Spartans Drop Chippewas, 5-2, in Clash at Comerica

By Sean Gagnier
@SeanGagnier 

The Spartans beat the Central Michigan Chippewas in the second annual "Clash at Comerica," 5-2, completing the series sweep for the season. With the win the Spartans have won all three meetings with Central Michigan this season and extend their streak against the Chippewas to five. The loss also snapped Central Michigan's 10-game win streak.

It was Michigan State's second win in the "Clash at Comerica," having beat the Chippewas 3-1 last season in the inaugural game of the series in Detroit.

Freshman pitcher Mick VanVossen improved to 4-0 on the season, allowing just two runs on five hits in his seven innings pitched. Central Michigan struck early, getting a run in the first inning off VanVossen who then shut them down, recording 10 straight batters and 13 of 14 following the early run.

Michigan State pulled ahead in the second inning when sophomore catcher Joel Fisher launched his first collegiate home run over the left field fence for a two run shot. The homer cleared the bullpens in left and landed in the seats beyond.

In the third Justin Scanlon lead off the inning with a triple and was able to scamper home after an attempted pick-off throw by Chippewa pitcher Rick Dodridge sailed on the third baseman. John Martinez tacked on another run for the Spartans later in the inning when he singled home Torsten Boss.

To lead off the fourth inning Anthony Cheky drew a walk before stealing second base. When the Chippewas catcher Tyler Huntley overthrew second base attempting to catch Cheky stealing and the ball sailed into center field, Cheky was able to advance to third base. Scanlon then singled home Cheky to make the score 5-1.

Things got interesting in the sixth when Central Michigan's Nate Theunissen tried to score from first base on a double to left field by Sam Russell. As Theunissen rounded third and headed for the plate, the Spartans were executing a perfect relay play. Left fielder Jordan Keur grabbed the ball in the outfield and fired it into the cutoff man, shortstop Scanlon, who then was able to gun Theunissen out with a perfect throw to catcher Fisher. 

Central Michigan was able to get to VanVossen for the second time in the game in the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run to right field. VanVossen would finish out the seventh before turning the ball over to the bullpen to close out the game.

Jeff Kinley was called on in the eighth inning to continue his hot streak - and he did, throwing a scoreless eighth. Head Coach Jake Boss, Jr. then turned to his closer Tony Wieber in the ninth. Wieber, the Spartans all-time saves leader, earned his eighth save of the season, tying a career high for a season.

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.

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 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 Sweep Cincinnati Before Homestand

From the Lansing State Journal

By Sean Gagnier
@SeanGagnier
 
Saturday, Mar. 17   Spartans v. Cincinnati        Game 2 of 3

Last week the Spartans endured a 16-inning marathon of a game, started by Andrew Waszak, who went seven of those innings, and beat Seton Hall. On Saturday, Waszak was once again on the mound and the Spartans game against the Cincinnati Bearcats extended all the way to the 14th inning where John Martinez drove in the winning run to give the Spartans the 5-4 victory.

After being swept in College Station, Tex. in Feb. the Spartans have won five of their last six games and with their latest extra-innings win improve to 3-0 in extra inning games on the season.

Waszak again went seven innings on Saturday, giving up two runs on five hits while fanning four Bearcats. It was another quality start for the Spartans No. 2 pitcher who now boasts a 1.34 ERA on the season.

Michigan State was leading 4-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth and with their shutdown closer Tony Wieber toeing the rubber the Spartans thought they were in the clear. Wieber however struggled in his outing and the Bearcats were able to scratch two runs across off the pitcher who hadn't allowed a run in his last seven appearances.

With the game tied at four the Spartans called on Bryce Jenney out of the bullpen to keep the Bearcats from rallying in extras - he did just that. Jenney tossed three scoreless and handed the ball to the eventual winning pitcher Ryan Martin, his first career win.


The Bearcats threatened but did not score off Martin in the 13th. Martin allowed a single which due to an error and a flyout placed a runner on third with two outs, but Martin was able to get the next batter to pop out.

Torsten Boss reached base in the 14th when the Cincinnati shortstop bobbled the ball and allowed him to reach first on an error on a fielder's choice. With one out Jordan Keur bunted Boss over to second where he was able to score off a Martinez single up the middle.

Sunday, Mar. 18     Spartans v. Cincinnati    Game 3 of 3

The Spartans came out swinging on Sunday, compiling 16 hits off Cincinnati pitching while scoring nine runs in a 9-4 victory.With the win the Spartans have won the last six of seven and completed a sweep of the Bearcats.

Mike Theodore made his third start of the season for the Spartans but was still looking for his first win despite having allowed just one earned run and boasting a 0.89 ERA. Theodore had not enjoyed much run support in his previous starts, but Sunday was different.

Michigan State was able to plate five runs in the first two innings and give Theodore the support he needed. Theodore allowed two runs off six hits on the day and came home with his first victory as a Spartan.

John Martinez continued his hot streak and drove in another RBI in the seventh to give the Spartans a 7-2 lead before Jordan Keur singled in another in the eighth. With the score at 8-2 Jimmy Pickens drew a bases loaded walk later in the eighth to drive the score to 9-2.

Sunday was the first collegiate appearance for Mick VanVossen, drafted in 2011 by the Texas Rangers, when he relieved Theodore in the sixth inning. In his 2.2 innings of work VanVossen allowed just one run on four hits while fanning and walking two apiece.

The sweep of Cincinnati was the 11th sweep of a series for the Spartans under Coach Jake Boss Jr., which continues to allow Boss to add to the school record in that category.