9-2 Spartans Travel To Eastern Kentucky
3/14/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 14, 2002
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The Spartans have raced out to a 9-2 record, the best start by an MSU team since 1992. They went 7-1 over their spring trip through the Carolinas. This weekend State travels to Richmond, Ky., to take on Eastern Kentucky in a three-game tilt. Currently, the Spartans are on a four-game winning streak which is their longest of the season.
SHARP CONTRAST: The Spartans have gotten off to a much better offensive start in 2002 than a season ago. Here is a breakdown through the first 11 games of this season compared to last:
Category 2001 2002 DifferentialRuns 77 137 +60Hits 118 185 +67Home Runs 9 23 +14RBI 71 125 +54
HIT PARADE: As a team, State is hitting .400 with 15 players hitting over .300. Five of their current starters are hitting over .400. MSU has also out-hit their opponents by a count of 185-114 through 11 games. Over their spring trip, MSU out-hit opponents by a count of 135-71 and out-scored opponents 95-42.
BATES ROLLS: Senior starter Nick Bates is off to a quick start as well for the Green and White. The senior right-hander is a staff-best 3-0 through his first three starts of the season. In his three starts, the Blissfield, Mich., native has recorded 26 strikeouts and has tied his career high of nine K's twice.
BURRILL OUT: Junior Brady Burrill played just two games on the spring trip due to contracting mono. Through five games, MSU's clean-up hitter was batting .450 with a 1.000 slugging percentage. Burrill is expected to return for the start of Big Ten play, March 29 against Minnesota.
150 & COUNTING: Head coach Ted Mahan recorded his 150th collegiate win in State's 10-2 win over Charleston Southern (3/8) and then got number 151 the next day with a 16-5 victory.
