Michigan State University
15-6
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Western Michigan
12-9
MSU Topped By WMU, 3-2, Tuesday
3/28/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State baseball had its four-game win streak halted with a 3-2 loss to Western Michigan Tuesday afternoon at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field.
WMU scored two runs in the top of the second and one in the top of the fourth and the early runs held up to snap MSU's four-game win streak. With the loss, the Spartans are now 15-6 overall, while the Broncos improved to 12-9.
The visiting Broncos had 10 hits in the game, while WMU pitching limited MSU's bats to just eight hits, Michigan State was coming off the last four games in which the Spartans had averaged 13 runs per game with over 13 hits per game, including a three-game sweep at Illinois to open Big Ten Conference action.
"It was a tough day today, we didn't play well enough. Credit Western Michigan, I thought they executed when they needed to and made some pitches when they needed to, got a couple big at bats and took advantage of their opportunities and limited ours. They played better than we did and that's a hard pill for us to swallow; we take a lot of pride in playing well at home and winning at home, and just didn't get it done today," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr., said.
Tuesday's home game was the first of a four-game homestand and the first of a stretch of 10 home games in the Spartans next 12 contests.
"It's good to play at home. Our guys are excited to play at home, I don't think there was anything effort related today. We were ready to play, we just got out-executed," Boss said.
Junior outfielder Brandon Hughes continued hit hot streak with a 2-for-4 showing with an RBI and a run scored, adding two stolen bases. Hughes is coming off a weekend in which he was named one of Collegiate Baseball's National Players Of The Week as well as a USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Gold Standard Performance of the Week, highlighted by belting three home runs in Sunday's game, including two left-handed and one right-handed. Tuesday's two-hit outing was his sixth multi-hit game in the last eight and his team-leading 11th game with more than one hit this season.
"Brandon had a decent day today, but I think there's some at bats that he'd like to have back. As a leadoff hitter, he's got to be able to put the ball in play consistently and make us go. Two hits are good, he's feeling pretty good at the plate right now, but at the same time, I think every guy needs to take a look at what they could have done differently to help us win that ballgame today," Boss said.
In addition to Hughes, junior first baseman Zack McGuire was 2-for-4, while senior second baseman Dan Durkin was 1-for-4 with an RBI and sophomore shortstop Royce Ando was 1-for-3.
"You look at every game that we've played and as biased as I am, I think we had a chance to win every one of them, and same thing today. Again, credit Western Michigan, they're playing very well right now. They had a chance to win in Ann Arbor last week, they were right there and let one slip away down there," Boss said about WMU's 6-4 loss to then No. 18 Michigan on March 22. "We knew they were going to come in highly motivated to play and just played better than we did."
Tuesday was bittersweet for Boss, as WMU head coach Billy Gernon was a longtime assistant for Boss.
"Billy is a very good friend. Before and after the game it's always awkward, I don't think either one of us enjoy that a whole lot, and during the game, you kind of forget about things like that and more worried about things with our teams. I'm very happy for Billy and his success at Western Michigan, winning the MAC Tournament last year and I'm really proud of the job he's done at Western and happy for him. He meant a lot to me and our program, and we're very close friends. I just hope they go 54-2 every year," Boss said laughing.
The visiting Broncos got on the board first after a two-run home run by Nate Grys in the top of the second.
MSU got both runs back in the bottom of the third, as freshman outfielder and this week's reigning Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Week, Bryce Kelley started the rally with a one-out walk. Kelley advanced to second on a groundout by junior catcher Will Salter, who made it first career start for the Spartans. Hughes then singled to center to plate Kelley and get the Spartans on the board. After Hughes stole second, Durkin drove him in with a single to knot the score at 2-all.
The tie was short-lived as the Broncos retook the lead in the top of the fourth, stringing together three-straight singles for one run. MSU's defense slammed the door on the rally, keeping it 3-2 in the fourth.
The Spartans had several chances to rally, getting runners on but leaving them stranded without scoring, including first and third with no outs in the sixth, but unable to push across any other runs, keeping the score 3-2. WMU's bullpen held MSU without a hit in the final three innings. Gabe Berman, WMU's career saves leader, added on to that mark with his third save of the season. WMU starter Kyle Wallwitz got the win for the Broncos, improving to 5-0 on the year.
Spartan senior reliever Walter Borkovich was dealt the loss, sliding to 4-1 on the season.
MSU resumes Big Ten Conference action with its B1G home opener this weekend, hosting Minnesota in a three-game series, on Friday-Sunday, March 31-April 2. Friday's series opener is slated for 3:05 p.m., with Saturday and Sunday's games with 1:05 first pitches.
Fans should stay tuned to www.MSUSpartans.com or follow MSU Baseball on twitter at statebaseball for any schedule updates.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: BARTELS (2-1)
L: Borkovich, Walter (4-1)
S: BERMAN (3)
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Batting:
HR: GRYS 1
RBI: MILLER 1 ; GRYS 2
Base Running:
RUNS: VOGELMEIER 1 ; GOODWIN 1 ; GRYS 1
HBP: SMITH 1
Batting:
2B: Troop, Alex 1
RBI: Hughes, Brandon 1 ; Durkin, Dan 1
SH: Ando, Royce 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hughes, Brandon 1 ; Kelley, Bryce 1
SB: Hughes, Brandon 2
