Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Ohio State
Spartans Drop Two Games To Ohio State
4/17/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 17, 2004
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State baseball continued its Big Ten homestand against Ohio State Saturday, April 17 at Kobs Field with two straight losses to the Buckeyes, 8-7 and 19-2. The Spartans fall to 18-14, 7-4 in the Big Ten while Ohio State improves to 16-14, 7-4 in the conference.
Travis Gulick led the Spartans, going 5-for-7 on the day with a double, two home runs, three RBIs a stolen base and three runs.
In game one, MSU lost a heartbreaker, 8-7. The Spartans led off with two runs in the first as Alan Cattrysse singled through the left side to leadoff for the Green and White. After an Oliver Wolcott line out to shortstop, Cattrysse took second on a wild pitch from OSU starter Scott Lewis. Gulick notched a base hit into left field, scoring Cattrysse for the early lead. Scott Koerber struck out for the second out of the inning but Gulick moved into scoring position with a stolen base with Erik Morris at the plate. Morris' doubled into the left-center gap to score Gulick to give MSU the 2-0 lead. Moreno got aboard with a base hit of his own through the left side, sending Morris to third. In a controversial call, Morris was out at home with a throw from left fielder Steve Caravati to OSU catcher Derek Kinnear, ending the inning.
OSU answered with a five-spot in the second. MSU starter Scott Koerber walked Adam Schneider to lead off the inning and hit Brett Garrard to give the Buckeyes two base runners. Both advanced with a wild pitch from the senior co-captain. Jason Zoeller singled through the right side to score Schneider. Jacob Howell got aboard when he was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Kinnear doubled down the left line, scoring two runners. Drew Anderson hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Howell. Working just 1.1 innings, striking out one and allowing five runs on four hits, head coach Ted Mahan made the call to the bullpen as reliever Chris Toepper made his first appearance in the series.
Caravati sacrificed to right to score Kinnear, but Toepper would not allow another hit, striking out Schneider to close the inning.
The Spartans were retired 1-2-3 in the bottom of the second before OSU put up another run in the third.
The third inning saw Cattrysse and Wolcott strike out looking before Travis Gulick launched a solo homer over the left field fence before Lewis got Koerber on strikes to end the inning.
The Green and White rattled off three unanswered runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Erik Morris led off with a single up the middle and James Moreno followed with a single of his own, sending a quick Morris to third base. Moreno was caught stealing at second before Sean Walker - making his first start of the season at first base - took his base on balls and catcher Kris Morris walked to load the bases. With a walk issued to shortstop Troy Krider, the Spartans put a run on the board. After three consecutive base on balls, Lewis was replaced by Trey Fausnaugh and allowed a Cattrysse single to left center, scoring Walker. Wolcott lined out and Gulick struck out to close the fourth. In the fifth, Koerber took one for the team, taking his base after being hit by the pitch. Erik Morris reached base with a single down the left line. Moreno reached base on a fielder's choice with Morris out at second, leaving runners at the corners. Sean Walker hit a sacrifice fly into center field, scoring Koerber before Ryan Basham struck out looking to end the inning.
The teams headed to the sixth tied 6-6. Ohio State broke the tie with two runs in the top of the inning to take the 8-6 lead. Brett Hatcher stepped to the mound for OSU, getting Krider to fly out to center field and Cattrysse to strike out. With two outs, Wolcott took his base on balls and Gulick dropped a short double to right field, allowing Wolcott to take third. With a wild pitch from Hatcher, Wolcott scored to put the score at 8-7. Although neither team would score again, MSU had its chance in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, Sean Walker doubled to right center and Adam Tripp entered the game as a pinch runner. The Buckeyes tried to pick off Tripp at second, but the throw from the catcher was high and into center field. But Tripp hesitated before running to third, giving OSU a chance to catch the freshman stealing at third to end the game.
Senior Scott Koerber (2-3) made the start on the mound for the Spartans in game one, going 1.1 innings, striking out one and allowed five runs on four hits. Chris Toepper suffered the loss for the Spartans, going a season-high four innings and striking out a career-high four batters while allowing three hits and two runs - one earned. He falls to 1-2 on the season. Clay Kovac and Ryan Kurtz each saw time in relief for MSU.
Ohio State's Trey Fausnaugh picked up the win to move to 2-1 on the year while Trent Luyster picked up his fourth save of the season for the Buckeyes.
