Michigan State University
Bradley
Spartans Drop Series Finale At Bradley, 6-5
3/20/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 20, 2005
PEORIA, Ill. - Junior third baseman Alan Cattrysse and sophomore shortstop Troy Krider each tallied two hits, but the Michigan State baseball team lost to Bradley, 6-5, in the final game of a three-game series at O'Brien Field Sunday afternoon (March 20). Cattrysse finished the afternoon 2-for-3 at the plate with a double, while Krider went 2-for-4 with a double, a run, a stolen base and a RBI.
Michigan State (6-8) opened the scoring in the second inning, taking an early 1-0 lead. Sophomore left fielder Ryan Basham (Lowell, Ind.) and freshman designated hitter Tony Clausen (Jenison, Mich.) opened the inning with a single and a double, respectively. On the next play, sophomore catcher Sean Walker (Round Lake, Ill.) plated Clausen from third after grounding out to the shortstop.
State increased its lead to 3-0 with a two-run outburst in the third inning. Cattrysse (Chatham, Ontario) and sophomore center fielder Adam Tripp (Saugus, Calif.) led off the frame with back-to-back singles off Bradley starter Collin Walker. Krider (Coldwater, Mich.) singled home Cattrysse on the next play and Basham loaded the bases with a walk. Clausen registered a run scoring walk from Braves reliever Mike Cristl to bring home Tripp.
Bradley (12-4) cut its deficit down at 3-1 in the fourth inning on an RBI sacrifice fly to left field, scoring sophomore Paul Rice, who opened the inning with a single.
The Spartans added two more runs in the fifth to extend their lead to four at 5-1. Krider opened the inning with a double, advanced to third on a double by senior first baseman Erik Morris (Orchard Lake, Mich.) and scored on a sacrifice fly by Basham. Morris later scored on a wild pitch by Cristl.
The Braves pulled within a run at 5-4 in the sixth inning by taking advantage of two MSU errors to post a one-out, three-run rally. Brad Canada singled to right field to start the rally and Jon Smith reached base on an infield throwing error. Both runners scored two batters later on a two-run single by junior right fielder Justin Carr. Junior Joe Napoli, who reached base on a walk by Spartan reliever Mike Monterey (Farmington Hills, Mich.), stole home on the following play.
Bradley scored two runs in the seventh inning to take the lead at 6-5. Two walks highlighted the inning by Monterey along with an RBI single by sophomore Paul Rice, which proved to be the game-winning hit for BU.
Rice (2-for-4, run, RBI) and Canada (2-for-3, run) each recorded two hits to lead the Braves offensively.
Bradley reliever Peter Elmer (1-0) earned the victory after giving up only one hit and striking out two in three innings of relief.
Monterey (0-2) took the loss for Michigan State, surrendering four runs (two earned) on only one hit in only two-thirds of an inning in relief. Monterey struck out one batter, but registered three walks.
MSU starting pitcher Craig Brookes (Naperville, Ill.) gave up two runs on five hits while striking out four in five and one-third innings pitched.
The Spartans open their home schedule at Kobs Field against 2004 NAIA Tournament participant Indiana Tech on Thursday, March 24 at 2 p.m.
