber. Wieber was able to get a foul tip on his first pitch, but his second got past John Martinez and allowed Basil to score from third.

Saturday's game was postponed due to weather and the two teams were scheduled to play a double-header on Sunday.