Sunday, May 30
East Lansing, Mich.
1:05 PM ET
Michigan State University
17-27, 17-27
3
vs
11
Iowa
26-18, 26-18
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Iowa
1
0
9
0
1
0
0
0
0
11
11
0
Michigan State
0
0
1
0
1
1
0
0
0
3
12
0
Photo by: Rey Del Rio/MSU Athletic Communications
Spartans Defeated By Hawkeyes On Senior Day
5/30/2021 6:17:00 PM | Baseball
MSU honors seniors on final game of 2021 season.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State baseball was defeated by Iowa, 11-3, Sunday afternoon at a sun-basked McLane Stadium at Kobs Field on MSU's Senior Day.
Before the game, the Spartans honored 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. After introductions, one family member of each senior threw out the ceremonial first pitch to their respective player.
"It's always a bittersweet day, we thank our seniors for all their hard work and how they've represented our program, it's always tough to say goodbye to a great group of kids who work their tails off in the field in the classroom and like I said, I think they've really represented our program in first class way, MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "It's too bad we couldn't send them off with a win. It kind of got away from us there in the third inning a little bit, but I was really happy with how they competed, we continued to play hard and Iowa was just better than we were today. Give them a lot of credit but I'm really proud of our guys for the way they stuck through a lot of different obstacles all year long, and even going back to the fall. I think these guys represent Michigan State University and our athletic department and our baseball program in a first-class way."
Stewart was 1-for-3 with a home run, matching his jersey number with his fifth round-tripper of the season, and made a couple nice catches in center field.
"Obviously, Senior Day is an emotional day, coming to the end of a Spartan career, so just getting the opportunity to play and play centerfield today, and then to get to put a good swing on a ball and get one out of here is pretty special," Stewart said. "It definitely means a lot to me. Just being able to wear this uniform, and to get to do that on my last day wearing it is pretty cool, for sure."
Kelley was 1-for-4 with a run scored, capping a memorable career at Michigan State.
It's very tough to put into words, it's just been an unbelievable experience. I'm so grateful that Coach Boss and the coaches took a chance on me here. And it's been a very fast and incredible five years," Kelley said. "Coming in, you just kind of want a chance to play and you don't really know what to expect. Tto have the career that I had, and the unbelievable teammates and friends I've been able to make, I really just can't put it into words, it's just been unbelievable."
Peterson was also 1-for-4 with an RBI and made a fantastic running catch over the shoulder in foul territory. Morrow was also 1-for-4. Olson started the game on the mound, making his 2021 debut after missing the previous portion of the season with an injury. Benschoter came on in relief, before leaving with an injury as well. Hopman made a pinch hit appearance and was robbed of a hit by the Iowa defense.
Freshman infielder Mitch Jebb was 2-for-3 with a run scored, while freshman infielder Reese Trahey was 2-for-4 with an RBI, coming on a triple in the sixth. Sophomore outfielder Zaid Walker was 2-for-5, while sophomore catcher Adam Proctor and freshman infielder Trent Farquhar were both 1-for-4.
Iowa scored a run in the first and then plated nine in the top of the third to open a 10-0 lead.
MSU got a run back in the home half of the third on an RBI double by Peterson, plating Jebb who singled.
After the Hawkeyes notched a run in the fifth, Stewart went yard in the home half of the fifth frame. He sent the ball deep over the fence in left center, matching his jersey number with his fifth home run of the season.
The Spartans added another run in the sixth as Kelley led off with a single, and Trahey later belted a triple to right center, and Kelley scampered around the bases to score and make the score 11-3. That remained the score for the rest of the ball game to close out the contest, the weekend and the Spartans' season.
Iowa improved to 26-18 with the win, while Michigan State concluded the 2021 season with a 17-27 record.
Before the game, the Spartans honored 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. After introductions, one family member of each senior threw out the ceremonial first pitch to their respective player.
"It's always a bittersweet day, we thank our seniors for all their hard work and how they've represented our program, it's always tough to say goodbye to a great group of kids who work their tails off in the field in the classroom and like I said, I think they've really represented our program in first class way, MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "It's too bad we couldn't send them off with a win. It kind of got away from us there in the third inning a little bit, but I was really happy with how they competed, we continued to play hard and Iowa was just better than we were today. Give them a lot of credit but I'm really proud of our guys for the way they stuck through a lot of different obstacles all year long, and even going back to the fall. I think these guys represent Michigan State University and our athletic department and our baseball program in a first-class way."
