Friday, March 1
Tempe, AZ
8:30 PM ET / 6:30 PM MT
Michigan State University
at
No. 24 Arizona State
Michigan State Heads To Desert For Four Games In Arizona
2/28/2019 3:04:00 PM | Baseball
Spartans to tangle with Sun Devils of Arizona State in three-game weekend series, Wildcats of Arizona in single-game Tuesday.
| MICHIGAN STATE (1-6, 0-0 B1G) at No. 24 ARIZONA STATE (8-0, 0-0 PAC-12)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â | |
| Location | Phoenix Municipal Stadium || Phoenix, Ariz. |
| Tickets | Arizona State Ticket Office |
| Weather | High/Low - Fri: 78/56 | Sat: 70/52 | Sun: 74/52 |
| Game Notes | Michigan State |  Arizona State |
| Social Media |   ​ @statebaseball |  ​MichiganStateBaseball  ​@statebaseballgogreen |
| Game 1 | Friday, March 1 - 8:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. MT |
| Probable Pitching Matchup | MSU: #30 RHP Mason Erla (SO) (1-1, 9.64 ERA) vs. ASU: #8 RHP Alec Marsh (JR) (2-0, 1.23 ERA) |
| Television | None |
| Coverage | Live Stats | Watch Live |
| Game 2 | Saturday, March 2 - 8:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. MT |
| Probable Pitching Matchup | MSU: #20 RHP Mike Mokma (JR) (0-1, 2.45 ERA) vs. ASU: #19 RHP Boyd Vander Kooi (SO) (1-0, 7.27 ERA) |
| Coverage | Live Stats | Listen Live | Watch Live |
| Game 3 | Sunday, March 3 - 2:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. MT |
| Probable Pitching Matchup | MSU: #24 RHP Indigo Diaz (JR) (0-1, 12.96 ERA) vs. ASU: #11 RHP RJ Dabovich (SO) (2-0, 3.00 ERA) |
| Coverage | Live Stats | Watch Live |
| MICHIGAN STATE (1-6, 0-0 B1G) at ARIZONA (6-3, 0-0 PAC-12)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â | |
| Location | Hi Corbett Field || Tucson, Ariz. |
| Tickets | Arizona Ticket Office |
| Weather | High/Low - Tue: 82/55 |
| Game Notes | Michigan State |  Arizona |
| Social Media | ​ @statebaseball | ​MichiganStateBaseball ​@statebaseballgogreen |
| Game 1 | Tuesday, March 5 - 8 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. MT |
| Probable Pitching Matchup | MSU: TBA vs. ASU: TBA |
| Television | None |
| Coverage | Live Stats | Watch Live |
• Michigan State baseball will open its Spring Break trip by heading to the desert for a three-game series in Phoenix against No. 24 Arizona State at Phoenix Municipal Stadium on Friday through Sunday, March 1-3, before heading to Tucson for a single game at Arizona on Tuesday, March 5.
• The MSU vs. ASU series is the first-ever meeting on the baseball diamond, while Michigan State has a 2-0 all-time series advantage vs. Arizona ... After not facing each other since 1954, this is the second-straight season that the Spartans and Wildcats have played.
•The weekend series opens on Friday, March 1 with first pitch at 8:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. MT, followed by game two on Saturday, March 2, also beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. MT ... MSU and ASU wrap up the series on Sunday, March 3 at 2:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. MT ... Michigan State then travels south to Tucson to tangle with Arizona on Tuesday, March 5 at UA's Hi Corbett Field.
• The Spartan-Sun Devil series is the first ever on the baseball diamond, but the third meeting this season between MSU and ASU athletic teams, joining football and hockey, and all three sports have met in Tempe.
