Saturday, May 29
East Lansing, Mich.
4:02 PM ET
Michigan State University
17-26, 17-26
4
vs
7
Iowa
25-18, 25-18
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Iowa
0
0
0
0
3
2
0
0
2
7
7
0
Michigan State
0
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
8
2
Spartans Clipped By Hawkeyes Saturday
5/29/2021 9:24:00 PM | Baseball
MSU overtaken in middle innings.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State baseball took a lead in the early innings, but was overtaken in the middle frames, and the Spartans were clipped by the Hawkeyes of Iowa, 7-4, Saturday afternoon at a sun-bathed McLane Stadium at Kobs Field.
The limited allotted capacity crowd and a national television audience was treated to an exciting Big Ten baseball battle.Â
"I think our guys gave a great effort today and that was certainly encouraging. I think that was probably a fun game to watch," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said.Â
Michigan State plated for runs in the third inning on five hits, with the big blow coming on a bases-loaded, two-run double off the wall in right by freshman infielder Mitch Jebb. Iowa countered with a three-run fifth frame, adding two more in the sixth to take a 5-4 lead, then denied the Spartans the tying run in the eighth inning, throwing out the potential tying run at the plate, before the Hawkeyes tacked on two runs in the top of the ninth.
"It was disappointing for us, obviously, not being able to hang out to the lead, but give Iowa credit they made more plays than we did, and they made a play the eighth, throwing us out at the plate with two outs, we rolled the dice and they made plays and credit them. Then, they really executed in their ninth and executed on their opportunities," Boss said. "It's a well-coached ballclub over there that took advantage of the opportunities. At the end of the day, we walked 12 guys and hit another one, and we made two errors and those were costly for sure. So disappointed today, but happy with the effort that our guys gave today, I think they responded after a tough day yesterday. We had some chances today which is all we can ask, and our guys will be ready to play tomorrow."
Sunday is Michigan State's final game of the 2021 season and the Spartans' Senior Day, as they'll honor their seniors in a pre-game ceremony.
"I know we'll get a good effort out of our guys tomorrow, it's those seniors' last opportunity, their last go around here and they've worked their tails off for four years, some of them for five years," Boss said. "A lot of these guys came back for their fifth year after they got the opportunity because of COVID and so we're certainly very appreciative of that, appreciative of all their hard work both on the field and in the classroom. I think they've represented our program in an incredible way, and that's what we ask of them and they've certainly delivered that. Senior Day is always bittersweet, you thank those guys for everything that they've done for our program and it's tough to see them go, but at the end of the day, we expect a good effort and I know we'll get a good effort from them. I think those guys really take pride in playing for Michigan State."
With Saturday's result, Iowa improved to 25-18 on the season, winning the series. MSU slid to 17-26 with the loss.
Sophomore outfielder Zaid Walker was 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, along with making two nice sliding catches for the first and third outs of the sixth inning. Jebb finished 1-for-4 with two RBI. Redshirt-sophomore catcher Gabe Sotres, senior outfielders Bryce Kelley and Joe Stewart, freshman infielders Trent Farquhar and Reese Trahey, plus sophomore pinch hitter Casey Mayes, all had hits for MSU. Farquhar, Walker, Sotres and Trahey tallied runs, while Jebb, Walker and senior infielder Bailey Peterson collected RBI.
On the mound, sophomore starter Jackson Bennett, an Iowa native, went a season-long 4.1 IP, in just his seventh appearance of the season, continuing his return from offseason injury and preseason surgery. Other highlights were redshirt-freshman pitcher William Christophersen going 3.0 IP of relief, tallying four strikeouts, including ringing up strikeouts to end the top of the eighth and ninth innings.
Michigan State broke the scoreless tie in a big way. Sotres sparked the rally with a single up the middle, then MSU had three-straight infield hits, with bunt singles by Trahey and Farquhar to load the bases. Walker followed with another infield single to third, driving in Sotres for the first run of the frame.Â
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Two batters later, Jebb smacked a double off the wall at the top of the hill in right, driving in Trahey and Farquhar and moving Walker to third. Peterson was next up and he grounded out to third, but was enough to plate Walker for a 4-0 Spartan lead after three frames.Â
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Iowa plated three runs in the top of the fifth and two in the sixth to take a 5-4 lead.Â
The Spartans tried to tie it up in the eighth, as Kelley drew a one-out walk and two batters later, moved to second after Sotres also drew a walk. Mayes was up next and had a lengthy battle with Iowa reliever Dylan Nedved, who took the mound after playing second for the previous 7.2 innings. Â Mayes laced a single to right center, but Kelley was thrown out in a play at the plate on a throw from Iowa right fielder Zeb Adreon to catcher Austin Martin, denying the Spartans of the tying run.
The Hawkeyes tacked on two insurance runs in the ninth, and MSU couldn't rally in the ninth.
Â
The final game of the Spartans' 2021 season is on Sunday with a 1:05 p.m. first pitch.Â
 Â
Sunday is MSU's Senior Day, as the Spartans will honor their seven senior players: Sam Benschoter, Trevor Hopman, Bryce Kelley, Andrew Morrow, Jarret Olson, Bailey Peterson and Joe Stewart, along with senior manager Scott Newhard, in addition to 2020 seniors: Caleb Sleeman, Danny Gieselman and Justin Antoncic, in a pre-game ceremony.Â
Â
The weekend schedule is subject to change based on weather.Â
Â
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.Â
Â
The limited allotted capacity crowd and a national television audience was treated to an exciting Big Ten baseball battle.Â
"I think our guys gave a great effort today and that was certainly encouraging. I think that was probably a fun game to watch," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said.Â
Michigan State plated for runs in the third inning on five hits, with the big blow coming on a bases-loaded, two-run double off the wall in right by freshman infielder Mitch Jebb. Iowa countered with a three-run fifth frame, adding two more in the sixth to take a 5-4 lead, then denied the Spartans the tying run in the eighth inning, throwing out the potential tying run at the plate, before the Hawkeyes tacked on two runs in the top of the ninth.
