Michigan State University
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Western Mich
Spartan Baseball Earns Ninth Win In Last 10 Games
5/9/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 9, 2001
East Lansing, Mich. - The Michigan State baseball team (29-23, 9-13) used a nine-strikeout performance from starter Nick Bates (Jr., Blissfield) and a five-run fifth inning to defeat Western Michigan (24-26) by a score of 9-3, Wednesday. Jared Koutnik (Jr., Milwaukee, Wis.) led the way for MSU, going 4-for-5 with two home runs, three runs scored and two RBI. On the day, MSU pitchers struck out 11 Bronco batters.
After WMU grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first, MSU tied the game in the second when Scott Koerber (Fr., Harper Woods) scored Kyle Geswein (Jr., Dayton, Ohio) on an infield single.
Michigan State took a 3-1 lead in the fourth when Jared Koutnik belted his third homer of the season to leftfield followed by a RBI-single by Brett Wattles (So., Rochester) scored Koerber.
The Spartans extended their lead in the fifth, scoring five runs. Geswein started the scoring with a solo home run to left-centerfield. Koerber continued his strong hitting as of late by hitting his second homer in three games, it was a two run blast. Kevin Crews (Jr., Hinckley, Ohio) scored on a single by Chris McCuiston (Jr., Birmingham), who closed out the scoring in the inning by crossing home on an error after stealing third base. The Broncos' Greg Graham hit a solo shot in the bottom of the fifth, making the score 8-2.
Koutnik launched his second solo home run of the game, and fourth of the season, in the ninth to give State a 9-2 lead. The Broncos closed out the scoring in the ninth with one run, making the final 9-3.
MSU starter Nick Bates (Jr., Blissfield) threw seven innings and collected a career-high nine strikeouts, tying the season-high number by a Spartan pitcher. After allowing the first two hitters to reach base in the first, he retired the next 11 batters he faced to improve to 4-3. Josh Clark took the loss for the Broncos.
The Spartans will head to Penn State this weekend to take on the Nittany Lions in their final Big Ten series of the year, Friday's game begins at 3 p.m. With a strong showing this weekend, Michigan State will make a run to be one of the six teams at the 2001 Big Ten Tournament.
Michigan State 9, Western Michigan 3WP-Bates (4-3)LP-Clark (3-2)Score By Innings R H EMichigan State 010 250 001 9 14 0Western Michigan 100 010 001 3 8 1