• The three games at Arizona State will have live video streaming through "Watch Live" and "Live Stats" links, while Saturday's game will have "Listen Live" link ... The Arizona game will have "Watch Live" and "Live Stats links ... All links can be found at MSUSpartans.com.Â
Series History Vs. Upcoming Opponents
Michigan State has a limited series history with the two upcoming opponents, as the Spartans are meeting Arizona State for the first time ever and are 2-0 against Arizona ... MSU and UA first met in the 1954 College World Series, with MSU winning, 2-1, and last met a year ago, March 4, 2018 at the Dairy Queen Classic/B1G-Pac 12 Challenge at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, with the Spartans rallying for a 3-2 walk-off win, capping a three-run ninth inning.
Spartans And Sun Devils Sparking Several Series This Season
This weekend's baseball battle between Spartans and Sun Devils is the third match-up this athletic year between Michigan State and Arizona State's athletics teams, joining football and hockey, and all three sports have met in Tempe ... MSU football lost at ASU, 16-13, on Sept. 8, 2018, while Spartan hockey was topped in a two-game series on Nov. 9-10, 2018, falling 5-4 and 2-0, respectively.Â
The limited competition between Michigan State and Arizona State isn't confined to just the baseball diamond, as the Spartans and Sun Devils' athletics teams have a small series history across the board, meeting a total of 34 times, with ASU leading 24-10 ... MSU and ASU had not met on the playing field in many sports prior to this season's three sports ... Prior to this season's multiple meetings, the previous Spartans vs. Sun Devils action was women's basketball, with ASU winning 71-63, in the NCAA Tournament in Columbia, S.C.
Here's a closer look at the Spartans vs. Sun Devils sports series:
Sport   Series   First Met   Last Met
Baseball   0-0   March 1, 2019   --
Football   ASU, 2-1   Sept. 14, 1985 - MSU, 12-3   Sept. 8, 2018 - ASU, 16-13
Hockey   ASU, 2-0   Nov. 9, 2018 - ASU, 5-4   Nov. 10, 2018 - ASU, 2-0
------
Men's Basketball   MSU, 1-0   Dec. 30, 1972 - MSU, 83-74   Dec. 30, 1972 - MSU, 83-74
Women's Basketball   ASU, 1-0   Mar. 17, 2017 - ASU, 71-63   Mar. 17, 2017 - ASU, 71-63 %
Women's Soccer   ASU, 1-0   Sept. 12, 1999 - ASU, 3-1   Sept. 12, 1999 - ASU, 3-1
Softball   ASU, 15-2   May 4, 1976 - MSU, 4-0   Feb. 19, 2016 - ASU, 5-2
Volleyball   ASU, 2-0   Oct. 30, 1980 - ASU, 2-0   Sept. 8, 2006 - ASU, 3-0
Wrestling   MSU, 6-1   Jan. 13, 1968 - MSU, 16-13   Jan. 2, 2000 - MSU, 17-15
Total   ASU, 24-10
% = NCAA Tournament
Limited Series History Between Spartans And Wildcats Across The Board
Michigan State and Arizona have an even more limited series history across the board, playing only 20 times before Tuesday's meeting on the baseball field ... Football was the first athletics match-up between MSU and UA in 1946, with MSU winning, 7-0, with last season's baseball meeting as the most recent  ... Baseball and football are the only two sports that MSU has a series advantage in, while women's baseball is tied, and UA leads in men's basketball, softball, men's tennis and volleyball.
