Sunday, February 19
SRF at Talking Stick | Phoenix, Ariz.
3 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. MT
Michigan State University
2-0
7
vs
4
Fresno State
1-2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Michigan State
0
0
3
0
2
0
0
0
2
7
15
2
Fresno State
2
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
4
4
1
Photo by: Zac BonDurant
MSU Baseball Splits Day-Night Doubleheader Sunday To Wrap Up MLB Desert Invite Action
2/19/2023 11:53:00 PM | Baseball
Spartans post 7-4 Victory For MSU over Fresno State in game one, fall to Arizona, 7-1, in nightcap.
Scottsdale, Arizona -- Michigan State baseball wrapped up its 2023 Major League Baseball Desert Invitational Sunday with a day-night doubleheader split at Salt River Fields, with a 7-4 Victory for MSU over Fresno State in the opener and losing to Arizona, 7-4, in the nightcap.
Sunday's action was at Salt River Fields, the Spring Training facility of the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks, and got underway after an emotional National Anthem singing by Yonni Castillo MSU alumnus and member of the Arizona Spartans Alumni Chapter. MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. and members of the Spartan team thanked Castillo for his singing, as tribute to the Michigan State community, as Sunday was the team's second game after a mass shooting on the East Lansing campus on Monday, Feb. 13, when three students were killed and five were hospitalized. Michigan State University canceled classes this week following the deaths of the three students – juniors Arielle Anderson and Alexandria Verner and sophomore Brian Fraser.
Michigan State players again wore "Spartan Strong" stickers on their helmets in a tribute, and several players had personal tributes as well. Both Fresno State and Arizona players, coaches, support staff and fans offered their condolences throughout the day.
Once the action got going, MSU knocked out 15 hits in the opener, and got a stellar relief performance from redshirt-sophomore pitcher Dominic Pianto, going 8.1 innings of relief, ringing up four strikeouts, with just three hits and only yielding one earned run without a walk.
"We played two very good teams today. In game one, we really swing the bats well for the second game in a row," Boss said. "Dominic Pianto was just outstanding. For him to do what he did today was a huge boost for our team. He never was really in trouble, he was in command the whole way. He did a really nice job of getting us out of the first inning and the plan was to at least get us into the fifth or the sixth, but he was just extremely efficient, got outs early in the count and was just in control the whole way. He only gave up two runs, and those weren't really on him, they were on our fielders, and those were the only runs he gave up. That was a huge boost for our team and a huge boost for Dominic. I'm really proud of him and happy for him, because he took the next step, which is what our team is going to need moving forward."
In the nightcap, the Spartans had five hits, but were denied several hits by Arizona defensive plays by both the infield and outfield.
"In game two, we ran into a really good arm, the left-hander pitcher from Arizona (Bradon) Zastrow was outstanding. The velocity was good, the breaking ball was good; I think he was as good of an arm as we'll see all year long," Boss said. "I thought our guys battled and competed, but Arizona made some pitches when they needed to. We squared up a handful of balls, and I can think of at least three different times that because we were playing in such a big park tonight, if we're at home, or any of several other park, they would probably leave the yard, but credit to Arizona's guys, their outfielders really cover a lot of ground out there, and made three tremendous catches that I think would have been home runs in a number of other parks. But that's the way the game goes.
"I don't think we played poorly today, I just think we got beat by a very good team. We'll regroup and be ready to go for tomorrow."
A trio of Spartans posted three hits apiece in the opener, as senior outfielder Casey Mayes was 3-for-5 with three RBI, while junior infielder Brock Vradenburg was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and junior infielder Trent Farquhar was 3-for-5 with a run scored. Junior infielder Dillon Kark was 2-for-5 with a run driven in for the fourth player with multiple hits.
Sophomore catcher Bryan Broecker, junior infielder Mitch Jebb, junior outfielder Jack Frank and sophomore designated hitter Sam Busch all had one hit each. Jebb, Frank and Kark all knocked in a run apiece, while Frank scored two runs and Broecker scored one run.
Game One
As the visiting team for the first game of the day, the Spartans threatened right off the bat, with Farquhar leading off with a single up the middle and MSU later loaded the bases, but a strikeout thwarted the threat to end the inning and leaves the bases full.
Fresno State broke through in the home half of the first with two runs on just one hit, taking advantage of three walks and a sacrifice fly and had the bases loaded with two outs. MSU made a pitching change and brought in Pianto, who induced a fly ball to end the inning and the Bulldogs' rally.
MSU got on the board in the top of the third when Farquhar again led off with a single, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Jebb. After Vradenburg and Frank walked, Mayes belted a triple to the right-center gap and Vrandendburg and Frank scampered around the bases to score. Mayes led the Big Ten in triples last season with seven three-baggers, and picked up right where he left off, putting the Spartans ahead, 3-2.
The Green & White tacked on two runs in the top of the fifth after Vradenburg led off with a single up the middle, then Frank followed with a double to the gap in left center and Vradenburg scurried around the bases and slide in safe. Mayes followed with a bunt single nicely slotted just past the mound moved Frank to third. A 4-6-3 double play knocked in Frank for a 5-2 lead.
