Tuesday, April 23
East Lansing, Mich.
6:35 PM ET
Michigan State University
11-27
12
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Oakland
10-27
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Oakland
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Michigan State
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Photo by: MSU Athletic Communications
Panaranto And Proctor Propel Spartans To 12-2 Rout Over Oakland
4/23/2019 11:26:00 PM | Baseball
Freshman hurler Panaranto fires career-high seven Ks in first career start; sophomore catcher Proctor smashes team-leading seventh HR.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State's battery connection of freshman pitcher Colton Panaranto and sophomore catcher Adam Proctor propelled the Spartans to a 12-2 Victory for MSU over Oakland Tuesday night under the lights at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field.
MSU's offense erupted for a season-high 12 runs, boosted by a six-run eighth inning, sending 12 batters to the plate. It was the Spartans' second-most runs in an inning this season.
The freshman hurler Panaranto made his first start as a Spartan and fired a season-high seven strikeouts in a season-long 7.0 IP, including retiring a stretch of 14-straight Golden Grizzly batters, striking out the side after a leadoff double in the third. Panaranto didn't face more than four batters in an inning from the third to the seventh, ending his outing with a strikeout in the top of the seventh.
"I just want to go out there and throw strikes and try to give my team the best chance to win," Panaranto said. "It felt really good once I started getting into the game and started to get in a flow for it. I just kind of settled down and get back in the zone for it. I was over-thinking and I just needed to go out there and trust myself and not think about it, and that's what I did and I settled in and then I started getting in a groove and feeling better. We try to keep everyone in good spirits and keep the momentum going. Hopefully this 12-2 win will keep the momentum going into tomorrow and then in the weekend series against Northwestern."
Panaranto's previous longest outing was 3.2 innings in getting his first career win at Arizona, which was also MSU's offense's most runs in an inning with eight. The freshman hurler's previous season-high strikeouts was five in 2.2 IP at Nebraska on March 22. Panaranto is now 2-0 on the season.
"Yes Colton threw well, I'm proud of him. He lost the strike zone there a little bit in the second inning and was a little shaky I thought in the third and then really after the double, I think settled into it, I think he retired 14 in a row and was really in a groove. He a very capable guy and we're gonna need him down the stretch but I think he's got a bright future here," Boss said.
Proctor smashed a three-run home run deep into the Red Cedar River beyond the right field wall as part of a six-run sixth inning for the Green & White. It was Proctor's team-leading seventh HR of the season, including belting three of the Spartans' last four round-trippers. It was his second-straight game with a home run into the Red Cedar, also sending one into the river Sunday vs. Indiana.Â
The sophomore catcher was 1-for-2 with three walks to go with three RBI and three runs scored. Sophomore infielder/pitcher Zach Iverson was 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored, while freshman outfielder Zaid Walker was 2-for-4 with three runs score and two RBI. Senior infielder Royce Ando was 2-for-4 to round out the three Spartans with multi hits. Four other MSU players had one hit apiece in junior outfielder Bryce Kelley, junior infielder Justin Antoncic, sophomore infielder Joe Stewart and freshman outfielder Casey Mayes.
Along with Proctor's three RBI, Antoncic and Iverson both added a pair of RBI, while Kelley, senior infielder Marty Bechina and Ando added one each. Bechina, Ando, Iverson and freshman Peter Ahn scored a run each, while Mayes touched home twice and Walker and Proctor score three times.
"I think you saw a lot of the future out there today with Colton on the mound, we had a sophomore (Proctor) behind the plate, a sophomore at third base (Iverson) and two freshmen in the outfield (Walker and Mayes), so we had some young talented kids that the more they play, the more at bats they get the better they are going to be," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said.
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Oakland got on the board first, with a two-run second inning, taking advantage of a pair of walks, then Jace Matkin laced a triple to center for a 2-0 Golden Grizzlies lead.Â
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The Spartan deficit didn't last long as Walker led off the home half of the second. Proctor and Iverson both walked to load the bases. Two batters later Antoncic laced a double down the right field line to plate Walker and Proctor and move Iverson to third. Bechina was up next and he smacked a sacrifice fly to right, driving in Iverson and put MSU ahead, 3-2. It was Bechina's team-leading fifth sac fly this season.