Here's a closer look at the Spartans vs. Wildcats sports series:
Sport   Series   First Met   Last Met
Baseball   MSU, 2-0   June 11, 1954 - MSU, 2-1 $   March 4, 2018 - MSU, 3-2
Men's Basketball   UA, 5-2   Jan. 2, 1947 - UA, 45-43   Nov. 11, 2016 - UA, 65-63
Women's Basketball   Tied, 1-1   Jan. 2, 1993 - UA, 89-46   March 21, 2004 - MSU, 72-60 %
Football   MSU, 3-0   1936 - MSU, 7-0   1949 - MSU, 75-0
Softball   UA, 2-1   May 17, 1975 - MSU, 3-2   1979 - UA, 3-0
Men's Tennis   UA, 1-0   March 4, 1994 - UA, 4-3   March 4, 1994 - UA, 4-3
Volleyball   UA, 3-2   Dec. 9, 1976 - MSU, 2-0   Dec. 3, 2016 - UA, 3-2 %
Total   UA, 12-8
$ = College World Series
% = NCAA Tournament
Michigan State vs. Arizona State Series Breakdown
All-Time Series: Tied, 0-0 / Home 0-0 / Away 0-0 / Neutral 0-0
First Met: Friday, March 1, 2019
Last Meeting: N/A
Michigan State vs. Arizona Series Breakdown
All-Time Series: MSU leads, 2-0 / Home 0-0 Â / Away 0-0 / Neutral 2-0
First Met: June 11, 1954 - Omaha, Neb. (CWS) - MSU W, 2-1
Last Meeting: March 4, 2018 - Minneapolis, Minn. - MSU W, 3-2
Last Time Vs. Arizona
Michigan State scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to overcome Arizona, 3-2, on March 4, 2018 on the final day of the Dairy Queen Classic/B1G-Pac 12 Challenge at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. With the bases loaded and one out, redshirt-senior designated hitter Chad Roskelly drove in the game-winning run with a walk-off fielder's choice, plating senior infielder Kory Young for the victory for MSU.
Just like his previous two outings, Michigan State starting pitcher redshirt-freshman Mason Erla pitched a gem, allowing two runs and scattering three hits over 6.0 innings. Sophomore Mike Mokma was also strong in relief going 3.0 innings and allowing only one hit to improve to 1-1. Arizona starter Randy Labaut went eight innings, allowing two runs. Preston Price took the loss falling to 0-1 on the year.
The Spartans' walk-off victory was their first since a 7-6 victory over Western Michigan at Comerica Park in 2017, and the walk-off victory over Arizona was identical with a walk-off fielder's choice and off the bat of Roskelly, with him beating out the throw at first in both wins.
Grand Canyon State Connections
While MSU doesn't have any players on its roster from Arizona, one Spartan played junior college baseball in the state, in senior catcher Nic Lacayo, who is a native of Colorado Springs, Colo., and attended South Mountain Community College in Phoenix ... Additionally, MSU manager Joe Spizzirri is a native of Phoenix.
In The National RankingsÂ
MSU's pitching staff is 64th in the NCAA in strikeouts per nine innings (9.9) ... At the plate, the Spartans are 70th in triples (2 and 87th in triples per game (0.3).
The pitching trio of sophomore Mason Erla, junior Mike Mokma and junior Indigo Diaz is tied for 13th in the nation in games started (2) ... Junior reliever Caleb Sleeman is tied for 79th in saves (1) ... Senior reliever Evan Flohr is  tied for 86th in appearances (4) ... Offensively, senior infielder Royce Ando and junior infielder Justin Antoncic are tied for 54th in triples (1).
In The B1G RankingsÂ
Along with the national rankings, the Spartan pitching staff is second in the B1G in strikeouts per nine innings (9.9) ... Offensively, MSU is tied dor second in triples (2).
MSU's starting pitching trio of sophomore Mason Erla, junior Mike Mokma and junior Indigo Diaz shares the league leage in games started (2) ... Senior reliever Evan Flohr is tied for third in pitching appearances (4).
At the plate, senior infielder Royce Ando and junior infielder Justin Antoncic are tied for the league lead in triples (1) ... The junior outfield duo of Danny Gleaves and Bryce Kelley are tied for third in sacrifice bunts (1).Â
Solo ShotsÂ
Michigan State hit three home runs in the opening weekend at New Orleans and all three were solo shots ... Senior infielder Royce Ando got things started with his home run in the second inning of the opener, in his smashing return to action after missing most of last season with an injury, belting a HR in his first at bat of 2019 ... Freshman outfielder Zaid Walker smacked the first home run of Spartan career with a solo shot off the scoreboard in left field in the second inning of Sunday's game ... Sophomore catcher Adam Proctor blasted a solo round-tripper in the ninth inning of Sunday's game that concluded the scoring for the Spartans.
