Michigan State University
Centenary College
Baseball Splits Final Two Games At Centenary
2/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 26, 2005
SHREVEPORT, La. - The Michigan State baseball team split its final two games with Centenary Saturday at Shehee Stadium in Shreveport, La. The Spartans won the first game, 6-0, but fell to the Gents, 3-2, in the series finale.
"We're happy with the weekend," said MSU head coach Ted Mahan. "We could've won all three games, but that's baseball. I think our guys played hard against Centenary. Now, we have some things to work on before heading to Florida next week."
In game one, MSU (2-1) struck first as sophomore left fielder Adam Tripp (Saugas, Calif.) led off the game with a solo home run to left center off Gents' starting pitcher Kris Calhoun for an early 1-0 lead.
State scored four more runs in the fourth inning to build a 5-0 lead. Junior second baseman Oliver Wolcott (Plymouth, Mich.) reached on an error by second baseman Alex Valdivia to start the inning. Sophomore catcher Sean Walker (Round Lake, Ill.) and sophomore first baseman Ryan Basham (Lowell, Ind.) followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases. With one out, freshman third baseman Steve Gerstenberger (Fort Gratiot, Mich.) walked to score Wolcott. Sophomore designated hitter E.J. Daws brought home another run after being hit by a Calhoun pitch, scoring Walker. Freshman center fielder Ryan Sontag (Newport, Mich.) also earned a walk, scoring Basham. Next, Tripp reached on a fielder's choice to score Gerstenberger.
The Spartans added an insurance run in the seventh inning. With one out, sophomore shortstop Troy Krider (Coldwater, Mich.) singled through the right side of the infield. Krider, who stole second, scored on a two-out, RBI single to left field by Walker.
Junior left-hander Chris Malec (1-0) threw a one-hit shutout over five innings in his first start in a Spartan uniform. Malec retired 15 of 18 batters faced, recording one strikeout to go along with three walks. In four innings of relief, freshmen Mark Sorensen (Northville, Mich.) and Mike Takashima (Rochester Hills, Mich.) combined to hold the Gents to only three hits, preserving the shutout.
After four scoreless innings to begin the second game, Centenary (3-5) scored an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth. With two away, center fielder Tim Ryan reached base on a throwing error by Krider, scoring third baseman J.C. Biagi.
The Spartans rallied to tie the game at 1-1 in the seventh inning. With one out, Wolcott doubled to right field and later scored on an RBI single to right by Gerstenberger.
MSU took its first lead in the ninth inning, 2-1. Wolcott drew a leadoff walk and scored on a two-out, RBI single by Sontag.
The Gents managed to tie the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the ninth inning as Valdivia reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Biagi who opened the frame by being hit by a pitch. With the bases loaded and one out, Kiefer produced a game-winning single through the left side of the infield, scoring pinch runner Beaux Waddell.
Centenary reliever Will Kaage (1-1) earned the win after going two and two-thirds innings with two strikeouts and three walks.
MSU freshman reliever Mike Monterey (0-1) took the loss, surrendering two runs on one hit in one and one-third innings. Sophomore starter Craig Brookes (Naperville, Ill.) gave up only one run in five innings while scattering four hits.
Michigan State opens the Kennel Club Classic, hosted by the University of North Florida, against Western Michigan on Friday, March 4 at 3 p.m.
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