Sunday, May 2
University Park, Pa.
12 PM ET
Michigan State University
12-20, 0
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Penn State
12-18, 0
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9
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Michigan State
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Penn State
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Photo by: Jeremy Fleming
MSU Downed By PSU Sunday
5/2/2021 4:31:00 PM | Baseball
Frank ties career-high with season-best three hits.
COLLEGE PARK, Pa. -- Michigan State was downed by Penn State in the third and final game of the weekend series, 5-3, Sunday afternoon at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
PSU took an early 1-0 lead, but MSU rallied with a three-run fifth inning for a 3-1 lead, but PSU countered with two in the bottom of fifth and one in the sixth, and added an insurance run in the eighth for the final score. The Spartans threatened in the later innings, but were unable to plate a run. MSU's offense knocked nine hits and drew four walks, but left 11 runners on base.
The Spartans slid to 12-20 on the season, while PSU moved to 12-18 with the win, taking the five-game season series with MSU, after splitting the two-game series in East Lansing on April 9, and sweeping the three-game weekend series in College Park this weekend.
"That was a tough one to lose, and it's going to be a long bus ride home after getting swept," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "I thought we played well enough to win two games out of three and we come home without any wins, so it's very disappointing."
Freshman outfielder Jack Frank tied a career-high with a season-best three hits, matching his Spartan debut in the 2020 season-opener on Feb. 14, 2020 in the 15-game shortened season. Frank ended Sunday going 3-for-5, and added a stolen base.
Freshman infielder Trent Farquhar was 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored, while freshman infielder Dillon Kark was 2-for-4. Sophomore outfielder Zaid Walker was 1-for-3 and scored a run, while freshman infielder Mitch Jebb was 1-for-4. Sophomore infielder Reese Trahey and junior catcher Adam Proctor each scored a run.
On the mound, senior starter Sam Benschoter went 5.2 IP, scattering seven hits and four runs, yielding two walks, while striking out six. The six Ks gives Benschoter 23 strikeouts in 15.0 IP his last two outings after his B1G Co-Pitcher of the Week earning performance last Sunday, April 25 vs. Nebraska with 17 Ks in 9.1 IP of relief.
Redshirt-freshman William Christophersen came on in relief, with three hits, one run, one walk and one strikeout in 2.1 IP.
Penn State got on the board early, with a run in the home half of the first and took a 1-0 lead.
That remained the score until the top of the fifth, when the Spartans rallied with three runs. Trahey sparked the rally with a walk, and two batters later Proctor got hit by a pitch. Farquhar followed with an RBI single to center to plate Trahey. Senior outfielder Bryce Kelley was up next and he reached on a PSU error, allowing Proctor to score. Walker followed with an RBI single to left center and drive in Farquhar and put the visiting Spartans ahead at 3-1.
MSU's lead was short-lived as PSU plated a pair in the home half of the fifth on a two-run double, and added a run in the sixth for a 4-3 lead.
The Spartans threatened in the sixth and seventh innings, getting two runners on each inning, but were unable to drive them in. The Nittany Lions tacked on an insurance run in the eighth.
In the ninth, MSU again rallied with two runners on, but the rally fizzled to end the game.
Michigan State is back at home at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field next weekend, hosting in-state rival Michigan in a three-game set, Friday-Sunday, May 7-9. Friday's series opener is MSU's first night game of the season with a 6:35 p.m. first pitch. Saturday's game two of the series has a 3:05 p.m. start time, before Sunday's series finale at 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.
PSU took an early 1-0 lead, but MSU rallied with a three-run fifth inning for a 3-1 lead, but PSU countered with two in the bottom of fifth and one in the sixth, and added an insurance run in the eighth for the final score. The Spartans threatened in the later innings, but were unable to plate a run. MSU's offense knocked nine hits and drew four walks, but left 11 runners on base.
The Spartans slid to 12-20 on the season, while PSU moved to 12-18 with the win, taking the five-game season series with MSU, after splitting the two-game series in East Lansing on April 9, and sweeping the three-game weekend series in College Park this weekend.
"That was a tough one to lose, and it's going to be a long bus ride home after getting swept," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "I thought we played well enough to win two games out of three and we come home without any wins, so it's very disappointing."
Freshman outfielder Jack Frank tied a career-high with a season-best three hits, matching his Spartan debut in the 2020 season-opener on Feb. 14, 2020 in the 15-game shortened season. Frank ended Sunday going 3-for-5, and added a stolen base.
Freshman infielder Trent Farquhar was 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored, while freshman infielder Dillon Kark was 2-for-4. Sophomore outfielder Zaid Walker was 1-for-3 and scored a run, while freshman infielder Mitch Jebb was 1-for-4. Sophomore infielder Reese Trahey and junior catcher Adam Proctor each scored a run.
On the mound, senior starter Sam Benschoter went 5.2 IP, scattering seven hits and four runs, yielding two walks, while striking out six. The six Ks gives Benschoter 23 strikeouts in 15.0 IP his last two outings after his B1G Co-Pitcher of the Week earning performance last Sunday, April 25 vs. Nebraska with 17 Ks in 9.1 IP of relief.
Redshirt-freshman William Christophersen came on in relief, with three hits, one run, one walk and one strikeout in 2.1 IP.
Penn State got on the board early, with a run in the home half of the first and took a 1-0 lead.
That remained the score until the top of the fifth, when the Spartans rallied with three runs. Trahey sparked the rally with a walk, and two batters later Proctor got hit by a pitch. Farquhar followed with an RBI single to center to plate Trahey. Senior outfielder Bryce Kelley was up next and he reached on a PSU error, allowing Proctor to score. Walker followed with an RBI single to left center and drive in Farquhar and put the visiting Spartans ahead at 3-1.
MSU's lead was short-lived as PSU plated a pair in the home half of the fifth on a two-run double, and added a run in the sixth for a 4-3 lead.
The Spartans threatened in the sixth and seventh innings, getting two runners on each inning, but were unable to drive them in. The Nittany Lions tacked on an insurance run in the eighth.
In the ninth, MSU again rallied with two runners on, but the rally fizzled to end the game.
Michigan State is back at home at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field next weekend, hosting in-state rival Michigan in a three-game set, Friday-Sunday, May 7-9. Friday's series opener is MSU's first night game of the season with a 6:35 p.m. first pitch. Saturday's game two of the series has a 3:05 p.m. start time, before Sunday's series finale at 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: Virbitsky, Kyle (2-3)
L: Benschoter, Sam (1-4)
S: Mellott, Mason (2)
Batting:
RBI: Farquhar, Trent 1 ; Walker, Zaid 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Farquhar, Trent 1 ; Trahey, Reese 1 ; Proctor, Adam 1
SB: Frank, Jack 1
CS: Walker, Zaid 1
HBP: Walker, Zaid 1 ; Proctor, Adam 1
Batting:
2B: Wood, Matt 1 ; Piacentino, Johnny 1
RBI: Homer, Gavin 2 ; Wood, Matt 2 ; Piacentino, Johnny 1
SH: Bartels, Cole 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Homer, Gavin 2 ; Hendershot, Parker 1 ; Bartels, Cole 1 ; Harry, Jay 1
SB: Bartels, Cole 2
CS: Homer, Gavin 1 ; Robison, Curtis 1
HBP: Homer, Gavin 1 ; Harry, Jay 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
0
H
3
RBI
0
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
RHP
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RHP
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INF
/ BaseballINF
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OF/LHP
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C
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballPursuit to Greatness | Spartans All-Access
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