Saturday, February 19
Earl E. Wilson Stadium | Las Vegas, Nev.
4:05 PM ET / 1:05 PM PT
Michigan State University
1-1
10
at
6
UNLV
1-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Michigan State
0
0
2
0
2
0
5
0
1
10
10
2
UNLV
0
2
0
0
2
2
0
0
0
6
10
1
Photo by: Lucas Peltier
Long Ball And Pitching Propels Spartans To Saturday Sweep At UNLV
2/20/2022 12:34:00 AM | Baseball
MSU combines for 22 runs on five home runs; hurlers fire 22 strikeouts.
LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Michigan State baseball used the long ball and solid pitching to earn the Spartans' first win of the season with a doubleheader sweep at UNLV Saturday at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.
"I'm really proud of our guys after we didn't feel like we played very well yesterday, but they came back today and really swung the bat well I thought all day long, hit a lot of balls hard," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "Defensively, not very sharp in the first game, but much better in the second game and we got good pitching really all day long."
MSU combined for 22 runs in the two games, winning the opener, 10-6, before taking the nightcap, 12-6, bashing five home runs on the day, including four in the nightcap, boosted by a grand slam from sophomore infielder Brock Vradenburg in the second inning, then three homers in the eighth, including the first round-trippers of their Spartan careers by sophomore infielder Mitch Jebb and redshirt-freshman Christian Williams, as well as a solo shot by junior outfielder Casey Mayes to start the three HR inning. Junior outfielder Zaid Walker had a two-run long ball in the opener, as the Spartans now have six home runs through the three games after sophomore outfielder Jack Frank's round-tripper Friday night.
Meanwhile, the Spartan pitching staff combined for 22 strikeouts in the two games, getting a smashing return to action by sophomore pitcher Nick Powers, and dynamite debuts from junior newcomer Conner Tomasic, freshman Ryan Szczepaniak and redshirt-freshman Dominic Pianto. Powers chalking up three Ks through 4.0 IP in the opener, before Tomasic took over, and after a little rocky start, he settled in nicely, ringing up eight strikeouts over 5.0 IP to earn his first win in his first Spartan action. Szczepaniak started the nightcap and went 5.0 IP with seven Ks, stymieing the Rebel bats, to earn his first collegiate win in his first college outing. Pianto came on in relief and rang up four punchouts in 4.0 IP to earn his first save.
"I'm really happy for Nick Powers coming back off of an injury, I thought he threw very well and a couple guys had made their debuts for you know the Spartans today," Boss said. "Conner Tomasic I thought finished the game well after he settled into the game and really threw well at the end. Then Ryan Szczepaniak gave us a great start in game two today in his first collegiate start, and it was good to extend Dominic Pianto a little bit in him making his first outing in a Spartan uniform also today was pretty important. So, it was good day all the way around."
Michigan State knocked out 25 hits on the day, adding four doubles and a triple to the five long balls, for 10 extra base hits.
Jebb was 2-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI in game one, while sophomore infielder Trent Farquhar was 2-for-4 with two runs, and Frank was 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored. Redshirt-freshman catcher Bryan Broecker registered his first collegiate hit with a three-run double in MSU's big five-run seventh inning. Walker's two-run HR was his lone hit of the opener, but did add a sacrifice fly to finish with three RBI.
Vradenburg ended game two 2-for-4 with six RBI, while Mayes was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI. Jebb was also 2-for-4 with two RBU, adding a stolen base, while Frank was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and two swiped bags. Redshirt-junior Peter Ahn added a 2-for-4 outing with a run scored. Williams finished 1-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored, while Farquhar, Walker and sophomore infielder Dillon Kark added hits, with Farquhar and Walker each scoring a run.
In Saturday's opener, Powers took the mound for his first game action since suffering an injury May 1, 2020, and missing the remainder of the season. The sophomore southpaw sprinted out of the gates, firing a strikeout in his first batter faced.
The Rebels got on the board in the home half of the second, taking advantage of two hits and one MSU error to take a 2-0 lead.
The Spartan deficit didn't last long, as Jebb reached on a single, then Walker came to bat in the third and blasted a two-run shot deep over the wall in left to knot the game at 2-all.
MSU took a short-lived 4-2 lead in the top of the fifth, as Jebb rudely greeted new UNLV relief pitcher Noah Mattera with a double to left center to plate Farquhar, who reached on a 1-out walk. Jebb moved up to 3rd on a Rebel throwing error on the play, then later scored on a wild pitch.
UNLV leveled the game at 4-all in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run home run by Diego Alarcon, rudely greeting Spartan reliever Tomasic, before the Spartan hurler settled down. Tomasic rang up three strikeouts in the inning, keeping score tied.
The Rebels took a 6-4 advantage in the sixth.
The Spartans batted around in the top of the seventh, with Walker driving in sophomore infielder Parker Pilat with the first run of the frame on a sacrifice fly. Frank knocked an infield RBI single to drive in Farquhar, who followed Pilat with a single, and re-loading the bases. Broecker cleared them all by belting a double down the left field line and putting MSU on top, 9-6.