Fresno State closed to 5-4 with two runs in the home half of the sixth, but the Spartans tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the top of the ninth, after Broecker led off with a single, and two batters later Vradenburg singled and Broecker moved to third on an error on the play, putting Spartan runners on the corners. Two batters later Mayes knocked a single through the left side to plate Broecker and Kark followed by lacing a single to center to drive in Vradenburg to put MSU ahead 7-4.
Pianto worked around a one-out single in the bottom of the ninth, getting a popup to short then a flyout to left to end the game and secure the Victory for MSU.
Game Two
In the nightcap, Arizona took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second on the first of two home runs on the night by the Wildcats' top MLB prospect, Chase Davis, with a two-run homer to left.
The Spartans got a run back in the home half of the second, as graduate transfer catcher Sam Thompson singled to right, and darted from first to third on a double by junior outfielder Greg Ziegler. Two batters later, Broecker flew out to right center for the sac fly to score Thompson and pull MSU within, 2-1.
The Wildcats pulled away with a run in the fourth, another in the fifth on a solo HR by Davis, two more in the sixth, including one on an RBI double by Davis, and another in the ninth for the final scoring.
Arizona had 10 hits in the night cap, compared to five for Michigan State.
Ziegler was the only Spartan with multiple hits in the nightcap, going 2-for-5, while Thompson (1-for-2), Frank (1-for-3) and Vradenburg (1-for-4) rounded out the Spartan hits.
On the mound, junior Noah Matheny led four Spartan pitchers making their debuts, as Matheny started and went 5.0 IP with five Ks, followed by junior Max Chapman (0.2 IP), freshman Nolan Higgins (1.1 IP, 1 K, 1 H), and freshman Gavin Sitarz (1.0 IP, 0 H, 1 K), before senior reliever Brian Martin (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 K) closed it out.
Michigan State wraps up its extended weekend playing at Grand Canyon on Monday, Feb. 20 at 1 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. MT, at Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark, in a game unaffiliated with the tournament.
Fans can follow the action with "Watch Live" and "Live Stats" links at MSUSpartans.com. Monday's game at GCU will be streamed on ESPN+, with a subscription fee.
Sunday's action was at Salt River Fields, the Spring Training facility of the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks, and got underway after an emotional National Anthem singing by Yonni Castillo MSU alumnus and member of the Arizona Spartans Alumni Chapter. MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. and members of the Spartan team thanked Castillo for his singing, as tribute to the Michigan State community, as Sunday was the team's second game after a mass shooting on the East Lansing campus on Monday, Feb. 13, when three students were killed and five were hospitalized. Michigan State University canceled classes this week following the deaths of the three students – juniors Arielle Anderson and Alexandria Verner and sophomore Brian Fraser.
Michigan State players again wore "Spartan Strong" stickers on their helmets in a tribute, and several players had personal tributes as well. Both Fresno State and Arizona players, coaches, support staff and fans offered their condolences throughout the day.
Once the action got going, MSU knocked out 15 hits in the opener, and got a stellar relief performance from redshirt-sophomore pitcher Dominic Pianto, going 8.1 innings of relief, ringing up four strikeouts, with just three hits and only yielding one earned run without a walk.
"We played two very good teams today. In game one, we really swing the bats well for the second game in a row," Boss said. "Dominic Pianto was just outstanding. For him to do what he did today was a huge boost for our team. He never was really in trouble, he was in command the whole way. He did a really nice job of getting us out of the first inning and the plan was to at least get us into the fifth or the sixth, but he was just extremely efficient, got outs early in the count and was just in control the whole way. He only gave up two runs, and those weren't really on him, they were on our fielders, and those were the only runs he gave up. That was a huge boost for our team and a huge boost for Dominic. I'm really proud of him and happy for him, because he took the next step, which is what our team is going to need moving forward."
In the nightcap, the Spartans had five hits, but were denied several hits by Arizona defensive plays by both the infield and outfield.
"In game two, we ran into a really good arm, the left-hander pitcher from Arizona (Bradon) Zastrow was outstanding. The velocity was good, the breaking ball was good; I think he was as good of an arm as we'll see all year long," Boss said. "I thought our guys battled and competed, but Arizona made some pitches when they needed to. We squared up a handful of balls, and I can think of at least three different times that because we were playing in such a big park tonight, if we're at home, or any of several other park, they would probably leave the yard, but credit to Arizona's guys, their outfielders really cover a lot of ground out there, and made three tremendous catches that I think would have been home runs in a number of other parks. But that's the way the game goes.
"I don't think we played poorly today, I just think we got beat by a very good team. We'll regroup and be ready to go for tomorrow."
A trio of Spartans posted three hits apiece in the opener, as senior outfielder Casey Mayes was 3-for-5 with three RBI, while junior infielder Brock Vradenburg was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and junior infielder Trent Farquhar was 3-for-5 with a run scored. Junior infielder Dillon Kark was 2-for-5 with a run driven in for the fourth player with multiple hits.
