Saturday, May 15
Columbus, Ohio
3:05 PM ET
Michigan State University
15-22
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Ohio State
18-16
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9
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Michigan State
0
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Ohio State
0
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0
0
0
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4
0
Photo by: Quinn Bezenah
Proctor, Pitching, Propels Spartans To 2-0 Blanking Of Buckeyes Saturday
5/15/2021 7:28:00 PM | Baseball
Junior catcher belts first HR of season; MSU pitchers combine for fourth shutout of season.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Adam Proctor belted a two-run home run and Michigan State baseball's four pitchers combine for a shutout in a 2-0 blanking of the Buckeyes of Ohio State Saturday afternoon at OSU's Nick Swisher Field at Bill Davis Stadium.
The Spartans, who are making their first trip to Columbus since 2015, have clinched the series after Friday night's 10-7 win, marking the first time that the visiting team has won the MSU-OSU series since 2013, also won by MSU in Columbus. With Friday and Saturday's wins, Michigan State has now won the last five meetings with Ohio State and seven of the last nine. The Spartans' 2-0 win at Ohio State was MSU's first blanking of the Buckeyes since April 14, 2017, also a 2-0 Victory for MSU. It was the Green & White's first shutout in Columbus since April 13, 2008, a 1-0 Spartan triumph.
Overall, Saturday was the Spartans' third-straight win in moving to 15-22 on the season, while the Buckeyes are now 18-16, having lost three of their last four overall.
Sophomore starter Jackson Bennett pitched the first 3.0 IP of Saturday's game, marking a season-long outing for the hurler who is returning to top form after surgery in the fall, making his fifth appearance of the season and second-straight Saturday start. The three Ks is also a season-high.
Sophomore reliever Burrell Jones pitched the next 3.2 IP, then redshirt-freshman reliever William Christophersen went 1.1 IP, before senior Sam Benschoter came on to close out the final 1.0 IP. Jones earned the win to improve to 2-0 on the season, while Benschoter picked up his first save of not only the season, but of his career as well.
"Today was a really good win for our guys. I'm really proud of them to come down here and win the series on the road, it says an awful lot about the effort that our guys give," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "Ohio State is a really, really good ballclub and there's a lot of threats in that lineup from one to nine. I'm just really proud of the way our guys pitched it. I know (pitching coach) Coach Van Ameyde had them ready today and really had a good plan and those guys executed the plan. It was just a really good win for our guys today, and I'm proud of them."
Bennett logged three strikeouts while scattering two hits in the 3.0 IP, posting two three-up, three-down innings and just one batter over the minimum. Jones yielded just one hit in his 3.2 IP, ringing two innings in order. Christophersen logged three Ks in his 1.1 IP, his second day in a row of facing the Buckeyes after coming on with two outs Friday night to close it out and earn the save, striking out OSU's Archer Brookman, who was the first batter that Christophersen faced in the seventh, and repeated the strikeout to end the frame. Benschoter notched one K, coming on the third out to end the game and seal the Victory for MSU.
Proctor blasted his two-run home run to right in the fifth inning, plating freshman infielder Reese Trahey, who reached on a walk. Proctor finished the game 2-for-3, batting in the nine-spot in the Spartan lineup, marking the second game in row that the MSU nine-hole hitter hit a home run against OSU, as Friday night, freshman infielder Dillon Kark belted the first HR of his Spartan career. Proctor knocked a double in the third in his first at bat, in a game that he wasn't even going to originally start.
"Adam had a really good day today obviously with the double and then the home run. About a half hour before the game, he wasn't even in the lineup, but Gabe Sotres tweaked an injury, so rather than run the risk of doing further damage to Gabe, we told Adam he was in," Boss said. "To his credit, Adam's worked hard this season, and he just hasn't had the success that I know that we all think he's capable of having but he's got a great attitude and he was ready today. He's one of our captains, he's one of our leaders, and he's been ready to play all year long. He's kept a great attitude amidst a tough year, and he got it done for us today. I'm happy for him."
Proctor's two hits were nearly half of MSU's five on the day, as Kark was 1-for-2 with a double, while senior designated hitter Andrew Morrow and sophomore outfielder Zaid Walker were both 1-for-3. In addition to Trahey's walk, Walker along with senior outfielder Bryce Kelley and freshman infielder Trent Farquhar drew free base on balls in the contest.
The Spartan defense also had a solid day, as Proctor threw out one potential base stealer, as MSU padded its B1G lead catching runners trying to steal, now with 23. Michigan State also turned two double plays in the game, as the Spartans are second in the B1G in DPs, now with 32.
The Spartans and Buckeyes wrap up their three-game weekend series on Sunday, with the first pitch slated for 1:05 p.m.
The weekend schedule is subject to change based on weather.
Along with any schedule updates, fans can follow the games with links for live stats, live audio (when available) and live streaming from Big Ten Network+ at MSUSpartans.com.
The Spartans, who are making their first trip to Columbus since 2015, have clinched the series after Friday night's 10-7 win, marking the first time that the visiting team has won the MSU-OSU series since 2013, also won by MSU in Columbus. With Friday and Saturday's wins, Michigan State has now won the last five meetings with Ohio State and seven of the last nine. The Spartans' 2-0 win at Ohio State was MSU's first blanking of the Buckeyes since April 14, 2017, also a 2-0 Victory for MSU. It was the Green & White's first shutout in Columbus since April 13, 2008, a 1-0 Spartan triumph.