While Tomasic settled in and was stymieing the Rebel bats, MSU tacked on a run in the top of the ninth, as Mayes tripled to the right-field corner to plate Broecker, who had walked, making score 10-6.
Tomasic slammed the door on any Rebel rally in the bottom of the ninth with a groundout, then ringing up back-to-back punchouts, including a strikeout looking to end it and spark the Spartan celebration on their first win of 2022.
In the nightcap, Szczepaniak made his Spartan debut, starting on the mound and looked like a seasoned veteran, chalking up a pair of strikeouts in first inning.
Meanwhile, the Spartans wasted little time in getting on the scoreboard, with Vradenburg blasting a grand slam bomb way over the wall in left for his first career home as a Spartan and staking MSU a 4-0 lead.
MSU added a run in the third as Walker knocked a 1-out double, and later scored on a Mayes sac fly for a 5-0 lead.
Szczepaniak had a streak of retiring seven in a row and had six Ks through 4.0 IP, before the Rebels broke through in the fifth, with two runs on two hits. The Spartan hurler then thwarted the threat with a strikeout looking, leaving two Rebels on the basepaths and cutting the MSU advantage to 5-2.
The visiting Spartans got the two runs back in hurry in the top of the sixth on Vradenburg's two-run double to re-open MSU's five-run lead at 7-2.
After UNLV got a run following some stretching and singing of peanuts and cracker jacks at Wilson Stadium, MSU hung a 5-spot on the board in the top of the eighth.
Mayes started the three home-run inning with a solo shot to left center field for his first HR of the season, along with first career solo shot and his sixth career round-tripper.
Atter Ahn reached by getting hit by a pitch, Williams smashed his first collegiate hit with a bash to left. Three batters later Farquhar singled to center, then Jebb went opposite field with a blast to left for his first career homer, and a 12-5 lead.
The Rebels clawed back with a run in the bottom of the eighth and two in the bottom of the ninth, before Pianto closed the door on the rally with a flyout, then mirrored Tomasic with strikeout to end it and spark the Spartan sweep celebration.
MSU and UNLV wrap up the four-game weekend series with a single game on Sunday, Feb. 20 at 3:05 p.m. ET / 12:05 p.m. PT.
Fans can follow all the action from Las Vegas with watch live and live stats links available at MSUSpartans.com.
"I'm really proud of our guys after we didn't feel like we played very well yesterday, but they came back today and really swung the bat well I thought all day long, hit a lot of balls hard," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "Defensively, not very sharp in the first game, but much better in the second game and we got good pitching really all day long."
MSU combined for 22 runs in the two games, winning the opener, 10-6, before taking the nightcap, 12-6, bashing five home runs on the day, including four in the nightcap, boosted by a grand slam from sophomore infielder Brock Vradenburg in the second inning, then three homers in the eighth, including the first round-trippers of their Spartan careers by sophomore infielder Mitch Jebb and redshirt-freshman Christian Williams, as well as a solo shot by junior outfielder Casey Mayes to start the three HR inning. Junior outfielder Zaid Walker had a two-run long ball in the opener, as the Spartans now have six home runs through the three games after sophomore outfielder Jack Frank's round-tripper Friday night.
Meanwhile, the Spartan pitching staff combined for 22 strikeouts in the two games, getting a smashing return to action by sophomore pitcher Nick Powers, and dynamite debuts from junior newcomer Conner Tomasic, freshman Ryan Szczepaniak and redshirt-freshman Dominic Pianto. Powers chalking up three Ks through 4.0 IP in the opener, before Tomasic took over, and after a little rocky start, he settled in nicely, ringing up eight strikeouts over 5.0 IP to earn his first win in his first Spartan action. Szczepaniak started the nightcap and went 5.0 IP with seven Ks, stymieing the Rebel bats, to earn his first collegiate win in his first college outing. Pianto came on in relief and rang up four punchouts in 4.0 IP to earn his first save.
"I'm really happy for Nick Powers coming back off of an injury, I thought he threw very well and a couple guys had made their debuts for you know the Spartans today," Boss said. "Conner Tomasic I thought finished the game well after he settled into the game and really threw well at the end. Then Ryan Szczepaniak gave us a great start in game two today in his first collegiate start, and it was good to extend Dominic Pianto a little bit in him making his first outing in a Spartan uniform also today was pretty important. So, it was good day all the way around."
Michigan State knocked out 25 hits on the day, adding four doubles and a triple to the five long balls, for 10 extra base hits.
Jebb was 2-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI in game one, while sophomore infielder Trent Farquhar was 2-for-4 with two runs, and Frank was 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored. Redshirt-freshman catcher Bryan Broecker registered his first collegiate hit with a three-run double in MSU's big five-run seventh inning. Walker's two-run HR was his lone hit of the opener, but did add a sacrifice fly to finish with three RBI.
Vradenburg ended game two 2-for-4 with six RBI, while Mayes was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI. Jebb was also 2-for-4 with two RBU, adding a stolen base, while Frank was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and two swiped bags. Redshirt-junior Peter Ahn added a 2-for-4 outing with a run scored. Williams finished 1-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored, while Farquhar, Walker and sophomore infielder Dillon Kark added hits, with Farquhar and Walker each scoring a run.
