Sunday, May 8
MEDLAR FIELD AT LUBRANO PARK | UNIVERSITY PARK, PA.
1 PM ET
Michigan State University
21-22, 6-10
3
at
15
Penn State
21-21, 8-8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Michigan State
0
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
3
11
2
Penn State
0
0
1
0
5
6
0
3
X
15
14
1
Photo by: Lucas Peltier
Spartans Topped Twice At Penn State In Sunday Twinbill
5/8/2022 8:26:00 PM | Baseball
MSU’s six-game win streak halted in loss.
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- After the series was delayed two days due to rain, Michigan State and Penn State got their three-game baseball series underway with the Sunday doubleheader at PSU's Medlar Field at Lubrano Park in University Park, Pennsylvania, and the Spartans were swept in the twinbill.
Michigan State's six-game win streak was snapped in the 15-3 opening game loss, and Penn State pulled away late for the 10-4 win in the nightcap. MSU's record dipped to 21-23 overall and 6-11 in B1G action, while PSU moved to 22-21 overall and 9-8 in league play.
MSU and PSU were originally scheduled to play the three-game Big Ten Conference series Friday-Sunday, but inclement weather for Friday pushed the series back a day, to Saturday-Monday, but Saturday's game was rained out, condensing the three games into two days with the doubleheader Sunday and single game Monday, starting at 11 a.m. to play three games in a span of just over 24 hours.
In game one Sunday, the Spartans knocked 11 hits, with three batters posting multiple hits, led by sophomore infielder Brock Vradenburg going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, rapping one of MSU's three extra-base hits with a double. Sophomore outfielder Jack Frank was also 2-for-4 with a double, while sophomore infielder Mitch Jebb went 2-for-5 with an RBI.
Redshirt-freshman catcher Bryan Broecker was 1-for-2 with an RBI, sophomore infielder Dillon Kark was 1-for-3 with a run scored. Junior outfielder Casey Mayes was 1-for-4 with a run scored after knocking the Spartans' lone triple. Graduate-senior outfielder Peter Ahn and junior outfielder Zaid Walker were both 1-for-4.
On the mound, junior starter Conner Tomasic went 4.1 IP, scattering five hits while yielding three runs, all earned, with one strikeout and one walk, and was dealt the loss, leveling his record at 3-3. Junior Andrew Carson went 0.2 IP with three runs allowed on two hits with one K, before sophomore reliever Kyle Dunning went 1.0 IP with six runs off four hits with three walks, and junior reliever Jack Brockhaus pitched the final 2.0 IP with three runs on three hits, with one walk and three strikeouts.
In the nightcap, Mayes roped his second triple of the day, part of going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, with MSU's lone extra-base hit in the second game, and was also the lone Spartan with multi hits. Broecker was 1-for-3 with a run scored, while Jebb and Frank were both 1-for-4 and each stepped on the plate once. Redshirt-freshman pinch-hitter Christian Williams had an RBI hit in his lone plate appearance.
Junior Wyatt Rush started on the mound, going 2.1 IP with four hits and three runs, all earned, posting one strikeout and one walk. Sophomore Nick Powers came on and went 2.2 IP with one run on four hits, striking out two while yielding four walks, and suffered the loss, sliding to 3-6 on the season. Sophomore Brian Martin pitched the next 2.0 IP, with only two hits and was tagged for three unearned runs, with two walks. Redshirt-freshman Dominic Pianto went the final 1.0 IP with three runs, one earned, on four hits.
The Spartans threatened in their first at bat of the day, with two singles, but Farquhar was thrown out at home to end the inning trying to score on a potential sacrifice fly by Mayes, keeping a zero in the visitor's score column on the scoreboard.
MSU did put a run on the board in the top of the second, as Vradenburg led off with a double to right center, moved to third on a groundout and scored on Broecker's RBI single to center.
PSU tried to counter in the home half of the second, but the Spartans turned their first of two double plays on the day, as MSU added to it Big Ten leading total for double plays, with 37 at the conclusion of the game. The Nittany Lions did chase the shutout out of the stadium in the third after a one-out triple was followed by an RBI single.
