Michigan State Wraps Up First Pitch Invite With Loss To Kansas Sunday

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Michigan State baseball was beaten by Kansas, 13-7, Sunday afternoon to wrap up the Spartans' action at the 2022 First Pitch Invitational at Fluor Field, home of the Greenville Drive.

MSU ended the weekend 2-1, after beating Cincinnati on Friday and Western Carolina on Saturday, and the Spartans are now level at 7-7 this season. Kansas evened its weekend mark at 1-1, as the Jayhawks' game vs. Cincinnati on Saturday evening was canceled, and KU is now also 7-7.

"A huge thank you to Craig Brown and the entire staff of the Greenville Drive, they run a top-notch operation, and were great hosts for us all week. We're very appreciative of everything they do for Michigan State Baseball," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "It was also great to see so many Spartans fans from around the area at the ballpark all weekend and we loved having them supporting us. It was a great warm-up for the area Spartan fans for next weekend when MSU men's basketball comes to town for the NCAA Tournament."

Sunday's loss to KU evens the back-to-back weekend series between the Spartans and Jayhawks, after MSU beat KU last Friday, March 4 in Minneapolis at the Cambria Classic at U.S. Bank Stadium, home of the Minnesota Vikings. Sunday was also the first time that Michigan State was defeated by Kansas in the all-time series, now at 2-1 in favor of the Spartans.

Eight of the nine Spartans in the line had a hit, led by redshirt-freshman Bryan Broecker going 3-for-4, while junior infielder Peter Ahn was 2-for-3, with both Broecker and Ahn notching an RBI and a run. Sophomore outfielder Jack Frank was the lone MSU player without a hit, but he drew three walks and scored two runs, sparking Spartan rallies in the second and fourth innings.

Sophomore infielder Trent Farquhar, junior outfielder Casey Mayes and sophomore infielder Brock Vradenburg all had doubles, coming in successive order as part of the Spartans' three-run seventh inning, as MSU tried to rally.

"I'm happy with the way our offense competed today, I thought we got some good at-bats throughout the course of the entire game with 11 hits and a couple extra base hits, and I think we had some hustle plays offensively, which was all good to see," Boss said. "It was disappointing, on the mound today though, I think we walked 11 hitters and hit three more. We learned that a couple weeks ago at Abilene that we can't allow that many free base runners and expect to win the ballgame, that's a recipe for disaster, and we need to get it fixed and get it fixed quickly, so that will be the charge this week."

KU scored first with a two-run home run by Cooper McMurray in the top of the second inning. However, MSU got the runs right back with a three-run home half of the second, for a 3-2 lead. After both teams scored a run in the fourth, the Jayhawks broke the game open with a five-run sixth.

"We're going to have a good week of practice and we're excited about playing at home this weekend and representing Michigan State," Boss said.

Michigan State returns home to McLane Stadium at Kobs Field for the 2022 home-opener, hosting Houston Baptist, Friday-Sunday, March 18-21, to open a nine-game homestand. The Spartans and Huskies open the three-game series on Friday at 4:05 p.m., before Saturday's game two of the series at 1:05 p.m., preceding Sunday's series finale at 1:05 p.m.

Michigan State Wraps Up First Pitch Invite With Loss To Kansas Sunday

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Team Stats

Bryan Broecker

Peter Ahn

Mitch Jebb

Trent Farquhar

Players Mentioned

Peter Ahn

Bryan Broecker

Trent Farquhar

Jack Frank

Casey Mayes

Brock Vradenburg

Players Mentioned

Peter Ahn

Bryan Broecker

Trent Farquhar

Jack Frank

Casey Mayes

Brock Vradenburg