Wednesday, March 27
East Lansing, Mich.
4:05 PM ET
Michigan State University
vs
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Western Michigan
Photo by: Jeremy Fleming
Spartans Battle Broncos Wednesday In Home Opener
3/26/2019 4:20:00 PM | Baseball
MSU making home opener after 21 games away from home.
| MICHIGAN STATE (3-18, 0-3 B1G) vs WESTERN MICHIGAN (6-16, 0-3 MAC)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â |Â Â TICKETS | |
| Location | McLane Stadium at Kobs Field || East Lansing, Mich. |
| Weather | Wed - Hi/Low: 53° / 42° |
| Game Notes | Michigan State | Western Michigan |
| Social Media |   @statebaseball |    MichiganStateBaseball |    @statebaseballgogreen  |
| Game 1Â Â | Wednesday, March 27- 4:05 p.m. ET |
| Probable Pitching Matchup | MSU: #47 LHP Jesse Heikkinen (SO) (0-1, 6.55 ERA) vs. WMU: #32 LHP Drew Szczepaniak (FR) (0-2, 10.38 ERA) |
| Coverage | Live Stats  |  Watch Live |  Listen Live |
Leading Off... Spartans Battle Broncos Wednesday In Home Opener
• After playing the previous 21 games away from home, Michigan State baseball will make its 2019 home debut on Wednesday, March 27, hosting Western Michigan ... First pitch at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field is slated for 4:05 p.m. ... Wednesday's game will kick off the Spartans' stretch of six-straight games against in-state foes ... Note: any schedule updates will be posted on MSUSpartans.com and on twitter @statebaseball.
• Fans can follow this week's MSU home opener through "Live Stats," "Listen Live" and "Watch Live" links found at MSUSpartans.com ... The battle between the Spartans and Broncos will also be video streamed on BTN2Go, and also carried on the Spartan Sports Network live audio stream ... The broadcast will be available exclusively at SpartanSportsNetwork.com and on the network's 24/7 app for mobile devices (available on iTunes and Google Play) ... Broadcast veteran Scott Moore calls the action alongside former MSU manager/bullpen catcher David Greenberg in select games.
• Michigan State had it originally scheduled home opener vs. Central Michigan on Wednesday, March 20 postponed due to inclement weather ... With last week's home-opener postponement, MSU has played its first 21 games of the season away from home to open the season ... The 21 games away from home before the home opener is tied for the fifth-most in the country, while WMU is tops in the nation, currently at 22 but will be 31 games away from home before home opener.
• This is the first time that MSU has opened its home ledger at McLane Stadium vs. Western Michigan ... The March 27 meeting date between MSU and WMU is the earliest date of the battle between the Spartans and Broncos since 2009, when they played on March 25, 2009 at Oldsmobile Park (now Cooley Law School Stadium).
• Ironically, 2009 is also meaningful in that current WMU head coach Billy Gernon was an assistant for the Spartans in 2009, along with current MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr., MSU assistant coach/pitching coach Mark Van Ameyde and Gernon, who were on the same Spartans' staff from 2009-10, before Gernon left to become head coach at WMU.
• MSU has won its last seven home openers and the Spartans are 10-1 in their first game of the year played at McLane Stadium under head coach Jake Boss Jr.
• Michigan State has a No. 16 strength of schedule ranking, sitting second in the Big Ten behind Minnesota at No. 15 ... MSU is the only team in the country to play the last two unbeaten teams in the country in NC State (23-1) and Arizona State (22-1).
Carolina In My Mind And Travel Itinerary
Michigan State has the James Taylor tune on repeat, as the Spartans' trip to Greenville on March 15-17 was the third and final of three trips to the Palmetto State for the Spartans this season ... MSU was in Conway, S.C. Feb. 22-24 playing in the Coastal Carolina-hosted Brittain Resorts Baseball at the Beach ... The Spartans were in Greenville March 8-10 on the second half of Spring Break trip, hosting the First Pitch Invitational at Fluor Field, which was originally scheduled for Friday-Sunday, but inclement weather condensed the schedule to Saturday-Sunday ... MSU traveled home to East Lansing on the night of March 10 for class and practice Monday-Wednesday, returning to Greenville on the evening of Thursday, March 14, then playing UConn in a four-game series at Fluor Field Friday-Sunday, March 15-17.
