Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Kansas State
K-State Completes Three-Game Sweep Over Spartans, 13-3
3/23/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 22, 2004
MANHATTAN, Kan. - Kansas State catcher Zack Saunders drove in three runs and Jim Ripley pitched five scoreless innings Monday, March 22 as the Wildcats completed a three-game sweep over Michigan State, 13-3. It marked the Spartans' sixth straight loss.
Michigan State (4-10) got out of the gate quickly, scoring three runs in the first inning. Center fielder Travis Gulick (East Lansing, Mich.) opened the game with a double, extending his hitting streak to a career-best 10 games. With one out, first baseman Scott Koerber (Harper Woods, Mich.) singled to left field. A sacrifice fly by catcher Erik Morris (Orchard Lake, Mich.) scored Gulick to put the Spartans on the scoreboard. Right fielder David Miller (Whitehall, Mich.) followed with his third home run of the season, a two-run blast to center field, scoring Koerber.
The Spartan lead vanished in the bottom of the first as starting pitcher Spencer Hahn (Findlay, Ohio) failed to retire the first five batters. Hahn (0-1) issued back-to-back walks to left fielder Terry Blunt and second baseman Jason Long. Center fielder Josh Dent reached on a bunt single to load the bases. Right fielder Steve Murphy delivered a two-run single to right and first baseman Chris Carlson followed with an RBI double to center field, tying the game at 3-3. K-State took the lead for good on Saunders' sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Murphy.
After a shaky start, Ripley (3-0) did not permit another hit until the sixth inning when Morris reached base on an infield single. Ripley surrendered four hits, walked three and fanned seven in six innings of work. K-State relievers Josh Batilla and Chris Huseman combined to allow only one hit over three innings.
K-State (17-6) took control of the game in the fourth inning, scoring six runs to build a 10-3 lead. Designated hitter Josh Heinrich and Blunt each produced two-run singles in the fourth.
Saunders led off the sixth inning with a home run to left field to give the Wildcats an 11-3 advantage. K-State closed out the scoring with two more runs in the seventh.
The Wildcats out-hit the Spartans, 15-5.
Michigan State opens a 10-game home stand at Kobs Field on Wednesday, March 24 against Bowling Green at 2 p.m.
