Michigan State University
Northwestern
Baseball Splits Doubleheader With Northwestern
4/21/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 21, 2001
The Michigan State baseball team (19-20, 5-12) split a doubleheader with Northwestern, Saturday at Kobs Field. MSU took game one in come-back fashion, 7-6, while NU took game two, 11-5.
In game one, Jared Koutnik (Jr., Miliwaukee, Wis.) put the Spartans on the board first with an RBI single down the right line scoring Brady Burrill (So., Newhall, Calif.). Kevin Crews followed with another RBI single that scored Don Watchowski (Jr., Shelby Twp.) to give the Spartans a 2-0 edge.
Northwestern tied the game in the fourth frame off a fielder's choice and then an RBI single by Joe Hietpas. Bob Malek (So., Canton) put the Spartans up 4-2 in the fifth with a two-run homer to rightfield. For Malek, it was his fourth home run of the season. NU retaliated in the sixth with two home runs to take their first lead of the game, 5-4.
The back-and-fourth battle continued in the bottom of the sixth when Kevin Crews (Jr., Hinckley, Ohio) singled in Rick Court (Sr., Grosse Pointe), who pinch-ran for Kyle Geswein (Jr., Dayton, Ohio), to tie the game again at five. The Wildcats then took the lead, 6-5, in the top of the seventh on a solo homer by Steve Haake.
The Spartans fought back in the bottom of the seventh as the first three batters reached base and then tied the game when pinch-hitter David Miller (Fr., Whitehall) walked to score Brett Wattles (So., Rochester). Scott Koerber (Fr., Grosse Pointe) then won the game for MSU on a sacrifice fly that scored Malek from third.
Jon Huizinga (Jr., Wayland) started the game for MSU and pitched five and one-thirds innings. He yielded four runs off five hits and fanned one. Domanick Squires (Jr., Rochester Hills) picked up his first win of the season after pitching the final one and two-thirds innings. Mike Nall took the loss for the Wildcats.
Game two saw the Wildcats leap out to a six run lead in the first inning aided by a grand slam by Jason Krynski. NU added three more runs in the second inning, highlighted by a two-RBI triple to rightfield by Travis Thrarp.
MSU got on the board with three runs in the third, making the score 9-3. Charlie Braun (So., Grosse Pointe) scored on infield put out by Wattles, Chris McCuiston (Jr., Birmingham) scored on a wild pitch and Malek scored on an error. The Spartans added two more runs in the fourth off two hits and one Wildcat error.
Northwestern added two more runs in the top of the seventh, making the final score 11-5.
Bob Malek registered a hit in both games to extend his hitting streak to 12 games.
Scott Brandell (Sr., DeWitt) started game two for the Green and White and surrendered eight runs and seven hits. Nick Bates (Jr., Blissfield) entered in relief and registered a career-high seven strikeouts in four and one-thirds innings. Domanick Squires finished the game for the Spartans.
The two teams will complete the four-game series tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Kobs Field.
Game 1Michigan State 7, Northwestern 6WP- Squires (1-1)LP- Nall (4-6)Score By Innings R H ENorthwestern 000 203 1 6 7 0Michigan State 020 021 2 7 9 2
Game 2Northwestern 11, Michigan State 5WP- Nall (5-6)LP- Brandell (1-4)Score By Innings R H ENorthwestern 630 000 2 11 15 2Michigan State 003 200 0 5 6 1
