Spartan Baseball Continues to Roll In S.C.

Photo from MSU Baseball Facebook Page

By Sean Gagnier
@SeanGagnier 

Following a sweep of the first day of the First Pitch Invitational in Greenville, S.C. over Miami-Ohio and Furman on Friday, the Spartans took on the Paladins of Furman once again on Saturday and once again came out on top by a score of 6-2.

Saturday's affair wasn't as easy as the Spartans had hoped, it dragged into the 11th inning when Michigan State was able to plate four runs to break the 2-2 tie and extend their record in the First Pitch Invitational to 3-0.

Jordan Keur got the Spartans started in the first with an RBI single and Ryan Krill hit his first collegiate home run in the third to get the green and white out to a 2-0 lead. The Paladins got a run back in the bottom of the third but were unable to plate another run until the eighth inning to tie the game.

David Garner got his second start of the season for the Spartans on Saturday and bounced back from his lackluster start against No. 15 Louisville last weekend. In his five innings of work against Furman Garner struck out six, giving up three hits and allowing just one run. Despite his impressive day Garner was not credited with a decision in the game.

In the 11th inning, the Spartans broke the game open and scored four runs while recording just one hit. Justin Scanlon got a single to lead off the inning then Torsten Boss drew a walk and Keur was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Andy Johnson drew a walk with the bases loaded before a Paladin error scored another Spartan run. The Spartans rally was topped off when Jimmy Pickens was hit by a pitch and Ryan Jones drew a walk with the bases loaded.

With the 6-2 lead in hand LHP Jeff Kinley tossed the final four innings of the game and earned his first career victory. During Kinley's four innings of work he fanned four and struck out three while only surrendering one run. 

The Spartans will look to finish the First Pitch Invitational perfect with their final game on Sunday when they take on Miami-Ohio for the second time. Michigan State beat the RedHawks 13-2 on Friday.

Spartans Sweep Day One of First Pitch Invitational

MSU Baseball Facebook Photo

By Sean Gagnier
@SeanGagnier 

Coming off a 1-2 weekend in the Big Ten / Big East Challenge the Spartans were looking to bounce back in their fifth trip to the First Pitch Invitational in Greenville, S.C. Day one held a double header for Michigan State against Miami-Ohio and Furman. The Spartans proved to be too much for both clubs as they locked up a 13-4 drubbing of the Red Hawks and a 4-2 victory over Furman.

Riding an 11-run third inning the Spartans cruised to a 13-4 win over Miami-Ohio in the opening game of the First Pitch Invitational on Friday. Michigan State roughed up Red Hawks pitching for 16 hits with Ryan Jones, John Martinez and Jared Hook racking up three apiece.

The Spartans ace Tony Bucciferro toed the rubber for the second time this season and earned his 22nd career victory in a solid outing. In his six innings of work, Bucciferro allowed four runs, three earned, while surrendering 10 hits and fanning two. It was Bucciferro's second straight game in which he did not walk a batter.

Jones led off the third inning with a single before stealing second and made it home off a Justin Scanlon single. Following a Torsten Boss flyout, Michigan State went on to get eight straight hits with 11 batters reaching base consecutively.

The Spartans punished RedHawks pitching and were only retired after a double play was turned with the bases loaded. Spartans batters had tallied 11 runs on 11 hits in the third, the most since a 12 run inning against Iowa in 2010.

Miami-Ohio trimmed the Spartans 12-0 lead in the fourth by scoring one run and then plating three more in the fifth inning. Coach Jake Boss Jr. said he hoped his team could have scored more and wished his pitcher could have gone longer but attributed the surrendered runs to the rain delays throughout the game.

Michigan State tacked on one more in the seventh to bring the score to 13-4 before Joe Zwierzynski tossed three scoreless innings to earn his second career save for the Spartans.

vs. Furman

The Spartans were still hot coming off their 13-4 win over Miami-Ohio when they took on Furman in the second game of the First Pitch Invitational. Michigan State jumped out to a quick lead with a three-run first and successfully defended their lead the right of the game.

Jones had another successful game, going 2-for-4 against Furman and 5-for-9 on the day. He showed why Coach Boss has him written into the lead off position with a solo home run to start the game. A Jordan Keur sac fly and a Jared Hook groundout plated Scanlon and Boss to extend the Spartans first inning lead to 3-0.

Furman answered right back with a solo home run in the bottom of the first but were then shut down by Andrew Waszak. The Paladins were unable to muster anything else against Waszak until the sixth when an RBI groundout cut the Spartans lead to 3-2.

LHP Trey Popp made his second appearance of the season in the seventh when he came in the relieve Waszak and held the Paladins to their two runs. Waszak had his second successful start of the season, but the first in which he earned a decision. Through sixth innings, Waszak struck out four while surrendering just three hits and two runs.

In the top of the ninth Jones continued his hot day and drove home Ryan Krill to extend the Spartans lead to 4-2. Tony Wieber entered the game in the eighth and ran into some trouble in the ninth. After surrendering two singles putting the tying runs on base Wieber was able to retire the Paladins and record his 11th career save.