Michigan State quickly countered in the fourth with an identical scoring pattern, as Mayes led off with a triple and scored on a Vradenburg RBI groundout to take a 2-1 lead.
The Spartan lead lasted until the bottom of the fifth, when the Nittany Lions opened the inning with the first of their three home runs in the inning, as Kyle Hannon knocked a solo shot, and Jay Harry later smacked a three-run round-tripper and Matt Wood followed with a solo HR to complete the back-to-back blasts to open a 6-2 advantage for the home team.
PSU doubled its run total with a six-spot in the sixth.
Michigan State got a run back in the top of the seventh, as Jebb knocked an RBI single to center, driving in Kark who started off the inning with a single, pulling MSU to 12-3.
PSU added three runs in the eighth to add to its lead and complete the scoring.
Penn State starter Jaden Henline went the distance in the opener for the win, posting the first PSU nine-inning complete game since 2013.
In game two, the Nittany Lions pounced on the scoreboard with a three-run home run by Wood in the first inning.Â
The Spartans quickly countered with two runs in the top of the second, as Broecker led off with a single. Two batters later, Mayes roped a triple down the right field line and into the corner, driving Broecker around and home. Walker followed with an RBI groundout to plate Mayes and pull within 3-2.Â
MSU leveled the score at 3-all in the third as Jebb singled to right to start off the frame and after moving to second on a groundout, advanced to third on a wild pitch and later scored on another wild pitch on ball four to Vradenburg.Â
PSU threatened in the bottom of the third, loading the bases with one out, and MSU made pitching change, bringing in Powers to relieve starter Rush. Powers only needed one pitch to get out of the inning, inducing a 6-4-3 double play to end the rally and get out of the jam unscathed.Â
The Nittany Lions added a run in the fifth to take the 4-3 lead after two batters on a double and error on the play, then an RBI single. PSU's rally continued and loaded the bases without an out, before Powers got out of it with a pair of strikeouts and a flyout, keeping the score 4-3.
PSU loaded the bases in the seventh, and MSU appeared to again get out of the jam, but an error allowed one run to score and kept the inning alive, and Wood knocked a two-run single for the third run of the inning to give the Nittany Lions a 7-3 advantage.
The Spartans got a run back in the eighth on a two-out rally, as Franks and Mayes both laced singles, and Williams followed with a single down the line in left to plate Frank and pull MSU within, 7-4.
However, Penn State plated three runs of its own in the bottom of the eighth for the 10-4 final score, as MSU went down in order in the ninth.
The Spartan defense added three double plays in the night cap, adding to their B1G lead, now with 40 double plays on the season.
Michigan State and Penn State will wrap up the weekend series on Monday at 11 a.m. for some brunch and baseball.
Michigan State has a super quick turnaround, as this weekend's series at Penn State are the first three of five games in five days. The Spartans will return from Penn State late Monday night, and then head to South Bend, Ind., to play at Notre Dame on Tuesday, May 10 at 6 at Frank Eck Stadium. The Spartans then head to Kalamazoo, Mich. to take on Western Michigan on Wednesday, May 11 at 4:05 p.m. at WMU's Robert J. Bobb Stadium at Hyames Field.
Â
MSU then returns home to host Iowa, Friday-Sunday, May 13-15 in the final home games and Sunday will be MSU's Senior Day. The Spartans and Hawkeyes open the series on Friday evening at 6:35 p.m., before Saturday's 4:05 p.m. first pitch and the series finale on Spartan Senior Day with a 1:05 p.m. start time.
Â
The Spartans' schedule is subject to change based on weather.
Along with any further schedule updates, fans can find "Watch Live," "Listen Live" and "Live Stats" links at MSUSpartans.com to follow along with the upcoming action.
Â
Michigan State's six-game win streak was snapped in the 15-3 opening game loss, and Penn State pulled away late for the 10-4 win in the nightcap. MSU's record dipped to 21-23 overall and 6-11 in B1G action, while PSU moved to 22-21 overall and 9-8 in league play.
