Michigan State University
Indiana
Gerstenberger Drives In Six In Spartan Romp
3/31/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 31, 2006
LANSING, Mich. - Sophomore Steve Gerstenberger went 5-for-5 with six runs batted in as Michigan State (10-9, 1-0) pounded out 12 extra-base hits en route to a 17-7 win over Indiana (7-12, 0-1) in the Big Ten opener for both teams at Oldsmobile Park.
The MSU offense caught fire in the middle innings, scoring a pair of runs in the fourth, four in the fifth, four in the seventh and three more in the eighth as the Spartans scored a season-high 17 runs on 18 hits. Freshman Quinn Ewert collected the win and improved to 2-0, pitching 3.2 innings of six-hit ball in relief of starter John Dwan. Indiana starter Josh Lewis dropped to 2-4 on the season, surrendering nine runs on nine hits over four innings.
Seven Spartan starters collected at least one hit and eight scored at least one run for a well-balanced attack, keyed by Gerstenberger and junior Ryan Basham. Basham was a perfect 4-for-4 at the dish, driving in three and crossing the plate three times. Senior Jamey Embree added three hits and is now 10-for-15 in MSU's last four games.
"Today was a great way to start the Big Ten season," Spartan head coach David Grewe said. "Before the game, everyone was extremely focused and confident that we would come out and play the game the right way. Indiana has a strong ballclub and this is a great way to start the weekend."
Michigan State scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning, pounding three doubles off of Lewis, to take a 2-1 lead. The Spartans tied the game at 1-1 on back-to-back doubles by Embree and Basham. Two batters later, junior center fielder Adam Tripp gave MSU a 2-1 lead on an RBI double to right-center, scoring Basham.
The Hoosiers rallied for three runs in the second inning on three hits, a pair of steals and a hit-batsman. Tripp prevented an even bigger inning when he collected Reggie Watson's drive off the glove of third baseman Oliver Wolcott and threw out Jay Brant out at the plate to end the inning.
Junior designated hitter Sean Walker keyed a two-out rally in the bottom of the fourth when he reached base after being hit by Lewis. Gerstenberger followed with an RBI triple to deep right-center, scoring Walker, as the Spartans pulled to within 5-4. MSU managed to tie the score at 5-5 when Gerstenberger stole home on the back-end of a double steal.
The Spartans chased Lewis in the home half of the fifth, plating four runs to take a 9-6 lead. Basham started the inning by drawing a walk and scored on Day's double down the right-field line. Day advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a balk, and Alan Cattrysse added an RBI double before Lewis was lifted in favor of freshman Joe Vicini. After retiring the first two batters he faced, Vicini surrendered an RBI double to Gerstenberger.
Indiana threatened in the top half of the seventh inning, drawing three walks off Spartan reliever Chris Cullen. All three runners were stranded when Cattrysse ranged behind the second base bag to snare a groundball ticketed for center field and flipped to Tripp for the force out.
The Spartan offense picked up right where it left off following an hour-plus rain delay. Play resumed in the bottom of the seventh with Walker reaching on an RBI infield single and Gerstenberger driving him in with his second triple of the game. Gerstenberger later scored on a sacrifice fly by Troy Krider, and Basham belted his second home run of the season to give MSU a 14-7 lead.
Michigan State added three more in the home half of the eighth. Following a run-scoring wild pitch, Gerstenberger collected his fifth hit of the game, a two-run homer to deep right field.
The Spartans and Hoosiers resume the four-game series Saturday with a doubleheader, beginning at 1 p.m. at Oldsmobile Park. The series finale is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m.