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MSU extended its lead to 5-2 in the fifth after Mayes led off by blasting a double down the right field line. Following walks to Walker and Proctor, Iverson laced a double down the left field line to drive in Mayes and Walker, before Proctor was thrown out at third. It was the Spartans' second opposite-field two-run double with the bases loaded of the night.
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The Green & White added a run in the seventh after Proctor led off with a walk, moved to second on an Iverson single and scored on a Texas Leaguer double down the left field line by Kelley, plating Proctor and putting MSU up 6-2.
Senior lefty reliever Evan Flohr pitched a hitless, scoreless top of the eighth, posting a pair of punchouts.
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Michigan State erupted to hang eight runs on the board in the bottom of the eighth, batting around sending 12 batters to the plate. Bechina led off with a walk and stole second and third, then Ando drove him in with a single to left. Mayes was hit by a pitch and Ahn walked. Walker was up next and he laced a two-run single, preempting Proctor's Red Cedar River splashdown home run. The Spartan rally ended with the bases loaded, after scoring six runs on four hits.
Iverson moved to the mound from third base for the top of the ninth. He rang up a strikeout looking and lineout to left before chalking up a swinging strikeout to end the game and spark the Spartan celebration, complete with the lights at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field flashing for the Victory for MSU.
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MSU continues its season-long nine-game homestand with the second of five games this week taking on Toledo on Wednesday, April 24, both at 6:35 p.m., under the lights at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field.Â
The Spartans then return to B1G action hosting Northwestern in a three-game weekend series Friday-Sunday, April 26-28, playing the third-straight night game with Friday's series opener at 6:35 p.m. Saturday's second game is slated for a 4:05 p.m. start time before Sunday's series finale at 2 p.m. in a nationally televised game on Big Ten Network.
Fans can also follow 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.
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Any schedule updates due to weather will be announced on www.MSUSpartans.com and on twitter @statebaseball.
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MSU's offense erupted for a season-high 12 runs, boosted by a six-run eighth inning, sending 12 batters to the plate. It was the Spartans' second-most runs in an inning this season.
The freshman hurler Panaranto made his first start as a Spartan and fired a season-high seven strikeouts in a season-long 7.0 IP, including retiring a stretch of 14-straight Golden Grizzly batters, striking out the side after a leadoff double in the third. Panaranto didn't face more than four batters in an inning from the third to the seventh, ending his outing with a strikeout in the top of the seventh.
"I just want to go out there and throw strikes and try to give my team the best chance to win," Panaranto said. "It felt really good once I started getting into the game and started to get in a flow for it. I just kind of settled down and get back in the zone for it. I was over-thinking and I just needed to go out there and trust myself and not think about it, and that's what I did and I settled in and then I started getting in a groove and feeling better. We try to keep everyone in good spirits and keep the momentum going. Hopefully this 12-2 win will keep the momentum going into tomorrow and then in the weekend series against Northwestern."
Panaranto's previous longest outing was 3.2 innings in getting his first career win at Arizona, which was also MSU's offense's most runs in an inning with eight. The freshman hurler's previous season-high strikeouts was five in 2.2 IP at Nebraska on March 22. Panaranto is now 2-0 on the season.
"Yes Colton threw well, I'm proud of him. He lost the strike zone there a little bit in the second inning and was a little shaky I thought in the third and then really after the double, I think settled into it, I think he retired 14 in a row and was really in a groove. He a very capable guy and we're gonna need him down the stretch but I think he's got a bright future here," Boss said.
Proctor smashed a three-run home run deep into the Red Cedar River beyond the right field wall as part of a six-run sixth inning for the Green & White. It was Proctor's team-leading seventh HR of the season, including belting three of the Spartans' last four round-trippers. It was his second-straight game with a home run into the Red Cedar, also sending one into the river Sunday vs. Indiana.Â
The sophomore catcher was 1-for-2 with three walks to go with three RBI and three runs scored. Sophomore infielder/pitcher Zach Iverson was 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored, while freshman outfielder Zaid Walker was 2-for-4 with three runs score and two RBI. Senior infielder Royce Ando was 2-for-4 to round out the three Spartans with multi hits. Four other MSU players had one hit apiece in junior outfielder Bryce Kelley, junior infielder Justin Antoncic, sophomore infielder Joe Stewart and freshman outfielder Casey Mayes.