Road WarriorsÂ
Michigan State is one of 17 teams in the nation who have played 18 or more consecutive games away from home to open the season, and MSU's 21 games is tied for the fifth-most ... After last week's original home opener was postponed due to inclement weather, MSU has played 21 games away from home before Wednesday's home opener vs. Western Michigan ... Ironically, WMU leads the nation currently with 22 games away from home, as the Broncos also had their original home game on March 12 postponed due to weather, and will 31 games away from home until their first home game on April 12.
Team   No. of Games
Western Michigan   31*
North Dakota State   26^
Eastern Michigan   23
Central Michigan   22
Lafayette   22
Toledo   22
Hofstra   21
Michigan State   21
Milwaukee   21
South Dakota State   21
UConn   21
UMass   21
Canisius   20
Gonzaga   20
Niagara   20
Fairfield   19
Bradley   18
* Currently 22 and scheduled to be 31 games until 1st home game on April 12
^ Currently 16 and scheduled to be 26 games until 1st home game on April 5
MSU To Make-Up Central Michigan Game On April 3Â
Michigan State will make-up the game versus Central Michigan on Wednesday, April 3 at 4:05 p.m. at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field. The Spartans will host the Chippewas in the make-up game originally scheduled for March 20 that was postponed due to inclement weather.
Six Great Lakes State BattlesÂ
Wednesday's game against Western Michigan is the first of six-straight games against in-state foes for Michigan State. After Wednesday's game against the Broncos, the Spartans will play Michigan in a three-game series Friday-Sunday, March 29-31, then play Western Michigan again on Tuesday, April 2 at Comerica Park in Detroit, before wrapping up the six-game in-state foe stretch on Wednesday, April 3 vs. Central Michigan at home in the make-up game from last Wednesday, March 20, postponement due to inclement weather.
Home Staters
Michigan State has 19 players on its 2019 roster from the state of Michigan, while Western Michigan has 21 players who are natives of the Great Lakes State.
There are five players involved in Wednesday's game from the same hometown. The first set are natives of Holland, Michigan and Holland Christian High School alums in MSU junior pitcher Mike Mokma and WMU sophomore pitcher Jack Huisman.
The second set are Portage, Michigan, natives with MSU sophomore infielder Joe Stewart and WMU sophomore infielder Justin McIntyre both being alums of Portage Central HS, while WMU senior infielder Andrew Stone is a Portage native, but went to Portage Northern HS.
Coaching Connections
Current MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr., WMU head coach Billy Gernon and MSU assistant coach/pitching coach Mark Van Ameyde were on the same Spartans' staff from 2009-10, before Gernon left to become head coach at WMU.
Michigan State vs. Western Michigan Series Breakdown
Overall: 83-94 / Home: 40-44 / Away: 36-45 / Neutral: 7-5 / Series Streak: MSU W1, MSU W10-of-12
First Met: May 13, 1910 - East Lansing, Mich. - MSU W, 12-7
Last Met: April 18, 2018 - Kalamazoo, Mich. - MSU W, 10-7
Last Met in East Lansing: March 28, 2018 - East Lansing, Mich. - WMU W, 6-1
Series Notes: The Spartans and Broncos are meeting for the first of two times this season and the 178th all-time meeting ... WMU and MSU will meet twice in a span of less than a week, as they'll hook up next Tuesday, April 2 at Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers ... Last year's first meeting was won by the Broncos, 6-1, in East Lansing on March 28, before the Spartans rebounded with a 10-7 victory in Kalamazoo on April 18 ... Western Michigan leads the all-time series, 94-83, but MSU is 13-6 vs. WMU under head coach Jake Boss Jr., including 10-4 in match-ups between Boss and former Spartan assistant and current WMU head coach Billy Gernon.
