Friday, March 5
Fluor Field | Greenville, S.C.
6:30 PM ET
Michigan State University
1-0, 1-0
6
vs
0
Maryland
0-1, 0-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Maryland
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
2
Michigan State
2
0
0
0
0
1
0
3
X
6
4
0
Photo by: Jeremy Fleming
Benschoter’s 10 Strikeouts Bolsters Spartans To 6-0 Season-Opener Win Over Maryland
3/5/2021 11:58:00 PM | Baseball
Senior hurler fires career-high 10 strikeouts in career-high 8.0 IP.
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Michigan State baseball pitcher Sam Benschoter fired a career-high 10 strikeouts in a 6-0 shutout Victory for MSU over Maryland Friday night at Fluor Field in Greenville, South Carolina in both teams' 2021 season opener.
The senior right-hander Benschoter went a career-high 8.0 innings, and MSU got solid defense, as well as timely hitting on offense, including a two-run single by junior infielder/pitcher Zach Iverson as the Spartans broke open a 3-0 lead with a three-run eighth inning. Iverson pitched the ninth, fielding a comebacker for the final out.
The Spartans have now won their third-straight season-opener as part of winning six of their last seven season-openers, with the only blemish in that span coming in a 5-4 loss in the 2018 season lid lifter at Fresno State that halted a four-game season-opening win streak for MSU. Michigan State is 11-2 in season-openers under head coach Jake Boss Jr. Since 2000, the Spartans are now 15-6 in the first game of the season. Overall, MSU is 82-53 all-time in known season-openers, as the Spartans opened their 137th season of baseball on Friday night.
Friday was MSU's first game since March 8, 2020, before the rest of the 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the start of the season being delayed by the pandemic, MSU is playing 44 games over 13 weekends in a Big Ten Conference-only ledger in 2021, and Friday's opener was much anticipated throughout the stadium.
"It's a great start for guys," Boss said. "We waited a long time for today, as the teams in the rest of our conference have as well, and just to go out and get the chance to play I think was something that our guys were excited about, and I know Maryland was excited about it too and talking to (Maryland head coach) Coach Vaughn before the game. I think we just all appreciate what we have and what we're able to do, especially after being off for almost a calendar year."
Michigan State used that excitement early, scoring two runs in the home half of the first inning for a 2-0 lead that the Spartans didn't relinquish.
"The guys were excited and I'm really proud of them," Boss said. "They've worked really hard since the start of school in September, and tonight was just a good night for Spartan baseball."
Benschoter provided much of the excitement on the night, as he was dealing, scattering just five hits to a Maryland offense that hit .258 as a team, and the Spartan hurler stymied the Terrapin offense, shutting them out after they led the Big Ten last year with 111 runs in 15 games (7.4 runs per game. Benschoter also out-dueled Maryland starting pitcher Sean Burke, who was selected as the Big Ten Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Burke went 6.0 IP with 13 strikeouts, but the Spartans scored three runs off of him, as along with plating the pair of runs in the first, added a run in the sixth.
There were approximately 30 scouts on hand to watch the Big Ten baseball opener, and they witnessed a superb Benshoter outing.
"Sam was unbelievable tonight, to scatter five hits and strike out 10 against a really prolific offense in Maryland was something pretty special," Boss said. "I think it was by far the best outing of his career and I'm glad he's glad he decided to come back for one more year. He really was in control the whole way I think got into trouble one time, and only allowed three runners to get past first base all night. He made big pitches when he needed to, especially in the eighth, we ran him back out there because his stuff was good for the eighth and I knew he threw a lot of pitches, but he really was in control, and made his best pitches when he needed to in the eighth inning and probably the pitch of the game he made to get a double play to end the inning. He's a hard worker, and he's a great kid and it's fun to watch him have success."
Benschoter's success was a part of a great team performance, and Benschoter was quick to deflect the attention to the team's effort Friday night.
"That was a great team win," Benschoter said. "Iverson shutting it down in the ninth was exactly what we needed. Mitch Jebb set the tone right from the start, with about 10-11 pitch at bat, then getting on and scoring first, just a good way to start it off."
Once he got started, Benschoter was in control and excited to be back on the mound.
"For me personally, it's been a year since we got to play, so I was just gonna enjoy it because at one point I thought I wasn't going to get to play again, and I just wanted to set the tone for everyone else," Benschoter said. "It feels great to get that win tonight, and I feel like that really sets the tone for the weekend, we 've got Mason (Erla) coming back tomorrow, who's as good as anybody in the country and wouldn't surprise me if he goes all seven tomorrow."
Senior outfielder Bryce Kelley was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI Friday, and freshman infielder Mitch Jebb had a smashing Spartan debut, leading off the MSU lineup and going 1-for-2 with two walks and scoring all three times he reached base.
Benschoter got in a small jam in the top of the eighth inning, but got a 6-4-3 double play that Jebb started and made a nifty toss to senior second baseman Bailey Peterson, who made a quick turn and fire to sophomore infielder Reese Trahey at first for the double play to thwart the Terrapin threat and end the inning.
MSU and Maryland return to the diamond on Saturday for a doubleheader, starting at 4:30 p.m., with a seven-inning contest followed by a nine-inning match-up, before wrapping up the four-game opening weekend series on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
While no fans are allowed besides families, fans can follow all the action from Fluor Field on Big Ten Network+ and live stats, with both links available at MSUSpartans.com.
