Michigan State University
Indiana
Baseball Splits Big Ten Doubleheader At Indiana
5/8/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 8, 2005
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Michigan State baseball team snapped its five-game losing streak, splitting a Big Ten Conference doubleheader with Indiana on Sunday, May 8 at IU's Sembower Field. The Spartans won the first game, 13-8, but dropped the nightcap by a score of 5-3. With the split, MSU's record improves to 18-24 (7-12 Big Ten), while Indiana is now 24-23 (7-16) on the season.
In the first game, Michigan State jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the second inning, highlighted by a three-run homer by junior right fielder Jamey Embree (Grosse Pointe, Mich.) and a solo home run by senior catcher Erik Morris (West Bloomfield, Mich.). The Spartans increased their lead to 6-0 in the third inning. Morris reached on an IU fielding error and later scored on an infield groundout by red-shirt freshman first baseman James Keyton (Lansing, Mich.).
A two-run triple by freshman center fielder Ryan Sontag (Monroe, Mich.) helped MSU hike its advantage to 13-0 with a seven-run effort in the fourth inning. The Hoosiers used a three-run, pinch-hit double by sophomore Michael Nilles and a two-run triple by senior Joe Kemp as part of an eight-run rally in the fifth inning.
Indiana was looking to score again in the sixth and seventh innings, but was shut down by Spartan relievers Mike Monterey (Farmington Hills, Mich.) and Chris Toepper (Portage, Mich.) to end the game.
Embree led Michigan State offensively, hitting 2-for-2 with five RBI, while Sontag went 2-for-4 with two runs batted in. Sophomore Craig Brookes (5-1) captured the win for the Spartans, giving up eight runs (two earned) on five hits in four and two-third innings of work. The right-hander from Naperville, Ill., also struck out four batters and walked one. Monterey gave up a hit in one-third of an inning, while Toepper tallied two strikeouts and a walk in two scoreless innings of relief.
Junior Jay Brant led Indiana's offensive unit, hitting 2-for-4 with an RBI and scoring a run. Junior Brian Lortz (2-6) took the loss for the Hoosiers, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits in one and two-thirds innings.
In the second game, the Spartans used a two-run rally with one out in the top of the third, gaining an early 2-0 lead. Sophomore catcher Kris Morris (Jenison, Mich.) and freshman third baseman Steve Gerstenberger (Fort Gratiot, Mich.) recorded back-to-back singles and scored on sophomore shortstop Troy Krider's (Coldwater, Mich.) two-RBI single through the right side.
Indiana bounced back to score four runs in the bottom of the third off MSU starter Mike Takashima (Rochester Hills, Mich.) to take a 4-2 lead, highlighted by run-scoring doubles from
Kemp and junior Zach Boswell. A solo home run by Krider to right center in the fifth inning trimmed MSU's deficit to one run.
The Hoosiers capped the scoring in the sixth inning when senior Corby Heckman walked and later scored on Kurt Wiegle's RBI sacrifice fly to center field.
Boswell (2-for-3, RBI), junior Reggie Watson (2-for-4, run) and sophomore Josh Richardson (2-for-3) each recorded two hits to lead Indiana. Sophomore Matt Saba (5-1) earned the win for the Hoosiers despite allowing three runs on five hits in four and one-third innings, while sophomore Joe Trucchio captured the save after throwing two and two-third shutout innings in relief.
Krider went 2-for-4 at the plate with a run scored to lead Michigan State's offense. Takashima (2-3) took the loss for the Spartans, giving up four runs on six hits in two and two-third innings thrown. Junior Jeff Gerbe allowed a run (unearned) with a strikeout and a walk in two and one-third innings of relief, while freshman Drew Mahan pitched a scoreless sixth inning for MSU.
Both teams will conclude the series at Sembower Field on Monday, May 10 at 1 p.m.