Quick Look At Western MichiganÂ
The Broncos are 6-16 overall and 0-3 in Mid-American Conference action after getting swept at Ball State over the weekend, as WMU has lost six in a row. Last weekend at Ball State, the Broncos lost the opener, 8-5, on Friday, then dropped game two, 10-3, on Saturday, before falling in a 20-15 shootout on Sunday.
Western Michigan is hitting .298 as a team, which ranks second in the MAC and 24th in the NCAA. The Broncos have belted 21 home runs so far this season, which not only leads the MAC, but is one shy of matching last season's total of 22 round-trippers.
Sophomore outfielder Blake Dunn leads WMU with a .402 average, which leads the MAC and ranks 45th in the NCAA. Dunn is also seventh in the MAC in slugging percentage (.587) and fourth in on-base percentage (.466), as well as ranking 14th in the nation with 1.68 hits per game. Dunn is bringing a 22-game reached base streak into Wednesday's game.Â
WMU has a 7.22 team ERA, with opponents hitting .331 against Bronco pitchers. Wednesday's probable starter is freshman left-hander Drew Szczepaniak who is 0-2 with a 10.38 ERA. Szczepaniak has made six appearances with one start, posting 12 KS and five walks, with an opposition average of .400 in 8.2 IP.
Former MSU assistant coach (2009-10) Billy Gernon is in his ninth season at the reins of the Broncos, logging a 235-325 record.
Coach Boss Quote
"It's exciting to play at home. We take a lot of pride in playing at home. Our guys like playing in here. We're very partial to our facility. We think it's one of the best atmospheres in college baseball and best settings in college baseball. Now with the addition of lights, just makes a beautiful facility even better. We're excited to play at home in front of our home crowd and that's all. "
Road Warriors With 21 In '19
Michigan State opened the 2019 season with its first 18 games away from home, including starting with five true road games, followed by two neutral games. After four more true road games, the Spartans had seven neutral games, before their home opener was scheduled for Wednesday, March 20, but was postponed due to inclement weather. With lastweekend's three games at Nebraska, the Spartans will now play 21 games away from home before their new home opener on Wednesday, March 27 vs. Western Michigan.
About Michigan State
The Spartans are 3-18 on the young season after opening Big Ten action with three loss at Nebraska over the weekend, 4-1, 5-2 and 6-2.
Junior outfielder Bryce Kelley leads the Spartans with a .325 average with a team-leading six stolen bases. Senior infielder Marty Bechina adds a .271 average and tops the team with 14 RBI. Sophomore catcher Adam Proctor has belted four home runs, while Bechina has three round-trippers.Â
On the mound, Wednesday's probable starter is sophomore southpaw Jesse Heikkinen, who has an 0-1 mark with a 6.55 ERA. One of Heikkinen's four career starts was against WMU last season, starting the April 18 game at Kalamazoo, and also appearing in the March 28 game at East Lansing.
Out of the bullpen, junior righty Indigo Diaz has 28 Ks in 21.0 IP, senior right-hander Evan Flohr has 14 strikeouts in 14.1 IP and freshman right-hander Colten Panaranto has a 1-0 record with 10 punchouts in 12.1 IP. Junior righty Caleb Sleeman has the lone save this season for the Spartans, with 11 Ks 14.2 IP. Flohr and Sleeman top the pitching staff with 10 appearances apiece.
Mokma's Gem
Junior right-hander Mike Mokma fired a career-high 11 Ks in his complete game gem vs. Ohio State last Saturday, March 9 ... The 11 strikeouts topped his previous career-best of six punchouts in two games this season, vs. No. 21 NC State (Feb. 23) and at No. 24 Arizona State (March 2), as he now has five or more Ks in all four outings this season ... Mokma struck out the side in the first inning, adding two more in the second stanza as well as the third for seven Ks through three frames, as part of not facing more than four OSU batters in eight of the nine innings, facing five batters in the sixth, but got a double play and a ground out to thwart the threat ... He retired the Buckeyes in three-up, three-down order in four total innings, including the eighth and ninth.