The senior right-hander Benschoter went a career-high 8.0 innings, and MSU got solid defense, as well as timely hitting on offense, including a two-run single by junior infielder/pitcher Zach Iverson as the Spartans broke open a 3-0 lead with a three-run eighth inning. Iverson pitched the ninth, fielding a comebacker for the final out.
The Spartans have now won their third-straight season-opener as part of winning six of their last seven season-openers, with the only blemish in that span coming in a 5-4 loss in the 2018 season lid lifter at Fresno State that halted a four-game season-opening win streak for MSU. Michigan State is 11-2 in season-openers under head coach Jake Boss Jr. Since 2000, the Spartans are now 15-6 in the first game of the season. Overall, MSU is 82-53 all-time in known season-openers, as the Spartans opened their 137th season of baseball on Friday night.
Friday was MSU's first game since March 8, 2020, before the rest of the 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the start of the season being delayed by the pandemic, MSU is playing 44 games over 13 weekends in a Big Ten Conference-only ledger in 2021, and Friday's opener was much anticipated throughout the stadium.
"It's a great start for guys," Boss said. "We waited a long time for today, as the teams in the rest of our conference have as well, and just to go out and get the chance to play I think was something that our guys were excited about, and I know Maryland was excited about it too and talking to (Maryland head coach) Coach Vaughn before the game. I think we just all appreciate what we have and what we're able to do, especially after being off for almost a calendar year."
Michigan State used that excitement early, scoring two runs in the home half of the first inning for a 2-0 lead that the Spartans didn't relinquish.
"The guys were excited and I'm really proud of them," Boss said. "They've worked really hard since the start of school in September, and tonight was just a good night for Spartan baseball."
Benschoter provided much of the excitement on the night, as he was dealing, scattering just five hits to a Maryland offense that hit .258 as a team, and the Spartan hurler stymied the Terrapin offense, shutting them out after they led the Big Ten last year with 111 runs in 15 games (7.4 runs per game. Benschoter also out-dueled Maryland starting pitcher Sean Burke, who was selected as the Big Ten Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Burke went 6.0 IP with 13 strikeouts, but the Spartans scored three runs off of him, as along with plating the pair of runs in the first, added a run in the sixth.
There were approximately 30 scouts on hand to watch the Big Ten baseball opener, and they witnessed a superb Benshoter outing.
"Sam was unbelievable tonight, to scatter five hits and strike out 10 against a really prolific offense in Maryland was something pretty special," Boss said. "I think it was by far the best outing of his career and I'm glad he's glad he decided to come back for one more year. He really was in control the whole way I think got into trouble one time, and only allowed three runners to get past first base all night. He made big pitches when he needed to, especially in the eighth, we ran him back out there because his stuff was good for the eighth and I knew he threw a lot of pitches, but he really was in control, and made his best pitches when he needed to in the eighth inning and probably the pitch of the game he made to get a double play to end the inning. He's a hard worker, and he's a great kid and it's fun to watch him have success."
Benschoter's success was a part of a great team performance, and Benschoter was quick to deflect the attention to the team's effort Friday night.
"That was a great team win," Benschoter said. "Iverson shutting it down in the ninth was exactly what we needed. Mitch Jebb set the tone right from the start, with about 10-11 pitch at bat, then getting on and scoring first, just a good way to start it off."
Once he got started, Benschoter was in control and excited to be back on the mound.
"For me personally, it's been a year since we got to play, so I was just gonna enjoy it because at one point I thought I wasn't going to get to play again, and I just wanted to set the tone for everyone else," Benschoter said. "It feels great to get that win tonight, and I feel like that really sets the tone for the weekend, we 've got Mason (Erla) coming back tomorrow, who's as good as anybody in the country and wouldn't surprise me if he goes all seven tomorrow."
Senior outfielder Bryce Kelley was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI Friday, and freshman infielder Mitch Jebb had a smashing Spartan debut, leading off the MSU lineup and going 1-for-2 with two walks and scoring all three times he reached base.
Benschoter got in a small jam in the top of the eighth inning, but got a 6-4-3 double play that Jebb started and made a nifty toss to senior second baseman Bailey Peterson, who made a quick turn and fire to sophomore infielder Reese Trahey at first for the double play to thwart the Terrapin threat and end the inning.
MSU and Maryland return to the diamond on Saturday for a doubleheader, starting at 4:30 p.m., with a seven-inning contest followed by a nine-inning match-up, before wrapping up the four-game opening weekend series on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
While no fans are allowed besides families, fans can follow all the action from Fluor Field on Big Ten Network+ and live stats, with both links available at MSUSpartans.com.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Benschoter, Sam (1-0)
L: Burke, Sean (0-1)
Base Running:
HBP: Flint, Tucker 1
Batting:
3B: Jebb, Mitch 1
RBI: Kelley, Bryce 1 ; Walker, Zaid 1 ; Iverson, Zach 2
SF: Kelley, Bryce 1 ; Walker, Zaid 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jebb, Mitch 3 ; Kelley, Bryce 2 ; Walker, Zaid 1
SB: Jebb, Mitch 1
HBP: Proctor, Adam 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
2
R
3
H
1
RBI
0
3b/p
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
2
AB
4
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ BaseballINF/OF/RHP
/ BaseballINF
/ BaseballOF/LHP
/ BaseballIF/OF
/ Baseball
OF
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