Baseball To Host Illinois In Key Conference Matchup
5/2/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 2, 2002
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LEADING OFF: MSU dropped two in a rain-shortened three-game series in Iowa, last weekend. The Hawkeyes took the first two games before MSU rebounded with a 3-0 shutout win in game three. This weekend, the third-place Spartans will take on Illinois in a four-game series, begining Friday at 3 p.m. at Kobs Field.
MOVING UP: As of Wednesday, the Spartans were third in the Big Ten with a 10-8 conference record and a 28-11 overall mark. Their .718 winning percentage is tops in the conference and 26th, nationally.
GREEN MACHINE STAYS ON TRACK: Besides being tops in the conference, the Spartans team average of .343 is fifth best, nationally. MSU has led the conference in team batting average all season. It is also tops in the conference in runs with 345, hits with 465 and doubles with 91. State's 345 runs place them eighth on the MSU all-time single-season list and their 91 doubles put them in 10th place. MSU is 13th nationally in scoring, as the Spartans average 8.8 runs per game.
OFFENSIVE LEADER: Chris McCuiston continues to be among the offensive leaders in the Big Ten, currently tied for the lead in the home runs with 12, leading with 51 RBI as well as leading in total bases with 112. He ranks 28th in the nation in RBI per game, at 1.31. He also is tied for the team lead in hits with Bob Malek at 62. Currently, he has a nine-game hitting streak.
RING 'EM UP: With 79 strikeouts this season, Nick Bates stands second in the conference in total strikeouts. He leads the Spartan staff with an 8-2 record and a 3.02 ERA. He needs just nine more Ks to break into the top-10 on MSU's all time career strikeout list. Nationally, Bates ranks 17th in strikeouts per nine innings.
DAY TIME: Freshman Tim Day became the second Spartan pitcher this season to throw a complete-game shutout. Last weekend, he pitched MSU to a 3-0 win over Iowa, allowing only three hits with four strikeouts. He now has a 7-2 record and 40 strikeouts, good for third on the team.
