Michigan State University
Penn St
Baseball Falls In Offensive Battle At Penn State, 12-11
5/11/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 11, 2001
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - The Michigan State and Penn State baseball teams combined for 21 runs and 31 hits as the Nittany Lions beat the Spartans, 12-11, Friday (May 11) in State College. With the loss, MSU falls to 29-24 and 9-14 in the Big Ten while PSU improves to 24-27 and 12-11 in the conference. On the afternoon, Michigan State centerfielder Bob Malek (So., Canton) registered one hit, tying him with Steve Money for the MSU single-season hit record of 84.
Penn State grabbed a 2-0 lead, scoring one run in the first and one in the second off two RBI singles. The Nittany Lions doubled their lead in the third when Brian Bishop hit a two-run homer to leftfield, making the score 4-0.
The Spartans rallied in the fourth, scoring six runs off four hits to take a 6-4 lead. Brett Wattles (So., Rochester) and Kevin Crews (Jr., Hinckley, Ohio) got the scoring started as each hit RBI singles. Chris McCuiston (Jr., Birmingham) walked two batters later with the bases loaded, scoring Crews. MSU then took its first lead when Malek tripled home three runs.
MSU extended its lead to 8-4 in the fifth when James Moreno (Fr., Holt) launched a two-run homer to left field. The back-and-forth battle then continued in the bottom of the fifth as Penn State scored seven runs off seven hits to take an 11-8 lead, the rally was highlighted by a homer by Donnie Wright and two-RBI triple by Mike DeRenzo.
Two runs in the sixth by MSU cut the PSU lead to one run, 11-10, off a double by Brady Burrill (So., Newhall, Calif.) and single by Moreno. MSU tied the game in the seventh at 11 when Burrill was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, scoring McCuiston.
PSU scored the eventual winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning when Chris Wright singled to score George Everly.
Jon Huizinga (Jr., Wayland) started on the mound for MSU and pitched four and one-third innings, allowing 11 hits, nine runs and fanned one. Dylan Putnam (Jr., Ann Arbor) relieved Huizinga in the fifth and struck out three but suffered the loss. Mike Watson picked up the win for PSU.
The two teams will meet Saturday (May 12) in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m., with RHP Bryan Gale and RHP Scott Brandell scheduled to throw for Michigan State.
Penn State 12, Michigan State 11WP-Watson (3-2)LP-Putnam (2-7)Score By Innings R H EMichigan State 000 622 100 11 15 0Penn State 112 070 10x 12 16 1