More Mokma Gem Notes
Mokma's complete game was the first complete game by an MSU pitcher since Alex Troop at South Carolina on March 10, 2017, when Troop went 8.0 IP ... Mokma was the first nine-inning complete game outing since Cam Vieaux vs. Purdue on April 15, 2016.Â
Mokma's 11 Ks was the first double-digit strikeout outing by a Spartan hurler since Riley McCauley has 12 Ks in last year's season-opener at Fresno State (Feb. 16, 2018).
The Complete Mokma
Mokma's complete game is one of just two in the Big Ten so far this season, joining Tommy Henry of Michigan vs. The Citadel (Feb. 22) ... Mokma is currently in an 82-way tie for eighth in the NCAA in complete games, as in one of 82 pitchers in the nation with one complete game, while there are seven pitchers in the country with two complete games.
High SOS For SpartansÂ
After a top 5 strength of schedule in Division I college baseball a couple weeks ago, according to warrennolan.com, Michigan State enters this week with a No. 17 SOS (as of 3/26), including No. 2 in the B1G ... The Spartan opposition is a combined 256-149 with a winning percentage of .6314 and a .5859 SOS.
Rank   Team   SOS   Opp Record   Opp Win PercentÂ
1   Oregon   0.6489   293 - 117   0.7141
2   Oregon State   0.6318   249 - 139   0.6418
3Â Â Â UCLAÂ Â Â 0.6163Â Â Â 268 - 147Â Â Â 0.6447
4   Vanderbilt   0.6127   321 - 167   0.6568
5   Missouri State   0.6123   277 - 143   0.6595
6   Texas Tech   0.6121   290 - 163   0.6402
7Â Â Â USCÂ Â Â 0.607Â Â Â 271 - 146Â Â Â 0.6488
8   Texas   0.6067   329 - 200   0.6219
9   Pepperdine   0.6033   244 - 138   0.6387
10   Xavier   0.6005   286 - 149   0.6575
11   Gonzaga   0.5987   248 - 148   0.6259
12Â Â Â UCFÂ Â Â 0.5977Â Â Â 310 - 164Â Â Â 0.654
13   Maine   0.5974   265 - 134   0.6642
14   Florida   0.5972   338 - 194   0.6353
15   Minnesota   0.5971   253 - 150   0.6272
16   Arkansas   0.5882   291 - 186   0.6101
17   Michigan State   0.5859   256 - 149   0.6314
18   Notre Dame   0.5841   278 - 167   0.6242
19   Tennessee   0.582   305 - 195   0.61
20   Stanford   0.5801   216 - 152   0.587
As of 3/26/19
* = Big Ten ConferenceÂ
Bold = 2019 MSU Opponent
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.
This season, Kelley already has swiped six bases, currently tied for seventh in the Big Ten.
Last season, Kelley led the Big Ten and ranked third in the NCAA with 0.66 stolen bases per game in 2018, 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 six swipes this season, he now has 52 career stolen bases, taking over sole possession of No. 4 after passing former teammate Brandon Hughes (2015-17) at the No. 4 spot with 50 stolen bags ... If Kelley is able to match or top the 33 stolen bases he had in 2018, 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 34 base swipes after two stolen bases in the early going of this season.
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.   Bryce Kelley   52   2017-pres.
5.   Brandon Hughes   50   2015-17
6.   Steve Money   46   1991-94
   Steve Preston   46   1986-88
8.   Cam Gibson   45   2013-15
9.   Danny Gleaves   34   2017-pres.
10.   Jimmy Pickens   30   2012-15
   Joe Gavel   30   1968-69
--   Dan Chmielewski   25   2016-pres.
