Baseball Wins Season Opener, 11-5

Friday, February 19

Greenville, S.C.

12:00 PM

Michigan State University

1-0

Presbyterian College

0-1

Presbyterian

Michigan State

2/19/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

Feb. 19, 2016

Box Score

Greenville, S.C. - Michigan State baseball opened up its season on Friday afternoon with an 11-5 win over Presbyterian. Freshman Marty Bechina led the way for the Spartans, going 3-for-5 with four RBIs and three runs in his debut in the Green and White.

MSU had to overcome an early deficit after giving up four runs in the top of the first, but responded with a run in the bottom half of the inning before plating five in the second to take the lead for good.

"It was good to get off on the right foot with a win," said head coach Jake Boss Jr. "I thought our guys played really well. Even after giving up four in the first, guys showed a lot of character and understood there was a long way to go in the ball game. We chipped away with a couple of big innings and put a big number up on the board."

Bechina led off the first and reached on an error before sophomore Alex Troop drove in the first run of the season to cut it to 4-1. Then, with two outs and nobody on in the second, back-to-back singles started the rally and set up Bechina for the start of his big day. Looking for his first collegiate hit, the third baseman belted a three-run homer over the Green Monster at Fluor Field to tie the game up.

Michigan State added two more later in the inning when a wild pitch on a strikeout allowed Brandon Hughes and Jordan Zimmerman to come around and score. Eight of 11 runs scored by the Spartans all came with two outs.

"You've got to just keep grinding at-bats and you never know what can happen," said Boss. "You string a few together and all of the sudden you've got five runs all with two outs and nobody on. Guys competed extremely well I thought today."

After a rocky first, MSU starter Cam Vieaux settled in and shut down the Blue Hose. The MSU pitching staff held Presbyterian to just three hits over the final eight innings. Two of those were to start the top of the fourth, but Vieaux struck out two and forced a groundout to get out of the jam.

"Those early runs were huge," said Vieaux. "I was pretty bummed out and mad at myself for losing control in the first. It was just awesome to have the guys respond like that. Once we got those runs, I was ready to shut it down. I just kept staying with the plan and throwing my pitches. I cleaned a few things up mechanically and started throwing more consistent."

Vieaux pitched five innings, allowing six hits and just one earned run while striking out five to earn his first win of the season. Andrew Gonzalez and Dakota Mekkes both came out of the bullpen in relief. Mekkes pitched 2.2 innings of hitless ball and struck out six.

Second baseman Jordan Zimmerman extended the MSU lead in third to 7-4 with a single to left that scored Bechina, who scored in each of the first three innings to start the game.

"As a leadoff hitter, my goal is to get on base and work to score as best as I can" said Bechina. "We've got some good hitters out here that can drive me in, so that helps out."

MSU tacked on three more in the seventh, started by back-to-back doubles from Troop and Zack McGuire to begin the inning. Matt Byars then singled and advanced to third via a stolen base and wild pitch before being singled home by Bechina.

Troop went 3-for-3 in the contest with two walks and was one of three Spartans to record three hits along with Bechina and Jake Kruk.

"From top to bottom, Marty Bechina had a big day with a big home run," said Boss. "Troop in the middle of the order going 3-for-3 was big. Jake Kruk at the bottom of the order, anytime those guys can get on and do some things on the bases, it sets things up for your guys to drive them in. Big team effort offensively today."

MSU stole six bases in the game.

Michigan State is back in action tomorrow in Greenville when they take on Furman at noon.