Michigan State University
17-24, 17-24
Rutgers
19-22, 19-22
Peterson And Spartan Bats Boost Way To 14-8 Win At Rutgers
5/23/2021 5:22:00 PM | Baseball
MSU scores season-high 14 runs while tying season-best 17 hits, including three HRs.
MSU won Friday night's opener, 12-1, and after Rutgers won Saturday's game, 15-8, the Spartans erupted for a 14-8 Victory for MSU Sunday to win the series, after winning last weekend's series at Ohio State. The 34 runs scored by Michigan State was a season-high in a series this season, bettering the previous high of 26 in three games at Minnesota on April 2-4.
The Spartans improved to 17-24 overall, having won five of their last seven games, while the Scarlet Knights have lost nine of the last 11 in sliding to 19-22. MSU also won a series vs. RU for the first time since 2016, having lost the previous two. Michigan State now leads the all-time series, 16-8, including 5-4 in Piscataway.𝙑𝙄𝘾𝙏𝙊𝙍𝙔 𝙁𝙊𝙍 𝙈𝙎𝙐!!
— Michigan State Baseball (@statebaseball) May 23, 2021
👏👏✋✋👏👏
High fives all around!
Plus a little series win dance celebration!🕺
Final score from Piscataway as Spartans take 2-of-3 in series:
Michigan State 14, Rutgers 8#VictoryForMSU
⚾️#GoGreen | @zwalk3 pic.twitter.com/cTtCNmqdoG
All nine Spartans in the lineup had at least one hit, including the 1-5 batters in the lineup combining for 12 hits, led by senior infielder Peterson going 4-for-5 with two home runs, totaling seven RBI.Mid 1st | MSU 2, RU 0
— Michigan State Baseball (@statebaseball) May 23, 2021
Michigan State strikes first!! Spartans score 2 runs on 3 hits as Walker & Stewart go double-double, then Peterson drives in Stewart w/ RBI single.
Benschtoer takes mound to face Rutgers bats for 1st time.
⚾️#GoGreen | @zwalk3 | @joestew5 | @cu2_morrow pic.twitter.com/3oZVvdjjQv
Sophomore outfielder Zaid Walker was 3-for-6 with three runs scored and an RBI, knocking a double. Senior outfielder Joe Stewart was 3-for-6 with three runs scored and an RBI, also tallying a double, which came in the first inning after Walker's double for the Spartans' first run of the day.
"It was a really big day for our hitters. It was really warm here and the win was blowing out a little bit, and our hitters are pretty comfortable at the plate. I'm proud of their approach really all weekend. We scored 34 runs in three games, and it was much needed and great to see," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "Along with Bailey Peterson's big, big day with seven RBI and two home runs, Joe Stewart and Zaid Walker both had a big day. The ball was flying today and fortunately we took advantage of it."
Peterson's seven ribbies is tied for the most in a Big Ten game this season and Peterson is the first Spartan with seven RBI since Brandon Hughes had seven on March 26, 2017 at Illinois, going 3-for-5 with three HR.
Bailey Peterson came to plate in T8th a triple shy of cycle... unfortunately he didn't get cycle... because he went triple+1!! Peterson pelted his 2nd HR of game & 3rd in last 2 days!!
— Michigan State Baseball (@statebaseball) May 23, 2021
It's Peterson's 2nd 2-HR game of ssn (vs. PUR 4/18).#BaileyBash
⚾️#GoGreen | @baileypete22 pic.twitter.com/phRHfbZJQ5
The two-HR game by Peterson on Sunday was his second game this season with two round-trippers, also going yard twice vs. Purdue on April 18, 2021 at Champaign, Ill. in the pod with Illinois. The two HR give Peterson three homers in the series, as he went deep on Saturday, and he now leads the Spartans with six HR on the season.
Senior designated hitter Andrew Morrow was 1-for-3, blasting his second home run of the season with both coming this weekend.
"Morrow just cranked it!"
— Michigan State Baseball (@statebaseball) May 23, 2021
Andrew Morrow mashes solo shot deeeeeep into the picnic area for his second HR of the season, with both coming this weekend at Rutgers after blasting 3-run shot Friday.#MorrowMash
⚾️#GoGreen | @cu2_morrow pic.twitter.com/ckY5J1Gbon
Freshman infielder Reese Trahey was 2-for-5 with a run scored. Senior outfielder Bryce Kelley, freshman infielders Mitch Jebb and Trent Farquhar, and junior catcher Adam Proctor all had a hit apiece. Proctor and Farquahar posted two runs each, while Farquhar added an RBI.