MSU and PSU were originally scheduled to play the three-game Big Ten Conference series Friday-Sunday, but inclement weather for Friday pushed the series back a day, to Saturday-Monday, but Saturday's game was rained out, condensing the three games into two days with the doubleheader Sunday and single game Monday, starting at 11 a.m. to play three games in a span of just over 24 hours.
In game one Sunday, the Spartans knocked 11 hits, with three batters posting multiple hits, led by sophomore infielder Brock Vradenburg going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, rapping one of MSU's three extra-base hits with a double. Sophomore outfielder Jack Frank was also 2-for-4 with a double, while sophomore infielder Mitch Jebb went 2-for-5 with an RBI.
Redshirt-freshman catcher Bryan Broecker was 1-for-2 with an RBI, sophomore infielder Dillon Kark was 1-for-3 with a run scored. Junior outfielder Casey Mayes was 1-for-4 with a run scored after knocking the Spartans' lone triple. Graduate-senior outfielder Peter Ahn and junior outfielder Zaid Walker were both 1-for-4.
On the mound, junior starter Conner Tomasic went 4.1 IP, scattering five hits while yielding three runs, all earned, with one strikeout and one walk, and was dealt the loss, leveling his record at 3-3. Junior Andrew Carson went 0.2 IP with three runs allowed on two hits with one K, before sophomore reliever Kyle Dunning went 1.0 IP with six runs off four hits with three walks, and junior reliever Jack Brockhaus pitched the final 2.0 IP with three runs on three hits, with one walk and three strikeouts.
In the nightcap, Mayes roped his second triple of the day, part of going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, with MSU's lone extra-base hit in the second game, and was also the lone Spartan with multi hits. Broecker was 1-for-3 with a run scored, while Jebb and Frank were both 1-for-4 and each stepped on the plate once. Redshirt-freshman pinch-hitter Christian Williams had an RBI hit in his lone plate appearance.
Junior Wyatt Rush started on the mound, going 2.1 IP with four hits and three runs, all earned, posting one strikeout and one walk. Sophomore Nick Powers came on and went 2.2 IP with one run on four hits, striking out two while yielding four walks, and suffered the loss, sliding to 3-6 on the season. Sophomore Brian Martin pitched the next 2.0 IP, with only two hits and was tagged for three unearned runs, with two walks. Redshirt-freshman Dominic Pianto went the final 1.0 IP with three runs, one earned, on four hits.
The Spartans threatened in their first at bat of the day, with two singles, but Farquhar was thrown out at home to end the inning trying to score on a potential sacrifice fly by Mayes, keeping a zero in the visitor's score column on the scoreboard.
MSU did put a run on the board in the top of the second, as Vradenburg led off with a double to right center, moved to third on a groundout and scored on Broecker's RBI single to center.
PSU tried to counter in the home half of the second, but the Spartans turned their first of two double plays on the day, as MSU added to it Big Ten leading total for double plays, with 37 at the conclusion of the game. The Nittany Lions did chase the shutout out of the stadium in the third after a one-out triple was followed by an RBI single.
Michigan State quickly countered in the fourth with an identical scoring pattern, as Mayes led off with a triple and scored on a Vradenburg RBI groundout to take a 2-1 lead.
The Spartan lead lasted until the bottom of the fifth, when the Nittany Lions opened the inning with the first of their three home runs in the inning, as Kyle Hannon knocked a solo shot, and Jay Harry later smacked a three-run round-tripper and Matt Wood followed with a solo HR to complete the back-to-back blasts to open a 6-2 advantage for the home team.
PSU doubled its run total with a six-spot in the sixth.
Michigan State got a run back in the top of the seventh, as Jebb knocked an RBI single to center, driving in Kark who started off the inning with a single, pulling MSU to 12-3.
PSU added three runs in the eighth to add to its lead and complete the scoring.
Penn State starter Jaden Henline went the distance in the opener for the win, posting the first PSU nine-inning complete game since 2013.