Stewart was 1-for-3 with a home run, matching his jersey number with his fifth round-tripper of the season, and made a couple nice catches in center field.
"Obviously, Senior Day is an emotional day, coming to the end of a Spartan career, so just getting the opportunity to play and play centerfield today, and then to get to put a good swing on a ball and get one out of here is pretty special," Stewart said. "It definitely means a lot to me. Just being able to wear this uniform, and to get to do that on my last day wearing it is pretty cool, for sure."
Kelley was 1-for-4 with a run scored, capping a memorable career at Michigan State.
It's very tough to put into words, it's just been an unbelievable experience. I'm so grateful that Coach Boss and the coaches took a chance on me here. And it's been a very fast and incredible five years," Kelley said. "Coming in, you just kind of want a chance to play and you don't really know what to expect. Tto have the career that I had, and the unbelievable teammates and friends I've been able to make, I really just can't put it into words, it's just been unbelievable."
Peterson was also 1-for-4 with an RBI and made a fantastic running catch over the shoulder in foul territory. Morrow was also 1-for-4. Olson started the game on the mound, making his 2021 debut after missing the previous portion of the season with an injury. Benschoter came on in relief, before leaving with an injury as well. Hopman made a pinch hit appearance and was robbed of a hit by the Iowa defense.
Freshman infielder Mitch Jebb was 2-for-3 with a run scored, while freshman infielder Reese Trahey was 2-for-4 with an RBI, coming on a triple in the sixth. Sophomore outfielder Zaid Walker was 2-for-5, while sophomore catcher Adam Proctor and freshman infielder Trent Farquhar were both 1-for-4.
Iowa scored a run in the first and then plated nine in the top of the third to open a 10-0 lead.
MSU got a run back in the home half of the third on an RBI double by Peterson, plating Jebb who singled.
After the Hawkeyes notched a run in the fifth, Stewart went yard in the home half of the fifth frame. He sent the ball deep over the fence in left center, matching his jersey number with his fifth home run of the season.
The Spartans added another run in the sixth as Kelley led off with a single, and Trahey later belted a triple to right center, and Kelley scampered around the bases to score and make the score 11-3. That remained the score for the rest of the ball game to close out the contest, the weekend and the Spartans' season.
Iowa improved to 26-18 with the win, while Michigan State concluded the 2021 season with a 17-27 record.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Cam Baumann (5-5)
L: Olson, Jarret (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Izaya Fullard 1 ; Austin Martin 1 ; Zeb Adreon 1 ; Brayden Frazier 3
3B: Ben Norman 1
RBI: Ben Norman 2 ; Izaya Fullard 1 ; Austin Martin 1 ; Matthew Sosa 3 ; Zeb Adreon 2 ; Brayden Frazier 2
SH: Michael Seegers 1
SF: Matthew Sosa 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ben Norman 1 ; Izaya Fullard 3 ; Peyton Williams 2 ; Austin Martin 1 ; Matthew Sosa 1 ; Zeb Adreon 1 ; Dylan Nedved 1 ; Michael Seegers 1
SB: Brayden Frazier 1 ; Dylan Nedved 1
HBP: Izaya Fullard 2 ; Peyton Williams 2 ; Austin Martin 1 ; Matthew Sosa 1 ; Dylan Nedved 1
Batting:
2B: Jebb, Mitch 1 ; Peterson, Bailey 1
3B: Trahey, Reese 1
HR: Stewart, Joe 1
RBI: Stewart, Joe 1 ; Peterson, Bailey 1 ; Trahey, Reese 1
SH: Jebb, Mitch 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Stewart, Joe 1 ; Jebb, Mitch 1 ; Kelley, Bryce 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
OF/LHP
/ Baseball
INF/OF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
IF/OF
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF/1B
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballPursuit to Greatness | Spartans All-Access
Monday, May 19
Jake Boss | Baseball Press Conference | April 17, 2025
Thursday, April 17
Jake Boss | Baseball Press Conference | Mar. 25 2025
Tuesday, March 25
Jake Boss | Baseball Press Conference | Mar. 11 2025
Tuesday, March 11