Second Inning SlamsÂ
Of the three home runs that the Spartans hit in New Orleans, two of them were in the second inning, as senior infielder Royce Ando had a smashing return to action with a solo shot in Friday night's season-opener, in his first game back after missing all but 13 games of last season ... Freshman outfielder Zaid Walker cracked his first home run as a Spartan on Sunday in the second inning ... Last season, MSU had three home runs in the second inning, tied for the most in a single inning, as the Spartans only had 20 round-trippers last season, spreading them out with three in five different innings: 1st, 2nd, 6th, 7th & 8th.
Back From '18
The Spartans return eight position players and three returning starting pitchers from last season, as MSU led the country in percentage of 1-2 run games (57.8 percent), finishing 20-32 overall and 11-12 in Big Ten play, good for eighth in the league. Michigan State made its fourth appearance in the last five seasons in the Big Ten Tournament and its seventh in the 10 years under head coach Jake Boss Jr. MSU won four of its last seven B1G games of the regular-season to claim the No. 8 seed. The Spartans also had a stretch of winning seven-straight conference contests for the first time since 2009, including sweeping back-to-back B1G series for the first time since 2011.
Big Returning Numbers In The Field
Michigan State returns eight position players, as part of a total of 11 players who have starting experience from 2018 ... Those 11 players combine for 76.9 percent (360 of 468 possible starts), including seven with over 30 starts ... Junior outfielder Bryce Kelley leads the way with 49 starts last season, followed by junior infielder/outfielder Justin Antoncic (48 start), senior infielder Marty Bechina (47), sophomore infielder Zach Iverson (42), sophomore infielder Ryan King (37), senior outfielder Dan Chmielewski (32) and junior outfielder Danny Gleaves (31).
Numbers Returning On The Mound
MSU returns three pitchers with regular starting experience, as part of five total pitchers who started at least one game last season ... Sophomore Mason Erla tops the staff with 15 starts, followed by junior Mike Mokma with seven, junior Sam Benschoter (2), sophomore Jesse Heikkinen (2) and junior Mitchell Tyranski (1).
Let There Be Lights
Thanks in large part to an anonymous contribution of near $1.4 million from a Spartan alum, Michigan State University announced that lights will be installed at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field, the home of MSU baseball and Secchia Stadium, the home of MSU softball, in preparation for the upcoming 2019 season.
The LED lights will be identical to the lighting system currently at Spartan Stadium, home of Spartan football, and DeMartin Stadium, home of Spartan men and women's soccer, as well the Breslin Center, home of MSU men and women's basketball, Munn Ice Arena, home of Spartan hockey, and the Duffy Daugherty Indoor Practice Facility, utilized by MSU football and a majority of MSU athletics teams. Michigan State will be the first baseball and softball teams in the Big Ten Conference with this type of lighting system by Musco Lighting.
MSU baseball will host nine games starting at 5 p.m. or later in 2019.
Road Ready With 19 In '19
Michigan State opens the 2019 season with its first 19 games away from home, including starting with five true road games, followed by two neutral games. After four more true road games, the Spartans have eight neutral games, before their home opener on March 20.Â
Head Coach Jake Boss Jr. Earns 300th Victory For MSU
MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. earned his 300th victory at the helm of the Spartans with MSU's 6-0 blanking of Rutgers on March 30. In 2017, Boss won his 300th career game as a collegiate head coach. In his 11th season as the MSU head coach, Boss now has a 314-241 (.566) record. He coached his 500th game leading the Spartans in the 2018 opening weekend at Fresno State. Boss is also in his 12th overall season as a collegiate head coach and has a 339-275 (.552) ledger, coaching his 600th career game at Minnesota in 2018.
Boss is the fourth head coach in the Spartans' history to reach the 300-win plateau, and reached 300 wins the fastest of the previous coaches, as Boss accomplished the milestone in his 10th season at the helm.
