Spartan Baseball Heads To Ohio

March 16, 2006

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State (4-6) baseball will conclude the final portion of its initial 15-game road swing March 17-19, traveling to Athens, Ohio, for a four-game series against the Bobcats of Ohio (3-5). Having met 28 times since 1932, Ohio holds a 13-15 all-time advantage over MSU. The Spartans are looking to rebound from a 7-4, 10-inning loss to Rhode Island on March 11, while Ohio will try to break a two-game losing streak, falling to Cleveland State and LeMoyne last week.

Entering the weekend's contest, State has four players batting over .350 in Quinn Ewert, Ryan Basham and Adam Tripp, while Troy Krider leads the team with a .410 batting average.

"Following a great spring trip last week in Florida, we are excited to get back on field and compete this weekend down at Ohio," head coach David Grewe said. "The Bobcats are a great college baseball team, and traditionally one of the best teams in the Mid American Conference. They are always loaded with quality pitching and tough players."

Ohio will be one of five MAC schools State will face this year, with Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, Central Michigan and Toledo all on the schedule.

The Spartans will open at home on March 25-26 with a three-game series against Western Illinois, followed by a mid-week game with Grand Valley State on March 29. MSU begins Big Ten play with a four-game series against Indiana, March 31-April 2, at Oldsmobile Park.

"This weekend will present us with a great challenge," Grewe added. "I am very excited that this weekend's games resemble the format of Big Ten play. It was my goal in scheduling to give our players an early look at what to expect during conference weekends."

Probable Starters:

Friday- (Ohio) RHP Derek Witt (1-2, 5.29) vs. (MSU) LHP John Dwan (0-1, 3.00)

Saturday 1- (Ohio) RHP John Angelicchi (0-1, 16.20) vs. (MSU) RHP Jeff Gerbe (1-1, 2.84)

Saturday 2- (Ohio) LHP Dan Weiss (1-0, 3.38) vs. (MSU) RHP Mark Sorensen (0-0, 0.87)

Sunday- (Ohio) RHP Anthony Gressick (1-0, 3.60) vs. (MSU) RHP Craig Brookes (0-1, 7.36)