In game two, the Nittany Lions pounced on the scoreboard with a three-run home run by Wood in the first inning.Â
The Spartans quickly countered with two runs in the top of the second, as Broecker led off with a single. Two batters later, Mayes roped a triple down the right field line and into the corner, driving Broecker around and home. Walker followed with an RBI groundout to plate Mayes and pull within 3-2.Â
MSU leveled the score at 3-all in the third as Jebb singled to right to start off the frame and after moving to second on a groundout, advanced to third on a wild pitch and later scored on another wild pitch on ball four to Vradenburg.Â
PSU threatened in the bottom of the third, loading the bases with one out, and MSU made pitching change, bringing in Powers to relieve starter Rush. Powers only needed one pitch to get out of the inning, inducing a 6-4-3 double play to end the rally and get out of the jam unscathed.Â
The Nittany Lions added a run in the fifth to take the 4-3 lead after two batters on a double and error on the play, then an RBI single. PSU's rally continued and loaded the bases without an out, before Powers got out of it with a pair of strikeouts and a flyout, keeping the score 4-3.
PSU loaded the bases in the seventh, and MSU appeared to again get out of the jam, but an error allowed one run to score and kept the inning alive, and Wood knocked a two-run single for the third run of the inning to give the Nittany Lions a 7-3 advantage.
The Spartans got a run back in the eighth on a two-out rally, as Franks and Mayes both laced singles, and Williams followed with a single down the line in left to plate Frank and pull MSU within, 7-4.
However, Penn State plated three runs of its own in the bottom of the eighth for the 10-4 final score, as MSU went down in order in the ninth.
The Spartan defense added three double plays in the night cap, adding to their B1G lead, now with 40 double plays on the season.
Michigan State and Penn State will wrap up the weekend series on Monday at 11 a.m. for some brunch and baseball.
Michigan State has a super quick turnaround, as this weekend's series at Penn State are the first three of five games in five days. The Spartans will return from Penn State late Monday night, and then head to South Bend, Ind., to play at Notre Dame on Tuesday, May 10 at 6 at Frank Eck Stadium. The Spartans then head to Kalamazoo, Mich. to take on Western Michigan on Wednesday, May 11 at 4:05 p.m. at WMU's Robert J. Bobb Stadium at Hyames Field.
Â
MSU then returns home to host Iowa, Friday-Sunday, May 13-15 in the final home games and Sunday will be MSU's Senior Day. The Spartans and Hawkeyes open the series on Friday evening at 6:35 p.m., before Saturday's 4:05 p.m. first pitch and the series finale on Spartan Senior Day with a 1:05 p.m. start time.
Â
The Spartans' schedule is subject to change based on weather.
Along with any further schedule updates, fans can find "Watch Live," "Listen Live" and "Live Stats" links at MSUSpartans.com to follow along with the upcoming action.
Â
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Henline, Jaden (2-2)
L: Tomasic, Conner (3-3)
Batting:
2B: Frank, Jack 1 ; Vradenburg, Brock 1
3B: Mayes, Casey 1
RBI: Jebb, Mitch 1 ; Vradenburg, Brock 1 ; Broecker, Bryan 1
SH: Kark, Dillon 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mayes, Casey 1 ; Vradenburg, Brock 1 ; Kark, Dillon 1
Batting:
2B: Spiegel, Josh 1 ; Piacentino, Johnny 2
3B: Kelley, Tayven 1
HR: Harry, Jay 1 ; Wood, Matt 1 ; Hannon, Kyle 1
RBI: Bartels, Cole 2 ; Harry, Jay 3 ; Wood, Matt 1 ; Spiegel, Josh 3 ; Piacentino, Johnny 4 ; Hannon, Kyle 1 ; Cease, Derek 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bartels, Cole 3 ; Harry, Jay 1 ; Wood, Matt 3 ; Spiegel, Josh 2 ; Gerlott, Billy 1 ; Hannon, Kyle 1 ; Kelley, Tayven 3 ; Cease, Derek 1
HBP: Bartels, Cole 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
LHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF/RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP/INF
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
C
/ 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