Michigan State University Athletics
MSU Baseball Splits Doubleheader With Minnesota
4/22/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 22, 2006
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State (19-17, 8-7 Big Ten) baseball split Saturday's doubleheader with Minnesota at Kobs Field. For the second straight game, Michigan State overcame a two-run deficit in its final at bat, beating Minnesota in game one, 9-8. Adam Tripp delivered the game-winning, two-run single. Ryan Basham had two home runs and four RBI in the winning effort. Game two would be a different story as the Gophers used 23 hits to down the Spartans 20-6. MSU will look for the series win with the fourth and final game on Sunday at noon. This time has been bumped up from its original start time of 1:00 p.m.
Trailing 6-2 in the third inning in game one, Basham brought the Spartans to within two runs with his first homer of the game, a two-run shot to right field. Sean Walker drove in a run in the fourth and Basham hit his second long-ball in the fifth, this time a solo shot to right, tying the game at 6-6.
Minnesota (18-18, 7-8 Big Ten) charged back with a run in the sixth and a run in the seventh, regaining a two-run lead. Finding themselves in a similar position as Friday's game, the Spartans pieced together a rally in their final at bat.
Jamey Embree drew a walk and advanced to second safely after an error on a fielder's choice by Kyle Day. Basham then was hit by a pitch and with one out, MSU had the bases loaded. A wild pitch allowed Embree to score and both base runners to advance into scoring position. Tripp then scorched a groundball through the middle and Day and Basham chugged around the base path for the tying and game-winning run and a 9-8 victory.
Throwing the final four outs, Mike Monterey (5-5) earned the win. Surrendering the winning run, Minnesota's Gary Perinar (3-1) was handed the loss.
Basham finished the contest with four RBI and three runs on 2-of-3 hitting. Chris Herbert had the hot bat for the Gophers in game one, going 4-for-4 with four doubles and four runs.
Entering the nightcap, Michigan State was looking for its third win of the series, but Minnesota would score early and often, downing the Spartans 20-6. Eight different Gophers recorded multi-hit games, four of those with multi-RBI performances. Andy Hunter went 3-for-5 with five RBI and two home runs, while Mike Mee cracked his first career grand slam.
The Spartans were held to just nine hits, with Troy Krider collecting two, going 2-for-3 with two RBI. Day also tallied two RBI, hitting his second home run of the season.
John Gaub (1-2) earned the win, allowing three runs on four hits in 4.0 innings pitched. Roughed up for 11 runs on 12 hits in 3.0 innings, MSU's John Dwan (1-3) took the loss.
