Spartans Beat Broncos, 5-2, Tuesday At Comerica Park

DETROIT, Mich. -- Michigan State baseball got a 2-for-4 with three RBI performance from senior infielder Marty Bechina to boost the Spartans to a 5-2 victory over Western Michigan Tuesday night at Comerica Park in MSU's annual Clash at Comerica game.

With Tuesday's win, MSU improved to 8-2 all-time in games played at Comerica Park, including two in a row over WMU.

"It was a good win tonight, I was proud of our guys. We started well, we ended well, maybe scuffled a little bit in the middle. I think we got some big hits when we needed them, we made some big pitches when we needed to, and we got some big plays defensively when we needed them so a good day at the end of the day for the Spartans," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said.

Bechina laced a two-run double down the left field line as part of a three-run first frame for the Spartans and added an RBI single to right in the eighth inning as MSU tacked on two insurance runs after WMU had closed to 3-2.

"It was definitely a good win for us. Last time here, a pretty special one," the senior Bechina said, who was playing at Comerica for the final time. "Hopefully this gets us on track, but definitely a cool experience to get a win here in my last year at Michigan State."

Bechina was 3-0 as a Spartan at Comerica, missing out on 2017's game after it was cancelled due to inclement weather, but has many memorable moments.

"The game my sophomore year when Chad (Roskelly) had the little infield single, I was the one who scored on that so I'd say that was probably one of the most fun parts" Bechina said about the 2017 walk-off win over WMU. "We got to celebrate out here on the field with the water coolers and all that so I'd say that's going to be the top moment. We've won here every time I've played so you always have to remember those."

Tuesday's win was boosted by the Spartans' early start and then adding runs late to secure the victory.

"That's huge, any time you can get out to a 3-0 lead that's just huge. I thought we sat on it a little too long, it took us until the eighth inning to score again, but we got some big insurance runs in the eighth and were able to close it out," Bechina said.

Junior outfielder Bryce Kelley was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two stolen bases. The two swipes was his seventh and eighth of the season, as he now has 54 stolen bases for his career, closing in on Brandon Eckerle with 61 swipes at No. 3 on MSU's career stolen base list.

Junior reliever Caleb Sleeman earned the win, his first of the year and fellow junior reliever Indigo Diaz picked up the save, his second of the season. The Spartan pitching staff stymied the Broncos' bats to just four hits, as WMU entered Tuesday's game ranked No. 25 in the NCAA with a .296 average. The four hits by the Broncos was their second-lowest hits in a game this season.

The Spartans jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, as Kelley led off with a single down the left field line. Peterson followed with a single to right center, moving Kelley up to third. Bechina brought them both in with a hot shot double down to the corner in left field. After moving up to third on a groundout, Bechina was plated by a sacrifice fly from senior infielder Royce Ando to give the Spartans 3-0 lead.

Western Michigan got on the board with a run in the second stanza, rallying off Spartan junior starter Jarret Olson with the bases loaded, before MSU brought in junior reliever Caleb Sleeman, who got the final out of the frame.

The Broncos closed to 3-2 with a run in the sixth, taking advantage walk off and later an RBI single off senior reliever Evan Flohr, before Flohr closed the door on the rally.

MSU plated two runs in the eighth after sophomore infielder Zach Iverson scored on a play by WMU and Bechina later plated Kelley with a single.

MSU continues its five-game week by wrapping up its stretch of five-straight games against in-state foes by returning home to host Central Michigan on Wednesday, April 3 at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field. First pitch is slated for 4:05 p.m.

The Spartans remain at home for the weekend, welcoming Indiana State for a three-game non-conference series, Firday-. The series opens Friday night at 6:35 p.m. in the inaugural night game at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field, under the newly installed lights.

Saturday's game two is slated for a 4:05 p.m. first pitch, before wrapping up the series on Sunday at 1:05 p.m.

Fans can also follow this weekend's Spartan baseball action through "Live Stats," "Listen Live" and "Watch Live" links found at MSUSpartans.com. The games will be video streamed on BTN2Go, and will also be 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.

Any schedule updates will be announced on www.MSUSpartans.com and on twitter @statebaseball.

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Team Stats

Bryce Kelley

Marty Bechina

Zach Iverson

Bailey Peterson

Players Mentioned

Royce Ando

Marty Bechina

Indigo Diaz

Evan Flohr

Zach Iverson

Bryce Kelley

Jarret Olson

Caleb Sleeman

Players Mentioned

Royce Ando

Marty Bechina

Indigo Diaz

Evan Flohr

Zach Iverson

Bryce Kelley

Jarret Olson

Caleb Sleeman