Name   Years   Wins
John H. Kobs   1935-63   576
Daniel W. Litwhiler   1964-82   489
Thomas W. Smith   1983-95   377
Jake Boss Jr.   2009-pres.   314
About No. 24 Arizona State
The 24th-ranked Sun Devils have an unbeaten 8-0 record so far, having scored 95 runs, ranking third in the nation, along with ranking second in the country in scoring, with a 11.9 runs per game average, plating double-digit runs in six of their eight games. Arizona State opened the season against Notre Dame, sweeping the three-game series by a combined score of 46-13 (15.3-4.3), winning 10-1, 20-7 and 16-5. After a 12-2 midweek win over San Diego, the Sun Devils swept UC Davis in a three-game series, winning 3-2, 13-3 and 17-2. Last time out, Arizona State topped Pepperdine, 4-3, on Tuesday evening.
ASU is second in the NCAA in batting average, with a team average of .378, along with fifth in the country in on base percentage (.461). The Sun Devil pitching staff is 29th in the nation with a 2.63 ERA, chalking up 67 strikeouts (8.4 pg), and holding the opposition to a .225 batting average.
Sophomore infielder Spencer Torkelson leads ASU and ranks 36th in the NCAA with a .486 batting average, including ranking ninth in the country in hits per game (2.13), with 17 total hits, as well as ranking 10th in the nation with 15 RBI. Fellow sophomore infielder Gage Workman has a .471 average, ranking 52nd in the NCAA, while junior catcher Lyle Lin is fourth in the nation with 17 RBI and ninth in RBI per game (2.13).Â
On the mound, Friday's probable starter, junior right-hander Alec Marsh is 2-0 with a 1.23 ERA in 14.2 IP with 15 strikeouts and only two walks, yielding a .208 average to the opposition. Saturday's probable starter is sophomore righty Boyd Vander Kooi, who is 1-0 with a 7.27 ERA. He has 11 Ks and six walks in 8.2 IP, with a .306 opponent batting average. Sunday's series finale probable starter is sophomore right-hander RJ Dabovich, who is 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA, tallying seven strikeouts with six walks in 12.0 IP, with a .195 batting average by the opposition. The freshmen reliever tandem of Blake Burzell and Erik Tolman have four appearances each, as well as a save apiece. Burzell has a 0.00 ERA in 5.1 IP with three Ks and one walk, along with a .111 opponent batting average. Tolman has six punchouts and two walks in 8.1 IP, with a .172 average by the opponent.
ASU head coach Tracy Smith is in his fifth season leading the Sun Devils, posting a 125-110 record. Smith, who was at Indiana from 2006-14, has amassed a 729-567-1 overall record in his 23rd season as a collegiate head coach. During his time at Indiana, Smith led the Hoosiers to back-to-back B1G titles in 2013-14, advancing to the College World Series in 2013.
About Arizona
The Wildcats are 6-3 overall after a 5-4 loss to New Mexico Wednesday night. Arizona hosts Wisconsin-Milwaukee in a three-game weekend series, Friday-Sunday, before the Spartans visit Tucson on Tuesday. UA is hitting .311 as a team with 95 RBI and is second in the NCAA with 106 runs in nine games, averaging 11.8 runs per game, ranking right behind Arizona State at third in the nation. UA scored 12, 18, 19 and 20 runs in a four-game sweep of UMass Lowell. Arizona played a single game midweek at Rice last week, winning 16-5, then lost a series at Houston, falling 2-1 and 9-7 in the first two, before bouncing back to take the finale, 9-4, then losing to New Mexico on Wednesday.
Arizona is led by junior infielder Cameron Cann's .417 average, and Cannon shares the NCAA lead with seven doubles, adding 10 RBI. Freshman outfielder Ryan Holgate is tied for 10th in the nation with 15 RBI, adding a team-best three HR, good for tying for 32nd in the country. Junior outfielder Matt Fraizer and freshman catcher/first baseman Austin Wells add 11 and 10 RBI, respectively.
On the mound, freshman righty Quinn Flanagan has a 1-0 record with a 2.45 ERA with six Ks and two walks. Junior lefty Randy Labaut has a staff-best 12 Ks in 12.1 IP with a 1-1 record, while fellow junior southpaw Andrew Nardi adds 11 Ks in 8.2 IP in three appearances.
