Tony Wieber Drives Home Winner and Sets Record as Spartans Top Buckeyes, 2-1

Sean Gagnier / Gang Green

By Sean Gagnier
@SeanGagnier 

The Spartans topped the Buckeyes 2-1 in a pitchers duel at McLane Baseball Stadium on Sunday with Tony Wieber delivering the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh and then setting the Michigan State all-time saves record in the ninth.

Andrew Waszak took the mound for the Spartans against the Buckeyes and tossed eight innings of two hit ball. He allowed just one run and was credited with his third win of the season to push his record to 3-1.

The only run that Waszak allowed in the game came in the second when Ohio State's David Corna drove a ball to right field for a double before being sacrificed to third and coming home on a groundout tying the game at one. Not only was the second the only time the Buckeyes would score it was the only inning in which they would get a hit. Despite Waszak allowing three more baserunners to reach, on walks, they failed to come home and one was even picked off first.

Michigan State took the lead early with Ryan Jones leading off the first with a single before stealing second and moving to third on a groundout. Joel Fisher brought him home with a two-out single to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead at the time.

The Spartans racked up nine hits on Buckeye pitching, even getting runners on first and third in the sixth before an attempted squeeze play cut Fisher down at the plate.

In the seventh the Spartans got to Ohio State starter Brian King for their second run of the game when Jones hit a leadoff single to left. King then attempted to pick Jones off first but short armed the ball which sailed over the first baseman and into the open bullpen. By the time the Buckeyes got the ball back to the infield Jones had advanced to third.

The next two Spartans grounded out leaving Jones on third with two outs, then Wieber came to the plate and laced a hit through the shortstop-third base hole to score Jones and give Michigan State the 2-1 lead.

Starter Waszak threw another inning before handing the ball over to Spartan closer Wieber for a chance to break the all-time Michigan State saves record. Wieber did just that, his first batter flew out to left. Then he got the next to pop up to the catcher, Fisher, who was unable to hold onto the ball. He then hit the batter but erased his mistake with a 1-6-3 double play to close the game.

The save was Wieber's 15th of his career and sixth of the 2012 season. He passed Brad Lamont's previous school record of 14 saves set from 1987-90.