Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Ohio St
Spartan Baseball Splits Doubleheader With Buckeyes
4/14/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 14, 2001
The Michigan State baseball team (17-17 4-9) split a doubleheader with Ohio State on Saturday (April 14) at Kobs Field, the Spartans out-slugged the Buckeyes in game one, 14-3, but fell in game two, 4-0.
The Spartans took a quick 7-0 lead in game one with seven first-inning runs. Brady Burrill (So., Newhall, Calif.) started the scoring with a two-RBI double that scored Brett Wattles (So., Rochester) and Bob Malek (So., Canton). Kyle Geswein (Jr., Dayton, Ohio) then singled in James Moreno (Fr., Holt) followed by an RBI double by Troy Bergman (Jr., Grosse Pointe). Kevin Crews (Jr., Hinckley, Ohio) continued the offensive onslaught, singling and scoring Geswein to make the score 5-0. Charlie Braun (So., Grosse Pointe) then reached on an error scoring Bergman, followed by a sacrifice fly from Chris McCuiston (Jr., Birmingham) that scored Crews. The first inning also spelled a quick end to OSU starting pitcher Kevin Goodrum's day, as he went just one-third of an inning, allowing seven runs, six earned, off six hits. The Spartans sent 12 batters to the plate in the first inning.
The Buckeyes added runs in the second and third to cut MSU's lead to five runs. Malek drove in Crews in the third inning to add another run to the Spartans total, 8-2. OSU added another run in the fifth on an RBI single by Doug Deeds.
MSU added three more runs off two hits in the fifth as they sent nine batters to the plate, making the score 11-3. Three more hits in the sixth inning for MSU led to three more runs and a 14-3 lead. McCuiston and Burrill notched their third and fourth RBI of the game respectively in the inning.
Starting Spartan pitcher Jon Huizinga (Jr., Wayland) pitched effectively all day, as he threw his first complete game of his career to pick up his third win of the season. He yielded nine hits, allowed three runs and struck out six. OSU's Kyle Brown entered the game in relief in the first inning and finished the game, allowing eight hits and seven runs.
Game two began as a pitchers duel, as there were just two hits and no runs through the first four innings. Spartan starter Scott Brandell (Sr., DeWitt) threw a perfect game through four innings, retiring the first 12 Buckeye batters.
The Buckeyes were the first to break the tie, threatening in the fifth inning with Nick Swisher and Doug Deeds reaching on consecutive singles and then loading the bases. Brett Garrard drove in Swisher on a fielder's choice and then an RBI single scored Deeds to give the OSU a 2-0 lead. They put up another run in the inning when Mike Harris singled to right field scoring Garrard. The Buckeyes extended their lead in the seventh to 4-0 on an RBI triple by Mike Check.
After producing 14 runs in game one, MSU was unable to score in game two, as the final score stood at 4-0. Brandell pitched his first complete game of the year, allowing eight hits and four runs and striking out two. Greg Prenger also went the distance for OSU, and surrendered six hits and fanned three to earn the victory.
The two teams will complete the series tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Kobs Field.