Arizona head coach Jay Johnson is in his fourth year at the leash of the Wildcats with a 127-70 record. Johnson is in his eighth season overall with a 268-148 ledger.Â
Three Spartan Baseball Players Earn Big Ten Preseason Accolades
Michigan State baseball had three players on the Big Ten Conference Preseason Honors list, as the league announced its preseason honors list and preseason poll on Wednesday, Feb. 13.
The league's coaches voted on the top six teams and also selected three student-athletes from their own squads to a Preseason Honors list.
MSU Preseason honorees included senior infielder Marty Bechina, junior pitcher Indigo Diaz and redshirt-sophomore pitcher Mason Erla.
Bechina, a native of Chicago, Ill., played in 49 games last season, making 47 starts, after recovering from a broken leg in the fall. He led the Spartans with nine doubles and shared the team lead with six home runs on the way to hitting .247 with 25 hits, adding one triple for a total of 16 extra-base hits, which also led the team. Bechina was also third on the team with 23 RBI, as well as leading MSU with a .418 slugging percentage and was third on the team with a .340 on-base percentage. He registered a season-long five game hitting streak (May 5-12), as well as nine multi-hit outings including three games with a career-best tying three hits, two coming in Big Ten action, vs. Nebraska (April 7) and vs. Ohio State (May 17), along with at Western Michigan (April 18). Bechina also posted six multi-RBI games, boosted by career-high tying four RBI vs. Nebraska (April 7).
Diaz, a native of Vancouver, B.C., Canada, is in his first year as a Spartan, coming to MSU from Iowa Western Community College. He earned honorable mention NJCAA All-American honors as a sophomore after logging an 11-1 record in 12 starts as part of 16 appearances as a sophomore, with a paltry 1.52 ERA and firing 101 strikeouts (13.98 K/9) in 65.0 IP while yielding just 20 walks. Diaz also earned Northern All-District accolades. He helped the Reivers to a 54-7 record, winning 36 consecutive games and the fourth-highest victory total in program history, advancing to the JUCO World Series as the Northern District D1 Region XI champions. He was also selected to play on the United States NJCAA National team in the National Baseball Congress (NBC) World Series.Â
Erla, a Cass City, Mich., native, was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team last season. He ranked second in the B1G in opposing batting average at .216; tied for seventh in games started with 15; tied for 14th in innings pitched with 79.2; and tied for 15th in strikeouts looking with 18. He led MSU and ranked tied for 10th in the B1G with six wins. Erla was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week (March 12) following his performance vs. Illinois (March 10) in Greenville, striking out five while stymieing Illinois with just one hit allowed in 6.1 IP. He was also named 10 Innings Big Ten Freshman of the Week (Feb. 26) for his 5.0 IP, four K, 2 H, 0 BB at Pepperdine (Feb. 25) in earning his first collegiate win. Erla ranked 16th in the B1G in strikeouts with 63 punchouts and was also just outside the top 15 in the conference with a 3.73 ERA. He started and went 6.0+ IP in both of MSU's shutouts last season, first going 5.0 IP with four strikeouts, two hits and no walks in MSU's 1-0 win at Pepperdine (Feb. 25), as well as 7.0 IP with six Ks and three walks in 6-0 win vs. Rutgers (April 1).Â
Mother Nature For The Win
Michigan State battled Mother Nature as much as any other opponent last season, as the Spartans had four games cancelled due to inclement weather, as well as numerous other games rescheduled due to weather. The Spartans had two games scheduled with Eastern Michigan cancelled, including April 4 at East Lansing and April 24 at Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers, as well as one game against Nebraska on April 6 cancelled and one game versus Valparaiso on April 14 cancelled.Â
MSU also rescheduled single-day games to playing doubleheaders vs. Rutgers (April 30), Valparaiso (April 13) and Penn State (May 5), as well as pushing back the start time of the game vs. Nebraska on April 7 and at Michigan on March 25 due to weather.
King Kelley
Among Michigan State's returners is junior outfielder Bryce Kelley, who became MSU's single-season stolen base record holder last season with 33 swipes, topping former teammate's Brandon Hughes' record that lasted all of one season, with 30 stolen bases in 2017.