On the mound, the Spartans got a gritty outing from senior Sam Benschoter, going 8.0 IP, firing seven strikeouts while scattering 10 hits and walking two, yielding seven runs.
"We needed that out of Sam today," Boss said. "It was one of those days where the bullpen is thin, so we needed him to go deep into the game. He's our senior captain and just a gutsy kid, and he just gave us everything he had today."
STRIKEOUT!
— Michigan State Baseball (@statebaseball) May 23, 2021
Benschoter rings up his 7th K of the game to end the 8th!
What a tough, gritty outing from the Spartan senior hurler!
End 8th | MSU 14, RU 7
⚾️#GoGreen | @sam_benschoter pic.twitter.com/Ok4zR3XDzD
Junior reliever Jordan Beatson pitched the ninth, ringing up two Ks.
Michigan State's offense struck first and fast, scoring two runs in the top of the first, as Walker smacked a one-out double to the gap in left center, then Stewart laced a double down the left field line to drive in Walker. Two batters later, Peterson singled to left to drive in Stewart and give MSU an early 2-0 lead.
The Spartans tacked on three in the top of the third as Farquhar led off with a walk, which chased RU starter pitcher Justin Sinibaldi. Walker welcomed reliever Kyle Muller with a single and Stewart knocked an RBI single. Two batters later, Peterson belted a ground-rule double to center to drive in Walker and Stewart, putting the Spartans on top, 5-0.Mid 1st | MSU 2, RU 0
— Michigan State Baseball (@statebaseball) May 23, 2021
Michigan State strikes first!! Spartans score 2 runs on 3 hits as Walker & Stewart go double-double, then Peterson drives in Stewart w/ RBI single.
Benschtoer takes mound to face Rutgers bats for 1st time.
⚾️#GoGreen | @zwalk3 | @joestew5 | @cu2_morrow pic.twitter.com/3oZVvdjjQv
After RU scored three runs in the home half of the fourth, the Spartans added a run in the fifth on Peterson's first home run of the game. MSU added another run in the sixth on a sac fly by Farquhar, plating Proctor who led off with a walk and moved to third on a Trahey single, and the visitors had a 7-3 lead.
The Scarlet Knights quickly countered with two runs in the home half of the sixth, on a two-run home run.
Michigan State then hung a seven-spot in the eighth inning, matching the most runs scored in an inning this season, equaling seven in a 10-2 win over Michigan on May 9. The Spartans sent 10 batters to the plate, with seven knocking a hit, with Walker and Stewart logging RBI singles, before Peterson's three-run HR and Morrow's solo mash, opened a 14-5 lead.
RU scored two in the eighth and one in the ninth for the final 14-8 score.
Michigan State wraps up the 2021 with its final homestand, May 28-30, hosting Iowa in season-finale action.
The weekend series opens on Friday, May 28 in Friday Night Lights baseball style with a 6:35 p.m. first pitch. Game two of the weekend is on Saturday, May 29 in a 4:02 p.m. start time, nationally televised on Big Ten Network. The final game of the season is on Sunday, May 30 with a 1:05 p.m. first pitch.
Sunday is MSU's Senior Day, as the Spartans will honor their seven seniors: Sam Benschoter, Trevor Hopman, Bryce Kelley, Andrew Morrow, Jarret Olson, Bailey Peterson and Joe Stewart.
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: Benschoter, Sam (3-5)
L: Sinibaldi, Justin (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Walker, Zaid 1 ; Stewart, Joe 1 ; Peterson, Bailey 1
HR: Peterson, Bailey 2 ; Morrow, Andrew 1
RBI: Farquhar, Trent 1 ; Walker, Zaid 1 ; Stewart, Joe 4 ; Peterson, Bailey 7 ; Morrow, Andrew 1
SF: Farquhar, Trent 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Farquhar, Trent 2 ; Walker, Zaid 3 ; Stewart, Joe 3 ; Peterson, Bailey 2 ; Morrow, Andrew 1 ; Proctor, Adam 2 ; Trahey, Reese 1
Batting:
2B: Schiekofer, Richie 2 ; Rodriguez, Josh 1
HR: DiGeorgio, Danny 1
RBI: Brito, Chris 1 ; Lasko, Ryan 1 ; DiGeorgio, Danny 2 ; Welsh, Kevin 1 ; Rodriguez, Josh 3
SF: Brito, Chris 1 ; Rodriguez, Josh 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Schiekofer, Richie 2 ; Brito, Chris 1 ; Lasko, Ryan 3 ; Sleight, Evan 1 ; DiGeorgio, Danny 1
HBP: Nyisztor, Mike 1 ; Sleight, Evan 1
PO: Schiekofer, Richie 1
