Wednesday, April 27
East Lansing, Mich.
6:35 PM ET
Michigan State University
18-21
7
vs
4
Purdue Fort Wayne
12-27
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Purdue Fort Wayne
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
2
0
4
6
0
Michigan State
1
0
0
4
2
0
0
0
X
7
8
1
Photo by: Sarah Smith
Spartans Spear Mastadons To Post Third-Straight Victory For MSU
4/27/2022 11:14:00 PM | Baseball
Freshman starting pitcher Arbaugh earns first collegiate win.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Pitching from Aidan Arbaugh and timely hitting from the middle of the lineup boosted Michigan State baseball to its third-straight win with a 7-4 Victory for MSU over Purdue Fort Wayne Wednesday night at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field.
The Spartans won their third in a row, matching their longest win streak of the season for the third time, and the Green & White has won five of its last seven contests. Wednesday's victory also kept MSU unbeaten against Purdue Fort Wayne, moving to 5-0 in the all-time series. Wednesday was the make-up game originally scheduled for March 23 that was rained out.Â
Freshman starter Arbaugh earned his first collegiate win, going 5.0 innings, ringing up four strikeouts while yielding just two hits and one run, walking just one.Â
"It's a really great feeling," Arbaugh said. "I don't know what else to say. I felt really good today. In the bullpen before the game, I was working on my change-up today, I hadn't really used it much before in the season, so was talking with the coaches and we wanted to start using that today with a bunch of right-handed hitters in their lineup, so I think the fastball and change-up mix kept the hitters off balance."
The 5.0 IP tied his season-high for the second-straight outing, after starting last Wednesday's match-up with Eastern Michigan. The four strikeouts also matched a season-best, with four punchouts vs. Michigan on April 15.
"It was another good start for a freshman. Consistency for a freshman, especially, can be difficult, a lot of times it's a roller coaster, so he was able to put back-to-back good starts together," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "To get him into the fifth inning was good, he may have thrown too many pitches I would say, so he could be a little bit more efficient, but at the same time, he only walked one guy and had four strikeouts. I think it was a better start today than it was last week, and last week was a pretty good start. So that's the stuff that we need in midweeks. The more he continues to grow the bigger part of the weekends he's going to become."
The relief effort of redshirt-sophomore Brian Martin, junior Jack Brockhaus and graduate-senior Kyle Bischoff secured the win for Arbaugh and the Spartans. Martin went 1.0 IP with one hit and run, while Brockhaus went 2.0 IP with two hits and two runs. Bischoff came on in the ninth and earned his ninth save, the most by a Spartan reliever since Riley McCauley 2017, joining McCauley, Tony Wieber (2012) and Domanick Squires (2001) for No. 3 on MSU's single-season saves list. After yielding a leadoff hit, posted two punchouts, including a strikeout to seal the Victory for MSU and spark the Spartan celebration.
At the plate, junior outfielder Casey Mayes reached base in all four plate appearances, going 3-for-3 with an RBI and run scored, along with a walk, and also swiped one base. Sophomore infielder Brock Vradenburg was 2-for-4 with three RBI, including two coming on a two-run single in the fourth, adding another RBI in the fifth.Â
Graduate senior outfielder Peter Ahn was 1-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored. Junior outfielder Zaid Walker was 1-for-4 with two RBI, coming on a two-run double in the fourth. Sophomore outfielder Jack Frank was 1-for-4 with an RBI. Redshirt-freshman catcher Bryan Broecker reached base twice on a walk and a HBP, scoring both times.
MSU struck early with a run in the bottom of the first, scoring in the opening inning for the second night in a row after two runs Tuesday night vs. Notre Dame at Comerica Park. Wednesday night, Frank laced a two-out single to center, and Mayes followed by smacking a ball to the wall in the left center gap, to drive in Frank, but Mayes was thrown out at third trying to stretch the double into a triple to end the inning with the score 1-0.
Arbaugh kept the Mastadons in check until the fourth inning, when they tied the score up on a two-out RBI double after a leadoff walk.
The score wasn't tied for long, as the Spartans hung a four-spot on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Mayes started the rally with a bunt single and moved to second on a balk. Ahn then walked and Broecker was hit by a pitch to fill the bases full of Spartans. Vradenburg followed with a two-run single through the right side, plating Mayes and Ahn. One Mastadon pitching change and two batters later, Walker knocked a double to left center to bring Broecker and Vradenburg around to score, putting MSU on top, 5-1 with four frames in the books.
Michigan State added to its lead in the fifth, as Mayes walked and stole second, then Ahn walked, prompting another PFW pitching change. Broecker reached on a fielder's choice, and Vradenburg got on base with an infield single to drive in Ahn, and Broecker later scored on a wild pitch to extend the Spartan advantage to 7-1.
Purdue Fort Wayne scored a run in the sixth and two in the eighth, but Brockhaus closed the door on a Mastadon rally by inducing a groundout to end the inning.
In the ninth, Bischoff yielded a leadoff double, but then got a flyout for the first out, before back-to-back strikeouts ended the game, igniting the celebratory flashing lights at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field.
Michigan State now hosts Minnesota in a three-game B1G weekend series, Friday-Sunday April 29-May 1. The series between the Spartans and Golden Gophers opens Friday at 6:35 p.m., before Saturday's second game of the series at 4:05 p.m. and wraps up on Sunday at 1:05 p.m.
The week schedule is subject to change based on weather.
Â
Along with any further schedule updates, fans can follow the games with links for live stats, live audio (when available) and live streaming of home games from Big Ten Network+ at MSUSpartans.com.