Overall, Saturday was the Spartans' third-straight win in moving to 15-22 on the season, while the Buckeyes are now 18-16, having lost three of their last four overall.
Sophomore starter Jackson Bennett pitched the first 3.0 IP of Saturday's game, marking a season-long outing for the hurler who is returning to top form after surgery in the fall, making his fifth appearance of the season and second-straight Saturday start. The three Ks is also a season-high.
Sophomore reliever Burrell Jones pitched the next 3.2 IP, then redshirt-freshman reliever William Christophersen went 1.1 IP, before senior Sam Benschoter came on to close out the final 1.0 IP. Jones earned the win to improve to 2-0 on the season, while Benschoter picked up his first save of not only the season, but of his career as well.
"Today was a really good win for our guys. I'm really proud of them to come down here and win the series on the road, it says an awful lot about the effort that our guys give," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "Ohio State is a really, really good ballclub and there's a lot of threats in that lineup from one to nine. I'm just really proud of the way our guys pitched it. I know (pitching coach) Coach Van Ameyde had them ready today and really had a good plan and those guys executed the plan. It was just a really good win for our guys today, and I'm proud of them."
Bennett logged three strikeouts while scattering two hits in the 3.0 IP, posting two three-up, three-down innings and just one batter over the minimum. Jones yielded just one hit in his 3.2 IP, ringing two innings in order. Christophersen logged three Ks in his 1.1 IP, his second day in a row of facing the Buckeyes after coming on with two outs Friday night to close it out and earn the save, striking out OSU's Archer Brookman, who was the first batter that Christophersen faced in the seventh, and repeated the strikeout to end the frame. Benschoter notched one K, coming on the third out to end the game and seal the Victory for MSU.
𝙑𝙄𝘾𝙏𝙊𝙍𝙔 𝙁𝙊𝙍 𝙈𝙎𝙐!!
— Michigan State Baseball (@statebaseball) May 15, 2021
👏👏✋✋👏👏
High fives all around!
Final score from Columbus:
Michigan State 2, Ohio State 0
Spartans post 4th shutout of season, and have won the series and will go for sweep Sunday!#VictoryForMSU
⚾️#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/ERG0hJpZO1
Proctor blasted his two-run home run to right in the fifth inning, plating freshman infielder Reese Trahey, who reached on a walk. Proctor finished the game 2-for-3, batting in the nine-spot in the Spartan lineup, marking the second game in row that the MSU nine-hole hitter hit a home run against OSU, as Friday night, freshman infielder Dillon Kark belted the first HR of his Spartan career. Proctor knocked a double in the third in his first at bat, in a game that he wasn't even going to originally start.
"Adam had a really good day today obviously with the double and then the home run. About a half hour before the game, he wasn't even in the lineup, but Gabe Sotres tweaked an injury, so rather than run the risk of doing further damage to Gabe, we told Adam he was in," Boss said. "To his credit, Adam's worked hard this season, and he just hasn't had the success that I know that we all think he's capable of having but he's got a great attitude and he was ready today. He's one of our captains, he's one of our leaders, and he's been ready to play all year long. He's kept a great attitude amidst a tough year, and he got it done for us today. I'm happy for him."
Adam Proctor smashes his first HR of the season. IT's also his team-leading 12th of his career with a 2-run blast to deeeeeeeep right field to give MSU a 2-0 lead at OSU.
— Michigan State Baseball (@statebaseball) May 15, 2021
⚾️#GoGreen | #ProctorSmash pic.twitter.com/iNhicHMAui
Proctor's two hits were nearly half of MSU's five on the day, as Kark was 1-for-2 with a double, while senior designated hitter Andrew Morrow and sophomore outfielder Zaid Walker were both 1-for-3. In addition to Trahey's walk, Walker along with senior outfielder Bryce Kelley and freshman infielder Trent Farquhar drew free base on balls in the contest.
The Spartan defense also had a solid day, as Proctor threw out one potential base stealer, as MSU padded its B1G lead catching runners trying to steal, now with 23. Michigan State also turned two double plays in the game, as the Spartans are second in the B1G in DPs, now with 32.
Adam Proctor smashes his first HR of the season. IT's also his team-leading 12th of his career with a 2-run blast to deeeeeeeep right field to give MSU a 2-0 lead at OSU.
— Michigan State Baseball (@statebaseball) May 15, 2021
⚾️#GoGreen | #ProctorSmash pic.twitter.com/iNhicHMAui
The Spartans and Buckeyes wrap up their three-game weekend series on Sunday, with the first pitch slated for 1:05 p.m.
The weekend schedule is subject to change based on weather.
Along with any schedule updates, fans can follow the games with links for live stats, live audio (when available) and live streaming from Big Ten Network+ at MSUSpartans.com.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Jones, Burrell (2-0)
L: Coupet, Isaiah (0-2)
S: Benschoter, Sam (1)
Batting:
2B: Kark, Dillon 1 ; Proctor, Adam 1
HR: Proctor, Adam 1
RBI: Proctor, Adam 2
SH: Kark, Dillon 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Trahey, Reese 1 ; Proctor, Adam 1
CS: Walker, Zaid 1
Batting:
2B: Ernst, Marcus 1
Base Running:
CS: Kern, Kade 1
HBP: Bauer, Colton 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
OF/LHP
/ BaseballINF/OF
/ BaseballC
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballPursuit to Greatness | Spartans All-Access
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