Sunday, March 27
Urbana-Champaign, IL
2 PM ET / 1 PM CT
Michigan State University
11-9, 1-2
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Illinois
10-11, 2-1
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Michigan State
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Photo by: Eric Miller
Broecker’s Blast, Spartans’ Solid Pitching, Boost Way To Win Over Illinois
3/27/2022 7:19:00 PM | Baseball
MSU wins finale of amended home-and-home series.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- After shifting the series due to weather, Michigan State baseball responded in a big way, getting a home run from Bryan Broecker and solid pitching all day to boost the Spartans to a 5-3 Victory for MSU over Illinois Sunday afternoon at a sunny, cold and windy Illinois Field.
Sunday's game wrapped up an amended home-and-home series between MSU and Illinois. The series opened on Friday with a doubleheader and was slated to conclude Saturday, but that was postponed, due to inclement weather in the East Lansing area, and the series shifted to Illinois' home field, where the weather temperature and conditions were above the Big Ten Conference rule requirements.
"I'm really proud of our guys today, the circumstances certainly weren't ideal not being able to play at home with the weather at home, and jumping on a bus yesterday," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "I think our guys showed a lot of character today, and like we talked about before the game, today was a mental toughness day."
With Sunday's win, the Spartans have won four of their last six and are 11-9 overall and 1-2 in B1G action, after Illinois won the series with Friday's doubleheader sweep. The Illini are 10-11 overall and 2-1 in league play.
Redshirt-freshman catcher Broecker ended Sunday going 3-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored, adding a pair of singles to go with his first home run for the Green & White.
"It's definitely exciting to hit my first home run as a Spartan, especially in my home state, so it was a lot of fun," Broecker said. "I'm just glad it came at time to help us win this ballgame. I'm glad that I could do anything to help our team win."
Broecker's efforts to help MSU to the win were also helped by the sophomore duo of infielder Dillon Kark and outfielder Jack Frank both going 2-for-4, with Kark collecting two RBI. Sophomore infielder Brock Vradenburg and junior infielder Peter Ahn both had a hit apiece, with Ahn scoring a run in the second, capping the Spartans' three-run second, adding two more in the third to open 5-0 lead.
"Bryan Broecker had a big day at the plate for us," Boss said. "We put up five there early and we were able to hold on against a really good Illinois team. Again, I'm just really, really proud of our guys for being resilient over the last two days and coming down here and getting themselves a win."
On the mound, junior Conner Tomasic made his first start after eight relief appearances, and went 4.2 IP with six strikeouts, his fourth outing with four or more punchouts.
Junior Wyatt Rush came on in a jam and closed the door on the Illini rally, finishing with 3.1 IP and one K, earning the win to level his record at 1-1. Graduate senior Kyle Bischoff took over in the ninth and closed it out to earn his team-leading fifth save.
"The pitching today was really good," Boss said. "Wyatt Rush was outstanding and Kyle Bischoff did a great job in the ninth."
MSU's pitching stymied the Illini bats and got solid help from the defense as well.
"Our pitchers were lights out all day, hitting their spots, throwing where they needed to throw and getting outs when they needed to get outs, so hats off to them, they did a heck of a job today," Broecker said, who was behind the plate for all nine innings.
"I'm just glad we could pull out that win after a hectic schedule this weekend, but it shows a lot of character out of our team, and it's going to help us be successful the rest of the season in the Big Ten," Broecker said.
As the home team for the relocated series finale, the Spartans scored in the bottom of the second, plating three runs on four hits. Vradenburg sparked the rally with a one-out single down the line in left. Broecker followed with a single to left, and Ahn singled to left center to load the bases full of Spartans. Kark smacked a single through the left side and Vradenburg and Broecker came in to score. Sophomore infielder Mitch Jebb was up next and he had a fielder's choice to first base, and Ahn slid in and around the Illini catcher, getting his hand in and touching home for the third run of the frame, putting MSU up 3-0.
Junior outfielder Zaid Walker ignited the MSU rally in the third by getting hit by a pitch with one out. Two batters later, Broecker belted his first collegiate home run through the cold, bitter Champaign wind and over the wall in left field with the two-run shot, putting the Spartans ahead, 5-0.
Illinois closed to 5-3 in the fourth with a two-out rally on two doubles, a walk and another double.
The Illini threatened in the sixth but Jebb started a 6-3 double play to end frame. The Spartan defense again came up big in the eighth on a 5-4-3, two outs, one play, as Kark made a nice stop, fired to sophomore infielder Trent Farquhar at second and around to Ahn at first to complete the twin outs.
Illinois also threatened in the ninth, getting two on with two outs, but Bischoff slammed the door on any chance of comeback by ringing up a strikeout to end the rally and the game, sparking a Spartan celebration.
After opening B1G action this weekend, MSU has a week of non-conference games, first hosting a pair of Ohio foes midweek, welcoming Bowling Green to McLane Stadium at Kobs Field on Tuesday, March 29 and Youngstown State on Wednesday, March 30.
The Spartans then head to Evansville, Indiana, for a three-game non-conference series at Evansville, Friday-Sunday, April 1-3. MSU and Evansville open the series on Friday at 6 p.m., followed by a 2 p.m. first pitch on Saturday and wrapping up on Sunday at 1 p.m.
The week schedule is subject to change based on weather.
Along with any further 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.
Sunday's game wrapped up an amended home-and-home series between MSU and Illinois. The series opened on Friday with a doubleheader and was slated to conclude Saturday, but that was postponed, due to inclement weather in the East Lansing area, and the series shifted to Illinois' home field, where the weather temperature and conditions were above the Big Ten Conference rule requirements.
