Michigan State University
.png&width=60&height=60&type=webp)
Western Michigan
MSU Baseball Upends Western Michigan, 10-6
5/9/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 9, 2006
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Michigan State baseball team jumped out to a 9-0 lead and never looked back en route to a 10-6 victory Tuesday afternoon at Western Michigan. Catcher Sean Walker paced MSU's 13-hit attack, going 3-for-4 with two RBI.
Oliver Wolcott cracked an RBI single and Troy Krider followed with a two-run double in the second inning as Michigan State (23-24) took a 3-0 lead. The Spartans added two runs on RBI singles by Adam Tripp and Sean Walker in the third.
The Spartans loaded the bases in the fourth on consecutive singles by Wolcott, Krider and Steve Gerstenberger. All the runners moved up a base and Wolcott scored on a passed ball. Ryan Basham then smacked a two-run single to left and Tripp drove in a run as MSU built a 9-0 lead.
Western Michigan (23-19) got a run back in the bottom of the fourth and a second run back in the bottom of the fifth, as Nathan Marquardt and Zach Gentile each hit solo home runs.
MSU reliever A.J. Dunn found himself in trouble in the sixth inning as Western Michigan took advantage of three walks and two hits, scoring four runs to pull to within 9-6. R.C. Dickerson came up with the big hit, delivering a three-run double.
Michigan State worked its way through the next three innings, behind pitching performances from Spencer Hahn, Dan Noble and Peter Wolff. Walker unloaded his second home run of the season in the ninth, a solo shot to left field, as the Spartans won 10-6.
Spartan starter Chris Cullen (4-2) was credited with the win, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out three and walking three in 5.0 innings pitched. WMU starter Bryan French (1-5) took the loss after surrendering eight earned runs on nine hits in 3.0 innings.
Eight different Spartans produced at least one hit, while Krider, Basham and Tripp finished the day with two RBI apiece.
Michigan State (10-14 Big Ten) resumes league play this weekend (May 12-14) with a four-game series at Northwestern. The Wildcats enter the second-to-last weekend of Big Ten play tied for first place (with Michigan) at 16-8.