Along with Proctor's three RBI, Antoncic and Iverson both added a pair of RBI, while Kelley, senior infielder Marty Bechina and Ando added one each. Bechina, Ando, Iverson and freshman Peter Ahn scored a run each, while Mayes touched home twice and Walker and Proctor score three times.
"I think you saw a lot of the future out there today with Colton on the mound, we had a sophomore (Proctor) behind the plate, a sophomore at third base (Iverson) and two freshmen in the outfield (Walker and Mayes), so we had some young talented kids that the more they play, the more at bats they get the better they are going to be," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said.
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Oakland got on the board first, with a two-run second inning, taking advantage of a pair of walks, then Jace Matkin laced a triple to center for a 2-0 Golden Grizzlies lead.Â
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The Spartan deficit didn't last long as Walker led off the home half of the second. Proctor and Iverson both walked to load the bases. Two batters later Antoncic laced a double down the right field line to plate Walker and Proctor and move Iverson to third. Bechina was up next and he smacked a sacrifice fly to right, driving in Iverson and put MSU ahead, 3-2. It was Bechina's team-leading fifth sac fly this season.
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MSU extended its lead to 5-2 in the fifth after Mayes led off by blasting a double down the right field line. Following walks to Walker and Proctor, Iverson laced a double down the left field line to drive in Mayes and Walker, before Proctor was thrown out at third. It was the Spartans' second opposite-field two-run double with the bases loaded of the night.
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The Green & White added a run in the seventh after Proctor led off with a walk, moved to second on an Iverson single and scored on a Texas Leaguer double down the left field line by Kelley, plating Proctor and putting MSU up 6-2.
Senior lefty reliever Evan Flohr pitched a hitless, scoreless top of the eighth, posting a pair of punchouts.
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Michigan State erupted to hang eight runs on the board in the bottom of the eighth, batting around sending 12 batters to the plate. Bechina led off with a walk and stole second and third, then Ando drove him in with a single to left. Mayes was hit by a pitch and Ahn walked. Walker was up next and he laced a two-run single, preempting Proctor's Red Cedar River splashdown home run. The Spartan rally ended with the bases loaded, after scoring six runs on four hits.
Iverson moved to the mound from third base for the top of the ninth. He rang up a strikeout looking and lineout to left before chalking up a swinging strikeout to end the game and spark the Spartan celebration, complete with the lights at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field flashing for the Victory for MSU.
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MSU continues its season-long nine-game homestand with the second of five games this week taking on Toledo on Wednesday, April 24, both at 6:35 p.m., under the lights at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field.Â
The Spartans then return to B1G action hosting Northwestern in a three-game weekend series Friday-Sunday, April 26-28, playing the third-straight night game with Friday's series opener at 6:35 p.m. Saturday's second game is slated for a 4:05 p.m. start time before Sunday's series finale at 2 p.m. in a nationally televised game on Big Ten Network.
Fans can also follow 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.
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Any schedule updates due to weather will be announced on www.MSUSpartans.com and on twitter @statebaseball.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Panaranto, Colten (2-0)
L: Ethan Hoffman (2-1)
Batting:
2B: Matt Dileo 1
3B: Jace Matkin 1
RBI: Jace Matkin 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Austin Tangney 1 ; Ronnie Krsolovic 1
Batting:
2B: Antoncic, Justin 1 ; Mayes, Casey 1 ; Iverson, Zach 1
HR: Proctor, Adam 1
RBI: Kelley, Bryce 1 ; Antoncic, Justin 2 ; Bechina, Marty 1 ; Ando, Royce 1 ; Walker, Zaid 2 ; Proctor, Adam 3 ; Iverson, Zach 2
SF: Bechina, Marty 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bechina, Marty 1 ; Ando, Royce 1 ; Mayes, Casey 2 ; Ahn, Peter 1 ; Walker, Zaid 3 ; Proctor, Adam 3 ; Iverson, Zach 1
SB: Stewart, Joe 1 ; Bechina, Marty 2
HBP: Mayes, Casey 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
3
H
2
RBI
2
3b/p
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
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C
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1B
/ BaseballOF
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