Solo ShotsÂ
Of the Spartans' 11 home runs so far this season, seven have been solo shots ... Michigan State hit three home runs in the opening weekend at New Orleans and all three were solo homers ... 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 the game on Feb. 17 ... Sophomore catcher Adam Proctor blasted a solo round-tripper in the ninth inning of that same game on Feb. 17 that concluded the scoring for the Spartans ... Proctor added a solo homer in the second inning against Western Carolina on March 9, while sophomore infielder Zach Iverson hit his first home run as a Spartan with a solo shot to lead off the fourth inning vs. Appalachian State on March 10 ... Bechina struck again with a solo shot in the sixth inning vs. UConn at March 16 ... Proctor added a leadoff solo shot in the third inning of Friday's game one at Nebraska on March 22.
Bechina Blasts
After their first three home runs of the season were solo shots, the Spartans' next two home runs were of the two-run variety, and both by senior infielder Marty Bechina, with a two-run shot in the eighth inning at No. 19 Coastal Carolina on Feb. 22 and a two-run shot in the first inning at No. 24 Arizona State on March 2 ... Bechina now leads MSU with two run runs ... For his career, Bechina has now blasted four two-run home runs as part of 18 total career round-trippers, with 13 solo shots.
Casey At The Bat
Freshman outfielder Casey Mayes mashed his first home run as a Spartan with a two-run pinch hit blast in the eighth inning of Sunday's game at Nebraska.
Second Inning SlamsÂ
A total of three of MSU's 11 home runs have come in the second inning, the only frame with more than one Michigan State home run ... 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 the 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 Feb. 17 in the second inning ... Sophomore catcher Adam Proctor hit a solo home run in the second inning vs. Western Carolina on March 9 ... 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.
Big Inning Boosts Spartans To Win At Arizona
In the Spartans' 9-5 win at Arizona on March 5, MSU overcame an early 4-0 deficit after two innings, getting on the board with one run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by senior infielder Marty Bechina, before hanging eight on the board in the seventh. Michigan State plated eight runs in sending 13 batters to the plate with five hits and capitalizing on four Arizona errors, leaving two runners on base.
The eight-run inning was the first big inning of four or more runs this season, and the most runs scored in a frame since April 7 of last season vs. Nebraska in a nine-run inning, also the seventh frame and also sending 13 batters to the plate, winning 17-5.
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).
Scarce In the Senior Department
MSU has only five seniors on its 2019 roster: infielder Marty Bechina, infielder Royce Ando, outfielder Dan Chmielewski, catcher Nic Lacayo and pitcher Evan Flohr. The Spartans' five seniors is currently tied for the second-fewest in the country {research by Western Kentucky SID Bryan Fyalkowski):
Tennessee: 2
Michigan State: 5
Norfolk State: 5 (1 redshirting)
Presbyterian: 5
Stetson: 5
West Virginia: 5 (1 redshirting)
Navy: 6
Western Kentucky: 6Â
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.
Spartan Baseball To Have Four Games Televised On Big Ten Network
Michigan State baseball will have four games nationally televised on Big Ten Network this season, announced by the Big Ten Conference office and the network on Friday, March 1.
The Spartans will have three home games and one away game televised on BTN. All other home MSU baseball games and select away conference games will be digitally streamed on BTN Plus.
Michigan State's home games against Michigan (March 29 and 31) and one home game against Northwestern (April 28), along with the midweek non-conference game at Michigan (May 7) will be on BTN. The network will also televise the complete Big Ten Tournament from TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb. May 22-26. Â
Michigan State Baseball on Big Ten Network
Friday, March 29 - vs. Michigan - 3 p.m. ET
Sunday, March 31 - vs. Michigan - 4 p.m. ETÂ
Sunday, April 28 - vs. Northwestern - 2 p.m. ETÂ
Tuesday, May 7 - at Michigan (non-conference) - 6 p.m. ET
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 316-250 (.558) 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 341-284 (.546) ledger, coaching his 600th career game at Minnesota in 2018. Â
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.   316
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.
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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