Michigan State University
Illinois
MSU Baseball Edged By Illinois, 3-2
5/3/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 3, 2002
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State baseball team dropped the first game of a four-game series at Kobs Field today vs. Illinois, falling to the Fighting Illini, 3-2. The loss dropped MSU's record to 28-12 overall and 10-9 in the Big Ten, while Illinois improved to 25-12 and 9-10.
Kyle Geswein (Sr., Dayton, Ohio) belted his 10th home run of the season for MSU, but it would prove to be one of the few bright spots for the Spartan offense. Illinois ace Andy Dickinson, the reigning Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, allowed only six hits while striking out seven to improve to 9-2. Bryan Gale (So., Decatur) was the hard luck loser for MSU despite pitching well. Gale also surrendered only six hits and walked just one, but fell to 5-4 with the loss.
MSU got on the board first when Brett Wattles (Jr., Rochester) singled, advanced to third on a base hit by Charlie Braun (Jr., Grosse Pointe) and scored on a groundout by Bob Malek (Jr., Canton) in the bottom of the third inning.
Illinois evened the score in the fourth on a two-out single, but Geswein's solo shot in the bottom half of the frame gave the advantage back to MSU.
Illinois pushed across single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to take the lead for good. The Spartans looked as though they might tie the game in the eighth inning, but Chris McCuiston (Sr., Birmingham) was robbed of a home run on a spectacular catch by Illinois centerfielder Brandon Cashman.
Braun was the lone Spartan with multiple hits, finishing with a pair of singles.
Michigan State and Illinois will resume the series with a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.
Illinois 3, Michigan State 2WP- Dickinson (9-2)LP- Gale (5-4)Score By Innings R H EIllinois 000 101 100 3 6 0Michigan State 001 100 000 2 6 1
