Michigan State University Athletics
Baseball Faces Michigan In Crucial Big Ten Series This Weekend
4/28/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 28, 2005
Michigan State-Michigan Series Notes
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EAST LANSING, Mich. -
Michigan (22-12, 4-9 Big Ten)Friday, April 29 - 7 p.m.*Sunday, May 1 - 2 p.m.*Oldsmobile Park - Lansing, Mich.Saturday, April 30 (DH) - 4 p.m.*Ray Fisher Stadium - Ann Arbor, Mich.
Series History: Michigan leads 176-97-2Mahan vs. Michigan: 14-17Last Meeting: Michigan State won 6-3 (May 2, 2004)
Live stats will be provided by GameTracker at msuspartans.com.
*- All games will be broadcast live on Comcast Local - Channel 18 (East Lansing/Okemos area).
This Week: Michigan State opens a home-and-home series with in-state rival Michigan in an important Big Ten four-game series this weekend. The Spartans will play two games at home at Oldsmobile Park in Lansing, and the other two at UM's Ray Fisher Stadium in Ann Arbor. Michigan leads the all-time series over MSU by a 176-97-2 margin, but had split the last 10 games with MSU over the past three seasons.
Scouting The Spartans: The Spartans enter this weekend's series with a record of 17-18 and are tied for fourth place in the Big Ten standings with a mark of 6-6. MSU is currently on a two-game winning streak after beating Central Michigan, 9-8, on Wednesday, April 27 in Lansing's Oldsmobile Park. Leading the Spartans offensively is sophomore infielder Troy Krider, who is hitting .351 with six doubles, two home runs and 26 RBI on the season. On the mound, the Spartans are led by juniors Tim Day and Chris Malec, who each have four wins on the year. Freshman RHP Drew Mahan leads MSU with 1.72 ERA and two saves.
Scouting The Wolverines: Michigan enters its annual series with MSU sporting an overall record of 22-12, including a 4-9 mark in Big Ten play. The Wolverines had their league series against Ohio State shortened due to inclement weather, but captured the first game of the series by a score of 11-3 on April 22.
Michigan is led offenisvely by junior infielder Chris Getz with a .380 batting average, 51 hits and 18 stolen bases on the season. Senior first baseman Kyle Bohm leads the team with 40 runs batted in. On the mound, the Wolverines are led by senior RHP Jim Brauer who has produced a 5-1 record and 56 strikeouts in 61 and one-third innings pitched.
Series History: Michigan leads the all-time series with Michigan State by a margin of 176-97-2. Both teams won two games apiece last season, including a 6-3 win by the Spartans in the season finale at Ray Fisher Stadium in Ann Arbor.
He Puts The `K' In Takashima: Freshman RHP Mike Takashima recorded a season-best five strikeout performance against Central Michigan on April 27. The Rochester Hills, Mich., native's previous season-high was three against North Florida (March 5) and Saginaw Valley State (April 5).
The First Time Is Always The Sweetest At Kobs: Sophomore catcher Kris Morris joined an elite group of Spartans who have hit their first collegiate home run at Kobs Field this season, joining junior Jamey Embree, sophomore Troy Krider and freshman Ryan Sontag. Morris tagged his first dinger - a two-run blast to left center - against Indiana Tech on April 26. Sontag and Embree hit their first homers against Saginaw Valley State on April 5, while Troy Krider added his name to this list on April 8 against Big Ten co-leader Illinois.
Day Ranks Sixth Among MSU's Career Pitching Leaders: Red-shirt junior RHP Tim Day has continued to ascend among the school's career pitching leaders at Ohio State on April 15. The West Chester, Ohio, native captured his first shutout victory since 2002 with a five-strikeout, complete-game performance in a 2-0 victory over the Buckeyes as Day moved into sixth place in career wins (18) and innings pitched (219).
Coach Mahan Earns 250th Career Victory: MSU head coach Ted Mahan recorded his 250th win as the Spartans' skipper earlier this week. Mahan, who has coached winning teams in four of the last six seasons, captured win No. 250 victory in the Spartans' 14-7 win over Indiana Tech on April 26. His win total ranks him fourth all-time in school history.
Big Ten Tabs Day Pitcher of the Week: Red-shirt junior pitcher Tim Day was named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week in recognition of his win against Ohio State, the conference announced on April 18. This is the first league honor for Day and the first for a Spartan pitcher since Bryan Gale received the award last year.
Walker Shares League Weekly Honor: Sophomore catcher/first baseman Sean Walker was honored by the Big Ten Conference on April 18, sharing the league's Player of the Week honors for his three home run, eight RBI performance at Ohio State last weekend. Walker shared award with Minnesota's Andy Hunter. This is Walker's first league honor.
Krider Continues Hot Streak: Sophomore Troy Krider has shaken off his early sophomore slump with a season-best 23-game hitting streak. The Coldwater, Mich., native has batted .411 with four doubles, two home runs and 18 RBI during the streak, which started at Bradley on March 19. Krider is currently batting .340 with six doubles and 26 RBI.
More Honors For Walker: Walker was also recognized by the Collegiate Baseball Foundation this week as a member of the organization's National Honor Roll. The 6-3, 240-pound sophomore from Round Lake, Ill., was one of 49 players honored this week and this is the first honor for a Michigan State baseball player.