"It was disappointing for us, obviously, not being able to hang out to the lead, but give Iowa credit they made more plays than we did, and they made a play the eighth, throwing us out at the plate with two outs, we rolled the dice and they made plays and credit them. Then, they really executed in their ninth and executed on their opportunities," Boss said. "It's a well-coached ballclub over there that took advantage of the opportunities. At the end of the day, we walked 12 guys and hit another one, and we made two errors and those were costly for sure. So disappointed today, but happy with the effort that our guys gave today, I think they responded after a tough day yesterday. We had some chances today which is all we can ask, and our guys will be ready to play tomorrow."
Sunday is Michigan State's final game of the 2021 season and the Spartans' Senior Day, as they'll honor their seniors in a pre-game ceremony.
"I know we'll get a good effort out of our guys tomorrow, it's those seniors' last opportunity, their last go around here and they've worked their tails off for four years, some of them for five years," Boss said. "A lot of these guys came back for their fifth year after they got the opportunity because of COVID and so we're certainly very appreciative of that, appreciative of all their hard work both on the field and in the classroom. I think they've represented our program in an incredible way, and that's what we ask of them and they've certainly delivered that. Senior Day is always bittersweet, you thank those guys for everything that they've done for our program and it's tough to see them go, but at the end of the day, we expect a good effort and I know we'll get a good effort from them. I think those guys really take pride in playing for Michigan State."
With Saturday's result, Iowa improved to 25-18 on the season, winning the series. MSU slid to 17-26 with the loss.
Sophomore outfielder Zaid Walker was 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, along with making two nice sliding catches for the first and third outs of the sixth inning. Jebb finished 1-for-4 with two RBI. Redshirt-sophomore catcher Gabe Sotres, senior outfielders Bryce Kelley and Joe Stewart, freshman infielders Trent Farquhar and Reese Trahey, plus sophomore pinch hitter Casey Mayes, all had hits for MSU. Farquhar, Walker, Sotres and Trahey tallied runs, while Jebb, Walker and senior infielder Bailey Peterson collected RBI.
On the mound, sophomore starter Jackson Bennett, an Iowa native, went a season-long 4.1 IP, in just his seventh appearance of the season, continuing his return from offseason injury and preseason surgery. Other highlights were redshirt-freshman pitcher William Christophersen going 3.0 IP of relief, tallying four strikeouts, including ringing up strikeouts to end the top of the eighth and ninth innings.
Michigan State broke the scoreless tie in a big way. Sotres sparked the rally with a single up the middle, then MSU had three-straight infield hits, with bunt singles by Trahey and Farquhar to load the bases. Walker followed with another infield single to third, driving in Sotres for the first run of the frame.Â
Â
Two batters later, Jebb smacked a double off the wall at the top of the hill in right, driving in Trahey and Farquhar and moving Walker to third. Peterson was next up and he grounded out to third, but was enough to plate Walker for a 4-0 Spartan lead after three frames.Â
Â
Iowa plated three runs in the top of the fifth and two in the sixth to take a 5-4 lead.Â
The Spartans tried to tie it up in the eighth, as Kelley drew a one-out walk and two batters later, moved to second after Sotres also drew a walk. Mayes was up next and had a lengthy battle with Iowa reliever Dylan Nedved, who took the mound after playing second for the previous 7.2 innings. Â Mayes laced a single to right center, but Kelley was thrown out in a play at the plate on a throw from Iowa right fielder Zeb Adreon to catcher Austin Martin, denying the Spartans of the tying run.
The Hawkeyes tacked on two insurance runs in the ninth, and MSU couldn't rally in the ninth.
Â
The final game of the Spartans' 2021 season is on Sunday with a 1:05 p.m. first pitch.Â
 Â
Sunday is MSU's Senior Day, as the Spartans will honor their seven senior players: Sam Benschoter, Trevor Hopman, Bryce Kelley, Andrew Morrow, Jarret Olson, Bailey Peterson and Joe Stewart, along with senior manager Scott Newhard, in addition to 2020 seniors: Caleb Sleeman, Danny Gieselman and Justin Antoncic, in a pre-game ceremony.Â
Â
The weekend schedule is subject to change based on weather.Â
Â
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.Â
Â
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Duncan Davitt (4-3)
L: Jones, Burrell (2-2)
S: Dylan Nedved (9)
Batting:
2B: Ben Norman 1 ; Peyton Williams 3
RBI: Peyton Williams 2 ; Austin Martin 1 ; Brayden Frazier 1 ; Dylan Nedved 1
SH: Dylan Nedved 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ben Norman 2 ; Peyton Williams 1 ; Austin Martin 1 ; Zeb Adreon 1 ; Matthew Sosa 1 ; Michael Seegers 1
SB: Izaya Fullard 1
CS: Matthew Sosa 1
HBP: Matthew Sosa 1
Batting:
2B: Stewart, Joe 1 ; Jebb, Mitch 1
RBI: Walker, Zaid 1 ; Jebb, Mitch 2 ; Peterson, Bailey 1
SH: Jebb, Mitch 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Farquhar, Trent 1 ; Walker, Zaid 1 ; Sotres, Gabe 1 ; Trahey, Reese 1
SB: Sotres, Gabe 1
HBP: Sotres, Gabe 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
5
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
INF
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RHP
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RHP
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RHP
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/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballINF
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OF/LHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
INF/OF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
IF/OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
C
/ BaseballOF/1B
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballOF
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