Errors Cost Spartans Series Opener Against Aggies

From MSU Athletics Department

By Sean Gagnier
@SeanGagnier

Michigan State headed down to College Station, Tex. to take on the No. 5 Texas A&M Aggies in the biggest series of the young baseball season but errors cost the Spartans the game as they lost 7-3 in front of 5,236 onlookers.

The Spartans were able to get to Aggies starter Michael Wacha, who had surrendered just three hits in his previous two starts. Jordan Keur, Torsten Boss, Ryan Jones and Ryan Krill each struck for two hits as the Spartans combined for 12 hits Friday night. Michigan State, now 4-4, left 10 runners on base, seven of whom were in scoring position against the Aggies, something that Coach Jake Boss Jr. called "frustrating."

Wacha gave up the first run, giving up a lead-of home run to Boss, his second of the season. But A&M came right back and plated two runs in the third inning and three in the fourth to gain a 5-1 lead - they never looked back. Spartans starter Tony Bucciferro didn't have the benefit of solid defense behind him during the third and fourth as his defenders committed three errors.

In Wacha's seven innings of work he fanned seven Spartans while surrendering a season-high eight hits and two runs. His counterpart, Bucciferro, didn't fair as well as he was on the mound for six innings, surrendering five runs, all earned, on 10 hits while striking out five Aggies.

Jimmy Pickens singled in the Spartans second run in the eighth inning to bring the score to 6-2 after the Aggies plated their sixth the half-inning before. A&M reliever Estevan Uriegas pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the eighth by striking out Andy Johnson on three straight pitches.

Texas A&M would go on to add another run in the bottom of the eighth to extend the lead to 7-2. In the ninth the Spartans recorded three straight singles from Krill, pinch-hitter Blaise Slater and Keur loading the bases before Boss hit into a double play bringing the score to 7-3. Pickens then grounded out to end the game.

Defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi staying at Michigan State

By Sean Gagnier

Michigan State announced on Friday that defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi will be staying with the football team.

Narduzzi had interviewed over the last week with Texas A&M University for the defensive coordinator position which brought with it a substantial pay raise. Reports had put the salary being offered to Narduzzi at $750,000, almost triple what he was making at Michigan State.

But despite the increased salary Narduzzi decided to remain in East Lansing with Coach Mark Dantonio and the Spartans.


"With the success we've had as a football program, especially the last two years, people around the country have taken notice," Narduzzi said in a statement. "So when provided a professional opportunity like Texas A&M, I owed it to my family to investigate it because my first obligation is to take care of my wife and children."


"I share the same feelings that our players and coaches have that there's some unfinished business to take care of here," Narduzzi said. "We're all driven to win the Big Ten Championship and win a Rose Bowl."

Head Coach Mark Dantonio said that pay raises for his coordinators are already in the works but declined to indicate how much Narduzzi or his other coordinators will be making going into the upcoming season. Athletic Director Mark Hollis has previously stated that he has set aside a fund in order to make sure that the coordinators are paid respectably, although he has yet to comment on this latest development.

"We're excited about keeping the coaching staff intact," Dantonio said. "Staff continuity has been a key component in our sustained success. There's no doubt that Pat will be a head coach sometime soon, but for now, we're excited that he remains a Spartan as we continue our pursuit of another Big Ten Championship and our first trip to the Rose Bowl."