Michigan State University
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Western Mich
Spartan Baseball Holds Off Western Michigan, 12-10
5/14/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 14, 2002
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Michigan State baseball team exploded for nine runs in the first two innings and held on for a 12-10 victory Tuesday at Western Michigan. MSU's one through four hitters combined for 13 hits as the Spartans improved to 32-16 for their most wins in a season since 1992.
Leadoff hitter Jared Koutnik (Sr., Milwaukee, Wis./West Allis Hale) had four hits, while Charlie Braun (Jr.,/Grosse Pointe/Grosse Pointe North), Bob Malek (Jr., Canton/Detroit Catholic Central) and Chris McCuiston (Sr., Birmingham/Seaholm) had three hits each for the Spartans, who tallied 17 hits as a team. Malek drove in four runs and scored three more for MSU, and added his 11th home run, while Koutnik hit his 10th long ball of the year.
MSU jumped on WMU starting pitcher Josh Clark for four runs in the first inning, as the first five Spartan batters reached base. Malek started the scoring with a two-run single to right, Kyle Geswein (Sr., Dayton, Ohio/Carroll) added an RBI single to right, and Moreno capped the rally with a sacrifice fly to left.
In the second inning, MSU hit for the cycle on four consecutive at bats, leading to five runs. With one out, Koutnik homered to center, Braun reached on a bunt single, Malek tripled to right and McCuiston doubled down the left field line. One out later, Travis Gulick (Fr., East Lansing/East Lansing) plated two more runs with a double to left.
The Spartan bats quieted down after that, as MSU managed only one run, on a Braun RBI single, over the next three innings as the Broncos closed within 10-7. Jim Duffy (Fr., Carleton/Airport) singled home a run in the sixth to make it 11-7, but MSU left the bases loaded for the second time later that inning.
Malek blasted a home run to deep right center in the seventh, giving the Spartans a 12-7 edge to end the scoring for MSU.
Tim Day (Fr., West Chester, Ohio/Lakota East) came on in relief to start the sixth inning and retired the first nine batters he faced. Day pitched the final four innings and earned the win, despite giving up three runs with two outs in the ninth inning, to improve to 9-3.
MSU left 13 runners on base in the game, while Western Michigan only left three runners stranded.
The Spartans return home to battle Bowling Green Wednesday, May 15, at 4 p.m. at Kobs Field in the final home game of the season.
Michigan State 12, Western Michigan 10WP - Day (9-3)LP - Clark (0-2)MSU - 451 001 100 - 12 17 0WMU - 210 220 003 - 10 9 3