"I'm really proud of our guys today, the circumstances certainly weren't ideal not being able to play at home with the weather at home, and jumping on a bus yesterday," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "I think our guys showed a lot of character today, and like we talked about before the game, today was a mental toughness day."
With Sunday's win, the Spartans have won four of their last six and are 11-9 overall and 1-2 in B1G action, after Illinois won the series with Friday's doubleheader sweep. The Illini are 10-11 overall and 2-1 in league play.
Redshirt-freshman catcher Broecker ended Sunday going 3-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored, adding a pair of singles to go with his first home run for the Green & White.
"It's definitely exciting to hit my first home run as a Spartan, especially in my home state, so it was a lot of fun," Broecker said. "I'm just glad it came at time to help us win this ballgame. I'm glad that I could do anything to help our team win."
Broecker's efforts to help MSU to the win were also helped by the sophomore duo of infielder Dillon Kark and outfielder Jack Frank both going 2-for-4, with Kark collecting two RBI. Sophomore infielder Brock Vradenburg and junior infielder Peter Ahn both had a hit apiece, with Ahn scoring a run in the second, capping the Spartans' three-run second, adding two more in the third to open 5-0 lead.
"Bryan Broecker had a big day at the plate for us," Boss said. "We put up five there early and we were able to hold on against a really good Illinois team. Again, I'm just really, really proud of our guys for being resilient over the last two days and coming down here and getting themselves a win."
On the mound, junior Conner Tomasic made his first start after eight relief appearances, and went 4.2 IP with six strikeouts, his fourth outing with four or more punchouts.
Junior Wyatt Rush came on in a jam and closed the door on the Illini rally, finishing with 3.1 IP and one K, earning the win to level his record at 1-1. Graduate senior Kyle Bischoff took over in the ninth and closed it out to earn his team-leading fifth save.
"The pitching today was really good," Boss said. "Wyatt Rush was outstanding and Kyle Bischoff did a great job in the ninth."
MSU's pitching stymied the Illini bats and got solid help from the defense as well.
"Our pitchers were lights out all day, hitting their spots, throwing where they needed to throw and getting outs when they needed to get outs, so hats off to them, they did a heck of a job today," Broecker said, who was behind the plate for all nine innings.
"I'm just glad we could pull out that win after a hectic schedule this weekend, but it shows a lot of character out of our team, and it's going to help us be successful the rest of the season in the Big Ten," Broecker said.
As the home team for the relocated series finale, the Spartans scored in the bottom of the second, plating three runs on four hits. Vradenburg sparked the rally with a one-out single down the line in left. Broecker followed with a single to left, and Ahn singled to left center to load the bases full of Spartans. Kark smacked a single through the left side and Vradenburg and Broecker came in to score. Sophomore infielder Mitch Jebb was up next and he had a fielder's choice to first base, and Ahn slid in and around the Illini catcher, getting his hand in and touching home for the third run of the frame, putting MSU up 3-0.
Junior outfielder Zaid Walker ignited the MSU rally in the third by getting hit by a pitch with one out. Two batters later, Broecker belted his first collegiate home run through the cold, bitter Champaign wind and over the wall in left field with the two-run shot, putting the Spartans ahead, 5-0.
Illinois closed to 5-3 in the fourth with a two-out rally on two doubles, a walk and another double.
The Illini threatened in the sixth but Jebb started a 6-3 double play to end frame. The Spartan defense again came up big in the eighth on a 5-4-3, two outs, one play, as Kark made a nice stop, fired to sophomore infielder Trent Farquhar at second and around to Ahn at first to complete the twin outs.
Illinois also threatened in the ninth, getting two on with two outs, but Bischoff slammed the door on any chance of comeback by ringing up a strikeout to end the rally and the game, sparking a Spartan celebration.
After opening B1G action this weekend, MSU has a week of non-conference games, first hosting a pair of Ohio foes midweek, welcoming Bowling Green to McLane Stadium at Kobs Field on Tuesday, March 29 and Youngstown State on Wednesday, March 30.
The Spartans then head to Evansville, Indiana, for a three-game non-conference series at Evansville, Friday-Sunday, April 1-3. MSU and Evansville open the series on Friday at 6 p.m., followed by a 2 p.m. first pitch on Saturday and wrapping up on Sunday at 1 p.m.
The week schedule is subject to change based on weather.
Along with any further 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: Rush, Wyatt (1-1)
L: Crowder,Jack (1-1)
S: Bischoff, Kyle (1)
Batting:
2B: Comia,Branden 1 ; Campbell,Jacob 1 ; McDonald,Cam 1 ; Jackson,Taylor 1
RBI: McDonald,Cam 1 ; Jackson,Taylor 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Campbell,Jacob 1 ; McDonald,Cam 1 ; Sarver,Kellen 1
SB: Doligale,Danny 1 ; Jackson,Taylor 1
CS: Hejza,Cal 1
HBP: Sarver,Kellen 1
Batting:
2B: Ahn, Peter 1
HR: Broecker, Bryan 1
RBI: Jebb, Mitch 1 ; Broecker, Bryan 2 ; Kark, Dillon 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Walker, Zaid 1 ; Vradenburg, Brock 1 ; Broecker, Bryan 2 ; Ahn, Peter 1
SB: Walker, Zaid 1
HBP: Walker, Zaid 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
2
H
3
RBI
2
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ BaseballC
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP/INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballPursuit to Greatness | Spartans All-Access
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