Michigan State University
Minnesota
Spartan Baseball Drops Two At Minnesota
3/30/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 30, 2003
MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota completed a four-game sweep of the Michigan State baseball team by sweeping a doubleheader Sunday afternoon (March 30) at Siebert Field on the UM campus. MSU fell 5-1 in game one and 11-10 in game two and now stands at 5-17 (0-4 Big Ten) for the season. The Gophers improve to 14-10 (4-0 Big Ten).
In game one, Spartan starter Patrick Gill (Sr., Grandville) gave up three runs in the bottom of the first as Minnesota quickly grabbed the lead. The Gophers added insurance runs in the fourth and fifth innings to go up 5-0. MSU scored its lone run of the game in the seventh on a Jim Deliz (So., Clinton Twp.) fielder's choice that brought home Brady Burrill (Sr., Newhall, Calif.).
C.J. Woodrow (3-2) tossed a complete game and only allowed four hits to earn the win for the Gophers. Gill (0-4) also went the distance, striking out four and surrendering nine hits and five runs in six innings of work.
The Spartans exploded for seven runs in the first to begin the second game of the doubleheader, but squandered an eight-run lead after an inning and a half to lose 11-10. MSU pounded Gopher starter Matt Loberg for a season high seven runs on seven hits in the first, led by RBI hits off the bats of Burrill, James Moreno (Jr., Holt) and Deliz. Loberg left in the second inning after giving up consecutive hits to Travis Gulick (So., East Lansing) and Burrill.
Down 8-0, the Gophers stormed back against MSU starter Jeff Gerbe (Fr., Shelby Twp.), tagging him for four runs and six hits in the second. Left-hander Ryan Kurtz (Jr., Toledo) relieved Gerbe in the second and pitched two strong innings until Minnesota once again unleashed its offense and scored six runs in the fourth take a 10-9 lead. The Gophers tacked a run on the board in the sixth for an 11-9 advantage heading into the seventh.
Gopher reliever Brian Bull, who pitched five innings of six-hit ball, hit Deliz and walked Alan Cattrysse (Fr., Chatham, Ontario) to open the last frame. He was then relieved by Jeff Moen, who walked his first batter, Brett Wattles (Sr., Rochester), to load the bases with no outs. MSU scored a run on the next play, but had to spare two outs as Charlie Braun (Sr., Grosse Pointe) hit into a 4-6-3 double play. With a runner on third and two outs, Moen struck out Gulick looking to preserve the 11-10 win for Minnesota.
The Spartans collected 15 hits in the second game but left eight runners on base, six of whom were in scoring position at the end of the inning. Wattles went 2-for-3 with two doubles and three RBI and Gulick drove in three runs on three hits in game two.
Michigan State will open its home season Wednesday, April 2 against IPFW at Kobs Field beginning at 3 p.m.
GAME SUMMARIES
GAME ONE R H EMSU 000 000 1- 1 4 1MINN 300 110 x- 5 9 0
WP: Woodrow-MINN (3-2)LP: Gill-MSU (0-4)
GAME TWO R H EMSU 710 100 1- 10 15 3MINN 040 601 x- 11 14 1
WP: Bull-MINN (3-1)LP: Bly-MSU (0-1)SV: Moen-MINN (2)
