Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Illinois
MSU Falls Short To Illinois, 9-7
4/14/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 14, 2000
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State's comeback attempt against the Big Ten's current first place team, Illinois, fell short Friday afternoon at Kobs Field, as the Fighting Illini defeated MSU 9-7. With the loss the Spartans fall to 10-21 (2-6 Big Ten) on the year, while Illinois improves its record to 25-10 (11-2 Big Ten) on the season.
Down 9-3 in the ninth inning, the Spartans rallied to score four runs, with all four coming after freshman outfielder Bob Malek (Canton, Mich.) hit a two-out grand slam homer off of Illinois reliever Derek Throneburg. Malek's homer was his fourth on the season, but it would be too little late. With the tying run on first base, freshman catcher Brady Burrill (Newhall, Calif.) bounced out to second base to end the game.
In the game's onset Illini drew first blood after they scored two runs in the second inning to take a 2-0 lead. Illinois would increase the lead to 5-0 following a three run third inning in which third baseman Craig Marquie hit a two run homer.
MSU, though, would get back in the game following a three run fourth inning in which eight Spartans came to the plate and collected four hits. Designated hitter Rick Court (Jr., Grosse Pointe, Mich.) and leftfielder Joe Albaugh (Sr., Mount Plesant, Mich.) combined to drive in three runs.
The Spartans would be held to three runs until the last inning, while Illinois went on to score a pair of runs in both fifth and seventh innings.
MSU and Illinois will go back at again Saturday at Kobs Field in a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.
Game One Summary R H EUI 023 020 200 9 10 0MSU 000 300 004 7 10 3
E - Demetral 2, BurrillDP - Illini 2, Spartans 1LOB - Illini 7, Spartans 82B - Schutzenhofer, Fischer3B - MalekHR - Marquie, Simmons, MalekSB - Ballard
W - Anderson (7-1)L - Axelson (1-4)S- Vornwald (6)
#msu#