In Saturday's opener, Powers took the mound for his first game action since suffering an injury May 1, 2020, and missing the remainder of the season. The sophomore southpaw sprinted out of the gates, firing a strikeout in his first batter faced.
The Rebels got on the board in the home half of the second, taking advantage of two hits and one MSU error to take a 2-0 lead.
The Spartan deficit didn't last long, as Jebb reached on a single, then Walker came to bat in the third and blasted a two-run shot deep over the wall in left to knot the game at 2-all.
MSU took a short-lived 4-2 lead in the top of the fifth, as Jebb rudely greeted new UNLV relief pitcher Noah Mattera with a double to left center to plate Farquhar, who reached on a 1-out walk. Jebb moved up to 3rd on a Rebel throwing error on the play, then later scored on a wild pitch.
UNLV leveled the game at 4-all in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run home run by Diego Alarcon, rudely greeting Spartan reliever Tomasic, before the Spartan hurler settled down. Tomasic rang up three strikeouts in the inning, keeping score tied.
The Rebels took a 6-4 advantage in the sixth.
The Spartans batted around in the top of the seventh, with Walker driving in sophomore infielder Parker Pilat with the first run of the frame on a sacrifice fly. Frank knocked an infield RBI single to drive in Farquhar, who followed Pilat with a single, and re-loading the bases. Broecker cleared them all by belting a double down the left field line and putting MSU on top, 9-6.
While Tomasic settled in and was stymieing the Rebel bats, MSU tacked on a run in the top of the ninth, as Mayes tripled to the right-field corner to plate Broecker, who had walked, making score 10-6.
Tomasic slammed the door on any Rebel rally in the bottom of the ninth with a groundout, then ringing up back-to-back punchouts, including a strikeout looking to end it and spark the Spartan celebration on their first win of 2022.
In the nightcap, Szczepaniak made his Spartan debut, starting on the mound and looked like a seasoned veteran, chalking up a pair of strikeouts in first inning.
Meanwhile, the Spartans wasted little time in getting on the scoreboard, with Vradenburg blasting a grand slam bomb way over the wall in left for his first career home as a Spartan and staking MSU a 4-0 lead.
MSU added a run in the third as Walker knocked a 1-out double, and later scored on a Mayes sac fly for a 5-0 lead.
Szczepaniak had a streak of retiring seven in a row and had six Ks through 4.0 IP, before the Rebels broke through in the fifth, with two runs on two hits. The Spartan hurler then thwarted the threat with a strikeout looking, leaving two Rebels on the basepaths and cutting the MSU advantage to 5-2.
The visiting Spartans got the two runs back in hurry in the top of the sixth on Vradenburg's two-run double to re-open MSU's five-run lead at 7-2.
After UNLV got a run following some stretching and singing of peanuts and cracker jacks at Wilson Stadium, MSU hung a 5-spot on the board in the top of the eighth.
Mayes started the three home-run inning with a solo shot to left center field for his first HR of the season, along with first career solo shot and his sixth career round-tripper.
Atter Ahn reached by getting hit by a pitch, Williams smashed his first collegiate hit with a bash to left. Three batters later Farquhar singled to center, then Jebb went opposite field with a blast to left for his first career homer, and a 12-5 lead.
The Rebels clawed back with a run in the bottom of the eighth and two in the bottom of the ninth, before Pianto closed the door on the rally with a flyout, then mirrored Tomasic with strikeout to end it and spark the Spartan sweep celebration.
MSU and UNLV wrap up the four-game weekend series with a single game on Sunday, Feb. 20 at 3:05 p.m. ET / 12:05 p.m. PT.
Fans can follow all the action from Las Vegas with watch live and live stats links available at MSUSpartans.com.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Tomasic, Conner (1-0)
L: Troy Balko (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Jebb, Mitch 1 ; Broecker, Bryan 1
3B: Mayes, Casey 1
HR: Walker, Zaid 1
RBI: Jebb, Mitch 1 ; Walker, Zaid 3 ; Frank, Jack 1 ; Broecker, Bryan 3 ; Mayes, Casey 1
SF: Walker, Zaid 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Farquhar, Trent 2 ; Jebb, Mitch 3 ; Walker, Zaid 1 ; Trahey, Reese 1 ; Frank, Jack 1 ; Broecker, Bryan 1 ; Pilat, Parker 1
SB: Jebb, Mitch 2 ; Trahey, Reese 1 ; Frank, Jack 1 ; Ahn, Peter 1
Batting:
2B: Henry Zeisler 1 ; Cole Andavolgyi 1
3B: Gianni Horvat 1
HR: Diego Alarcon 1
RBI: Rylan Charles 1 ; Diego Alarcon 2 ; Cole Andavolgyi 1 ; Gianni Horvat 1
SF: Rylan Charles 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rylan Charles 1 ; Diego Alarcon 1 ; Joey Walls 1 ; Cole Andavolgyi 1 ; Eric Bigani 1 ; Gianni Horvat 1
HBP: Josh Sharman 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
3
H
2
RBI
1
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
3
Players Mentioned
C
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP/INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
INF/C/OF
/ 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