Gimme Five (Or More): Morris is the fourth Spartan this season to drive in five (or more) runs in a game joining freshmen utility players Ryan Sontag and Tony Clausen and sophomore catcher Sean Walker. Morris drove in a career-best six runs April 26 against Indiana Tech. Clausen accomplished the feat against Campbell on March 8 and Sontag did it April 5 against Saginaw Valley State. Walker performed the feat at Ohio State on April 17.
A Flair For The Dramatics: Michigan State has posted dramatic comebacks this month against Illinois, Ohio State and Central Michigan. In an 9-8 win over the Chippewas on April 27, MSU staged its biggest rally of the year, coming back from a 5-3 deficit to score six runs in the third inning to take a 9-5 lead. The Spartans are 3-2 in comeback situations this year with wins over Illinois, Western Illinois and CMU.
Gerbe Nails First Win Against CMU: In his first appearance on the mound in more than a week, junior RHP Jeff Gerbe posted a season-best six strikeouts in two and one-third innings of relief to help MSU knock off Central Michigan, 9-8, on April 27. The 6-3, 190-pound reliever held the Chippewas at bay to earn his first win since April 3, 2004, at Iowa.
Drew Mahan's Punch Out: Freshman RHP Drew Mahan has stepped into a new role as closer for Michigan State. The 6-2, 185-pound Okemos, Mich., native ranks among the team pitching leaders in appearances (14), strikeouts (21) and saves (two), while leading the Spartans with a 1.76 earned run average. Mahan captured his second save of the season against Central Michigan on April 27.
Stealin' Spartans: Michigan State has been effective on the base paths this season, going 39-for-59 in stolen base attempts. Leading the theft brigade for State is sophomore Adam Tripp, who has a team-best seven steals, while sophomores Troy Krider and Ryan Basham have recorded five stolen bases apiece.
Going Deep: Senior Erik Morris hit his first home run of the season during the second game of a April 16 doubleheader at Ohio State. Morris lined a solo shot to right center in the second inning for his first homer since May 22, 2004, against Northwestern.
Four-Gone Conclusion: Sophomore outfielder Adam Tripp and freshman infielder Steve Gerstenberger both provided an offensive spark while helping the Spartans defeat Indiana Tech, 14-7, on April 26 at Kobs Field. Both players hit a career-best 4-for-5 against the Warriors, while Tripp added a career-high four runs scored in the contest.
Clausen Slams First Collegiate Homers Against Campbell: Freshman utility player Tony Clausen lit up Campbell for his first two collegiate home runs, including a grand slam in the sixth inning on March 8. Clausen finished the game 2-for-3 with a season-best five RBI, and became the first Spartan to hit a grand slam since E.J. Daws hit one against Western Michigan on March 5, 2004.
The Magnificent Seven: In its 12-4 loss at North Florida on March 5, State threw seven freshman pitchers against the Ospreys. Mark Sorensen, making his first collegiate start, struck out two UNF batters in three and two-thirds innings. Mike Takashima took the loss after recording three strikeouts in one and two-thirds innings, while Mike Monterey tallied a strikeout in one inning of work. Tony Clausen, Drew Mahan and Chris Cullen each threw one-third of an inning in their NCAA pitching debuts, while Matt Trausch completed the game with a strikeout in two-thirds of a inning pitched.
Erik Morris Earns Preseason All-Big Ten Honors From Baseball America: Morris was named to the Baseball America Preseason All-Big Ten team in the publication's annual college preview edition released in early January. The 6-3, 220-pounder from Orchard Lake, Mich., earned league honors at the designated hitter position after batting .321 with 10 home runs and 44 RBI last year.
Cattrysse Gets Preseason Recognition: Junior utility player Alan Cattrysse was named the Big Ten's outfielder with the "Best Arm" by Baseball America. The Chatham, Ontario, native batted .306 with 31 RBI in 2004. He recorded 15 assists as a starter at third base and right field last season.
MSU Baseball Names 2005 Captains: Senior Erik Morris and red-shirt junior Tim Day were selected by MSU Baseball as captains for the 2005 season.
"I think the 2005 Spartan team chose two outstanding young men to lead their team, in Tim Day and Erik Morris," said Mahan. "Both Tim and Erik are proven quality Big Ten players and outstanding students. We look forward to these two players providing leadership and direction for the team in 2005."
Design Of A Decade: Ted Mahan enters his 10th season as the Spartans head coach and his 14th season with Michigan State after serving four years (1992-1995) as an assistant coach. The Davison, Mich., native continues to coach winning teams at MSU as three of his last four Spartan teams have produced winning records.
Last season, Mahan coached four players to All-Big Ten honors (Bryan Gale, Adam White, James Moreno and Travis Gulick) and had one player receive second-team All-Mideast Region honors (White). His 2004 squad posted 33 victories, finished in a tie for third place in the Big Ten, and won a game at the Big Ten Tournament.
During Mahan's tenure, over 55 Michigan State players have signed professional baseball contracts, with eight advancing to the Major Leagues. He has coached four Louisville Slugger Freshman All-Americans (Sean Walker- 2004, Tim Day- 2002, Bryan Gale- 2001 and Bob Malek- 2000) over the past five seasons at MSU.
On Deck: Michigan State travels to Bloomington, Ind., to open a four-game Big Ten series against Indiana, beginning May 8 at 3 p.m.