Kelley led the Big Ten and ranked third in the NCAA with 0.66 stolen bases per game, as well as leading the conference and ranking 10th in the country with the 33 stolen bases. Kelley nearly doubled his season output in the Niagara series, swiping six in the four games, including two each on March 15 and 16 before swiping five in the three games vs. Michigan.
Kelley stole at least one base in 24 total games last season. He had multi stolen bases in seven games, led by a career-high three at Michigan on March 23.Â
The three stolen bases in one game is one of three times in 2018 that a Spartan swiped three in a game, joining Danny Gleaves, who accomplished it twice, with three base swipes vs. Illinois on March 9 in Greenville and at Penn State on May 5.
With Kelley's 33 swipes last season combined with 13 from his freshman season of 2017, along with his one swipe in the opening weekend, he now has 47 career stolen bases, taking over sole possession of No. 5 on MSU's career stolen base list after entering the season tied with a pair of Steves - Steve Money (1991-94) and Steve Preston (1986-88) with 46 stolen bases ... If Kelley matches last season's total of 33 stolen bases in 2019, he would tie Anthony Cheky (2012-15) for the career school record with 79 stolen bases.
Fellow junior outfielder Danny Gleaves was close behind with 25 stolen bases last season, good for No. 5 spot on the single-season list ... Gleaves is also No. 9 on the career stolen base list, now with 33 base swipes after one stolen base in the opening weekend
INDIVIDUAL SINGLE SEASON STOLEN BASES
1.   Bryce Kelley   33   2018
2.   Brandon Hughes   30   2017
3.   Anthony Cheky   29   2014
4.   Steve Preston   27   1988
5.   Danny Gleaves   25   2018
6.   Anthony Cheky   23   2013
   Jeff Holm   23   2010
   Steve Money   23   1994
9.   Jimmy Pickens   22   2014
   Brandon Eckerle   22   2011
   Brandon Eckerle   22   2010
INDIVIDUAL CAREER STOLEN BASES
1.   Anthony Cheky   79   2012-15
2.   Jeff Holm   63   2008-11
3.   Brandon Eckerle   61   2008-11
4.   Brandon Hughes   50   2015-17
5.   Bryce Kelley   47   2017-pres.
6.   Steve Money   46   1991-94
   Steve Preston   46   1986-88
8.   Cam Gibson   45   2013-15
9.   Danny Gleaves   33   2017-pres.
10.   Jimmy Pickens   30   2012-15
   Joe Gavel   30   1968-69
--   Dan Chmielewski   24   2016-pres.
Swiping Duo Of 20/20Â
Last season, the outfielder duo of Bryce Kelley and Danny Gleaves bid for the modern Hugh Downs and Barbara Walters role, being part of the 20/20 club, as the Spartan duo were not just the only pair in the Big Ten with 20 or more stolen bases, but they were just part of six sets of two or more players in the country with 20+ stolen bases:
Fordham - Jake MacKenzie (34), Billy Godrick (27), Alvin Melendez (26) and Jake Baker (21)
Louisville - Josh Stowers (36), Jake Snider (24) and Tyler Fitzgerald (23)
Michigan State - Bryce Kelley (33) and Danny Gleaves (25)
Southern Illinois - Connor Kopach (33), Alex Lyon (29) and Nikola Vasic (21)
George Washington - Isaiah Pasteur (31) and Robbie Metz (24)
Norfolk State - Justin Hayes (28) and Tony Leite (24)
Swiping Way Into Record Books
Boosted by Bryce Kelley and Danny Gleaves' swipes last season, Michigan Stats amassed 100 stolen bases as a team, setting a new MSU team single-season stolen base record, breaking the record held by 2005 squad with 98 stolen bases ... MSU led the B1G and ranked 14th in the NCAA with the 100 swipes.Â
TEAM STOLEN BASES
   1.   2018   100
   2.   2005   98
   3.   2017   96
   4.   2014   88
   5.   2010   86
      1978   86
   7.   1988   80
   8.   2006   78
      1969   78
   10.   2011   77
Ringing Up The Team Strikeouts
The Spartan pitching staff ended the 2018 season with 407 strikeouts, becoming the fourth-straight squad to reach the 400 K plateau. The 2015 staff had 409, while ringing up 420 strikeouts last season and the 2016 squad has the top mark with 466 Ks.