Â
The Spartans won their third in a row, matching their longest win streak of the season for the third time, and the Green & White has won five of its last seven contests. Wednesday's victory also kept MSU unbeaten against Purdue Fort Wayne, moving to 5-0 in the all-time series. Wednesday was the make-up game originally scheduled for March 23 that was rained out.Â
Freshman starter Arbaugh earned his first collegiate win, going 5.0 innings, ringing up four strikeouts while yielding just two hits and one run, walking just one.Â
"It's a really great feeling," Arbaugh said. "I don't know what else to say. I felt really good today. In the bullpen before the game, I was working on my change-up today, I hadn't really used it much before in the season, so was talking with the coaches and we wanted to start using that today with a bunch of right-handed hitters in their lineup, so I think the fastball and change-up mix kept the hitters off balance."
The 5.0 IP tied his season-high for the second-straight outing, after starting last Wednesday's match-up with Eastern Michigan. The four strikeouts also matched a season-best, with four punchouts vs. Michigan on April 15.
"It was another good start for a freshman. Consistency for a freshman, especially, can be difficult, a lot of times it's a roller coaster, so he was able to put back-to-back good starts together," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "To get him into the fifth inning was good, he may have thrown too many pitches I would say, so he could be a little bit more efficient, but at the same time, he only walked one guy and had four strikeouts. I think it was a better start today than it was last week, and last week was a pretty good start. So that's the stuff that we need in midweeks. The more he continues to grow the bigger part of the weekends he's going to become."
The relief effort of redshirt-sophomore Brian Martin, junior Jack Brockhaus and graduate-senior Kyle Bischoff secured the win for Arbaugh and the Spartans. Martin went 1.0 IP with one hit and run, while Brockhaus went 2.0 IP with two hits and two runs. Bischoff came on in the ninth and earned his ninth save, the most by a Spartan reliever since Riley McCauley 2017, joining McCauley, Tony Wieber (2012) and Domanick Squires (2001) for No. 3 on MSU's single-season saves list. After yielding a leadoff hit, posted two punchouts, including a strikeout to seal the Victory for MSU and spark the Spartan celebration.
At the plate, junior outfielder Casey Mayes reached base in all four plate appearances, going 3-for-3 with an RBI and run scored, along with a walk, and also swiped one base. Sophomore infielder Brock Vradenburg was 2-for-4 with three RBI, including two coming on a two-run single in the fourth, adding another RBI in the fifth.Â
Graduate senior outfielder Peter Ahn was 1-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored. Junior outfielder Zaid Walker was 1-for-4 with two RBI, coming on a two-run double in the fourth. Sophomore outfielder Jack Frank was 1-for-4 with an RBI. Redshirt-freshman catcher Bryan Broecker reached base twice on a walk and a HBP, scoring both times.
MSU struck early with a run in the bottom of the first, scoring in the opening inning for the second night in a row after two runs Tuesday night vs. Notre Dame at Comerica Park. Wednesday night, Frank laced a two-out single to center, and Mayes followed by smacking a ball to the wall in the left center gap, to drive in Frank, but Mayes was thrown out at third trying to stretch the double into a triple to end the inning with the score 1-0.
Arbaugh kept the Mastadons in check until the fourth inning, when they tied the score up on a two-out RBI double after a leadoff walk.
The score wasn't tied for long, as the Spartans hung a four-spot on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Mayes started the rally with a bunt single and moved to second on a balk. Ahn then walked and Broecker was hit by a pitch to fill the bases full of Spartans. Vradenburg followed with a two-run single through the right side, plating Mayes and Ahn. One Mastadon pitching change and two batters later, Walker knocked a double to left center to bring Broecker and Vradenburg around to score, putting MSU on top, 5-1 with four frames in the books.
Michigan State added to its lead in the fifth, as Mayes walked and stole second, then Ahn walked, prompting another PFW pitching change. Broecker reached on a fielder's choice, and Vradenburg got on base with an infield single to drive in Ahn, and Broecker later scored on a wild pitch to extend the Spartan advantage to 7-1.
Purdue Fort Wayne scored a run in the sixth and two in the eighth, but Brockhaus closed the door on a Mastadon rally by inducing a groundout to end the inning.
In the ninth, Bischoff yielded a leadoff double, but then got a flyout for the first out, before back-to-back strikeouts ended the game, igniting the celebratory flashing lights at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field.
Michigan State now hosts Minnesota in a three-game B1G weekend series, Friday-Sunday April 29-May 1. The series between the Spartans and Golden Gophers opens Friday at 6:35 p.m., before Saturday's second game of the series at 4:05 p.m. and wraps up on Sunday at 1:05 p.m.
The week schedule is subject to change based on weather.
Â
Along with any further schedule updates, fans can follow the games with links for live stats, live audio (when available) and live streaming of home games from Big Ten Network+ at MSUSpartans.com.
Â
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Arbaugh, Aidan (1-0)
L: Enas Hayden (0-1)
S: Bischoff, Kyle (1)
Batting:
2B: Jarrett Bickel 1 ; Jack Lang 1 ; Garett Lake 2
RBI: Jack Lang 1 ; Alex Evenson 1 ; Ryan Robison 1 ; Garett Lake 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jarrett Bickel 1 ; Jack Lang 2 ; Ben Higgins 1
SB: Jack Lang 2
Batting:
2B: Mayes, Casey 1 ; Walker, Zaid 1
RBI: Mayes, Casey 1 ; Vradenburg, Brock 3 ; Walker, Zaid 2
SH: Kark, Dillon 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Frank, Jack 1 ; Mayes, Casey 1 ; Ahn, Peter 2 ; Broecker, Bryan 2 ; Vradenburg, Brock 1
SB: Mayes, Casey 1 ; Ahn, Peter 1
CS: Mayes, Casey 1
HBP: Broecker, Bryan 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
1
H
3
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
3
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
LHP/OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
C
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
OF/RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballPursuit to Greatness | Spartans All-Access
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