Sophomore catcher Bryan Broecker, junior infielder Mitch Jebb, junior outfielder Jack Frank and sophomore designated hitter Sam Busch all had one hit each. Jebb, Frank and Kark all knocked in a run apiece, while Frank scored two runs and Broecker scored one run.
Game One
As the visiting team for the first game of the day, the Spartans threatened right off the bat, with Farquhar leading off with a single up the middle and MSU later loaded the bases, but a strikeout thwarted the threat to end the inning and leaves the bases full.
Fresno State broke through in the home half of the first with two runs on just one hit, taking advantage of three walks and a sacrifice fly and had the bases loaded with two outs. MSU made a pitching change and brought in Pianto, who induced a fly ball to end the inning and the Bulldogs' rally.
MSU got on the board in the top of the third when Farquhar again led off with a single, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Jebb. After Vradenburg and Frank walked, Mayes belted a triple to the right-center gap and Vrandendburg and Frank scampered around the bases to score. Mayes led the Big Ten in triples last season with seven three-baggers, and picked up right where he left off, putting the Spartans ahead, 3-2.
The Green & White tacked on two runs in the top of the fifth after Vradenburg led off with a single up the middle, then Frank followed with a double to the gap in left center and Vradenburg scurried around the bases and slide in safe. Mayes followed with a bunt single nicely slotted just past the mound moved Frank to third. A 4-6-3 double play knocked in Frank for a 5-2 lead.
Fresno State closed to 5-4 with two runs in the home half of the sixth, but the Spartans tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the top of the ninth, after Broecker led off with a single, and two batters later Vradenburg singled and Broecker moved to third on an error on the play, putting Spartan runners on the corners. Two batters later Mayes knocked a single through the left side to plate Broecker and Kark followed by lacing a single to center to drive in Vradenburg to put MSU ahead 7-4.
Pianto worked around a one-out single in the bottom of the ninth, getting a popup to short then a flyout to left to end the game and secure the Victory for MSU.
Game Two
In the nightcap, Arizona took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second on the first of two home runs on the night by the Wildcats' top MLB prospect, Chase Davis, with a two-run homer to left.
The Spartans got a run back in the home half of the second, as graduate transfer catcher Sam Thompson singled to right, and darted from first to third on a double by junior outfielder Greg Ziegler. Two batters later, Broecker flew out to right center for the sac fly to score Thompson and pull MSU within, 2-1.
The Wildcats pulled away with a run in the fourth, another in the fifth on a solo HR by Davis, two more in the sixth, including one on an RBI double by Davis, and another in the ninth for the final scoring.
Arizona had 10 hits in the night cap, compared to five for Michigan State.
Ziegler was the only Spartan with multiple hits in the nightcap, going 2-for-5, while Thompson (1-for-2), Frank (1-for-3) and Vradenburg (1-for-4) rounded out the Spartan hits.
On the mound, junior Noah Matheny led four Spartan pitchers making their debuts, as Matheny started and went 5.0 IP with five Ks, followed by junior Max Chapman (0.2 IP), freshman Nolan Higgins (1.1 IP, 1 K, 1 H), and freshman Gavin Sitarz (1.0 IP, 0 H, 1 K), before senior reliever Brian Martin (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 K) closed it out.
Michigan State wraps up its extended weekend playing at Grand Canyon on Monday, Feb. 20 at 1 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. MT, at Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark, in a game unaffiliated with the tournament.
Fans can follow the action with "Watch Live" and "Live Stats" links at MSUSpartans.com. Monday's game at GCU will be streamed on ESPN+, with a subscription fee.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Pianto, Dominic (1-0)
L: ANGELO, Roman (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Vradenburg, Brock 1 ; Frank, Jack 1
3B: Mayes, Casey 1
RBI: Jebb, Mitch 1 ; Frank, Jack 1 ; Mayes, Casey 3 ; Kark, Dillon 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Farquhar, Trent 1 ; Broecker, Bryan 1 ; Vradenburg, Brock 3 ; Frank, Jack 2
SB: Farquhar, Trent 1
CS: Jebb, Mitch 1 ; Dresselhouse, Jake 1
HBP: Dresselhouse, Jake 1
Batting:
3B: BLANDFORD, Bobby 1
RBI: HOPFE, Tommy 1 ; BLANDFORD, Bobby 1 ; ALLEN, Payton 2
SF: ALLEN, Payton 1
Base Running:
RUNS: NEWTON, Ben 1 ; MORGAN. Grady 1 ; DAVIS, Tyler 1 ; BLANDFORD, Bobby 1
HBP: BLANDFORD, Bobby 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
1
H
3
RBI
0
AB
4
R
3
H
3
RBI
0
AB
5
R
0
H
3
RBI
3
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
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LHP
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INF
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OF
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RHP
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INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF/RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballPursuit to Greatness | Spartans All-Access
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