Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Minnesota
Baseball Splits Second Doubleheader With Minnesota
4/9/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 9, 2001
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The Michigan State baseball team (14-15, 3-7) split a doubleheader Monday afternoon (April 9) at Minnesota (20-13, 8-3). The Spartans won the first game, 5-2, in a four-run seventh inning rally but dropped the second game, 10-1.
The Gophers took a 1-0 lead in game one in the bottom of the third inning off an RBI single by Luke Appert. MSU responded in the fourth, tying the game after Bob Malek (So., Canton) hit a triple to right center and then scored when Brady Burrill (So., Newhall, Calif.) singled him home.
The Spartans threatened in the top of the fifth as Charlie Braun (So., Grosse Pointe), Jared Koutnik (Jr., Milwaukee, Wis.) and Malek all walked to load the bases but were left stranded to end the inning without doing any damage. Minnesota took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth frame when Appert's sac fly scored Scott Howard from third.
MSU rallied in the seventh inning, scoring four runs to take the lead. Pinch-hitter Don Watchowski (Jr., Shelby Twp.) got things started by singling to right field. He then reached second on a sac bunt and third on a passed ball and scored on a fielder's choice, tying the game. With both Brett Wattles (So., Rochester) and Koutnik on base, Malek stepped to the plate and belted a homer to right field to take the lead for good, 5-2.
MSU starting pitcher Jon Huizinga (Jr., Wayland) pitched five innings and gave up two runs off six hits and struck out three. Bryan Gale (Fr., Decatur) picked up his team-high fourth win of the season, pitching the sixth inning and striking out two. Domanick Squires (Jr., Rochester Hills) earned his fourth save of the season, pitching the seventh inning. Chad Drexler suffered the loss for the Gophers.
Game two saw MSU pick up where the left off from game one as a double by Burrill scored Malek from second to give the Green and White a 1-0 lead. Minnesota tied the game in the bottom half of the first when a Josh Holthaus RBI double scored Jack Hannahan and then opened up a four-run lead in the third, scoring four runs off three hits and one error.
The Gophers extended their lead in the fourth inning by scoring four more runs off four hits and one error, making the score 9-1. Hannahan added a solo homer in the sixth for Minnesota to make the final score, 10-1.
Dylan Putnam (Jr., Ann Arbor) started the game for MSU and pitched two and one-thirds innings, while surrendering three runs off seven hits while striking out two. Gale and Ryan Kurtz (Fr., Toledo, Ohio) entered the game in relief, pitching two-thirds and three innings respectively. Josh Krogman picked up the win for Minnesota, tossing six innings and surrendering three hits.
The Spartans return to action Tuesday (April 10) at Kobs Field to take on Western Michigan at 3 p.m.
Game 1Michigan State 5, Minnesota 2Score By Innings R H EMichigan State 000 100 4 5 7 0Minnesota 001 010 0 2 6 1
WP- Gale (4-0)LP- Drexler (0-3)S- Squires (4)
Game 2Minnesota 10, Michigan State 1Score By Innings R H EMichigan State 100 000 0 1 3 2Minnesota 104 401 x 10 13 1
WP- Krogman (3-0)LP- Putnam (1-5)