TEAM STRIKEOUTS
   1.   2016   466
   2.   2017   420
   3.   2015   409
4.   2018   407
   5.   2002    390
   6.   2012   389
   7.   1998   380
   8.   2004   378
9.   2014   355
10.   2010   335
Nail-BitersÂ
For the second time in as many seasons, Spartan fans may have paid for their entire seat, but they have only needed the edge of them, as 30 of MSU's 52 games in the 2018 season were 1-or 2-run games, with the Spartans posting a 6-10 mark in the 16 1-run contests, as well as 14 other 2-run games, which MSU was 6-8.Â
The Spartans' 30 games decided by two runs or less out of 52 games was not only the most in the B1G but is tied for the second-most in the country by number, while leading the country by percentage (57.8 pct.) (according to combined research collection by Zach Fisher of Michigan State and Chris Rash of Elon), tying Elon for the most and just behind Gonzaga's 31.
The 16 decided by 1-run was 12th-most in the country by number and percentage, with William & Mary having the most 1-run games in the country with 23. MSU's B1G opponent from the first weekend in May, Penn State, had 18 1-run games, while last season's opening opponent, Fresno State, was in 17 1-run games. Michigan State played Fresno State in the opening weekend of the season and three of the four games of the weekend series were 1-run games. The Spartans also edged Arizona, 3-2, on March 4.
In 2017, Michigan State was involved in a total of 17 1-run games, as well as three 2-run games. MSU was 5-12 in 1-run games and 3-0 in 2-run contests.
1-Run Games
William & Mary   23 of 54 games (42.6%)  Â
Elon   21 of 59 games (35.6%)  Â
Virginia   20 of 54 games (37.0%)  Â
Cincinnati   20 of 56 games (35.7%)  Â
Saint Mary's (Ca.)Â Â Â 19 of 54 games (35.2%)Â Â Â
Fordham   19 of 55 games (34.5%)  Â
Gonzaga   19 of 57 games (33.3%)$  Â
UNCWÂ Â Â 19 of 62 games (30.6%)$Â Â Â
Penn State   18 of 49 games (36.7%)  Â
Arizona   18 of 56 games (32.1%)  Â
Fresno State   17 of 54 games (31.5%)  Â
Santa Clara   16 of 52 games (30.8%)  Â
Michigan State   16 of 52 games (30.8%)  Â
Virginia Tech   16 of 54 games (29.6%)  Â
UMass Lowell   16 of 54 games (29.6%)  Â
Arizona State   15 of 55 games (27.3%)  Â
Loyola Marymount   15 of 55 games (27.3%)  Â
Cal Poly   15 of 57 games (26.3%)  Â
Stetson   13 of 61 games (21.3%)$$  Â
Coastal Carolina   13 of 62 games (21.0%)$  Â
$$ = NCAA Super Regional TeamÂ
$ = NCAA Regional Team
Games Decided by 1-2 Runs
Gonzaga   31 of 57 games (54.4%)$  Â
Michigan State   30 of 52 games (57.8%)  Â
Elon   30 of 59 games (50.8%)  Â
Cincinnati   29 of 56 games (51.8%)  Â
Fordham   29 of 55 games (52.7%)  Â
UNCWÂ Â Â 28 of 62 games (45.2%)$Â Â Â
Santa Clara   27 of 52 games (51.9%)  Â
Saint Mary's (Ca.)Â Â Â 27 of 54 games (50.0%)Â Â Â
William & Mary   26 of 54 games (46.6%)  Â
Virginia   25 of 54 games (46.3%)  Â
Cal Poly   25 of 57 games (43.9%)  Â
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Players Mentioned
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