Monday, February 20
Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark | Phoenix, Ariz.
1 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. MT
Michigan State University
3-1
7
at
1
Grand Canyon
2-2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Michigan State
0
0
2
0
1
0
1
3
0
7
15
1
Grand Canyon
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
5
2
Spartan Baseball Finishes Arizona Trip With 7-1 Victory For MSU Over Grand Canyon
2/20/2023 6:24:00 PM | Baseball
Michigan State ends extended weekend 3-1 in season-opening play.
PHOENIX -- Michigan State baseball concluded its extended weekend trip the Phoenix with a 7-1 Victory for MSU at Grand Canyon Monday afternoon at GCU Ballpark.
After playing three games in the 2023 MLB Desert Invitational, the Spartans remained in Phoenix to take on the Antelopes in a contest not affiliated with the tournament.
Monday's action began with a moment of silence and a prayer from Grand Canyon in tribute and remembrance of the mass shooting on the East Lansing campus on Monday, Feb. 13, when three MSU 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. Several Grand Canyon fans had signs of support and offered their condolences to players, coaches and support staff, as well as Spartan fans.
"I'm really proud of our guys. After an emotionally tough week at home, it was good to get out on the road, and be together, and they really represented Michigan State in an unbelievable way," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "A huge thank you to the people of not only Grand Canyon University, but really everybody that we played this weekend for their hospitality and their thoughts and prayers for Michigan State."
Once the game was underway, Michigan State got out early and took control behind solid pitching, hitting and fielding to beat a good Grand Canyon team that upset No. 2 Tennessee on Saturday.
"I'm very proud of our guys, I thought we played extremely well today. We swung the bat well, we got good pitching and beat a very, very good Grand Canyon team," Boss said.
MSU was playing its third game in 24 hours, after playing a day-night doubleheader on Sunday that started at 1 p.m. MT / 3 p.m. ET, beating Fresno State, 7-4, Sunday afternoon before losing to Arizona, 7-1, in the night cap. Monday's win over Grand Canyon boosted MSU to 3-1 on the young season, marking the third-straight season that the Spartans have opened 3-1 or better.
Senior pitcher Andrew Carson made the first start of his Spartan career, after 26 relief appearances in 2022. Carson went 6.0 IP, with only three hits and ringing up three strikeouts, yielding one unearned run. Sophomore Ryan Szczepaniak threw 2.0 IP with a pair of Ks with only one hit and no runs, while senior Wyatt Rush finished in up with the final 1.0 IP, chalking up two strikeouts with only one hit and no runs. The three Spartan hurlers combined for 9.0 IP, five hits, one unearned run and seven strikeouts.
"Andrew's stuff is really good, and when he's in the strike zone, he's really tough to hit, and same with Ryan," Boss said. "So for Andrew to do what he did was great, he was really in control the whole way. He had one little hiccup where he walked back-to back guys and that was it. Ryan's first inning was good and then Wyatt Rush came in in the ninth and did what a senior leader does and did what we needed him to do, and he came in and did a nice job closing it out for us."
At the plate, the Spartans again knocked double-digit hits for the third time in the four games, with 15 Monday, led by junior infielder Brock Vradenburg going 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. Junior infielder Trent Farquhar went 2-for-4 with three runs scored, while fellow junior infielder Mitch Jebb was 2-for-5 with two ribbies and a run scored. Junior outfielder Jack Frank, senior outfielder Casey Mayes and sophomore designated hitter Sam Busch all had two hits apiece.
"Those guys are locked in and they did a heck of a job preparing all winter, and they're starting to see some of the fruits of their labor. Hitting could be contagious and obviously we need it to continue going into the next weekend, but guys are in a really good place right now and it's fun to watch them hit balls hard."
The Spartans got on the board first with a pair of runs in the third as Farquhar sparked the rally with a double to right, moved to third on a Jebb groundout and scored on an RBI single through the right side by Vradenburg. Frank followed with a single up the middle and Mayes drive in Vradenburg with a base hit to right center for a 2-0 MSU lead.
GCU got a run back in the bottom of the fourth, taking advantage of an MSU error to close within 2-1.
The Spartans regained their two-run lead with a run in the top of the fifth, as again Farquhar sparked the rally, this time getting hit by a pitch to lead off the frame. Jebb followed by lacing an opposite-field triple down the left-field line to drive in Farquhar and put the visiting Spartans on top, 3-1.
Michigan State threatened in the top of the sixth, loading the bases with two outs, but Jebb was denied a hit and RBI by GCU right fielder Cade Verdusco with a diving stop on Jebb's knock just down the right field line, to thwart the Spartan threat.
MSU tacked on a run in the seventh on sac fly from Kark, driving in Vradenburg, who led off with a single and moved to third on a double by Frank. The Spartans then hung a three-spot on the board in the top of the eighth, as Ziegler doubled down the right field line, followed by Farquhar reaching on a fielding error, and Ziegler moved to third on a throwing error. Jebb then laced a single through the right side to plate Ziegler, and Vradenburg was up next and knocked an RBI single to plate Farquhar, and Frank followed with a sac fly to drive in Jebb and give MSU a 7-1 lead.
Szczepaniak kept the Lopes at bay, before Rush came on in the ninth and sealed the Victory for MSU.
The Spartans continue action on the road, heading to South Carolina next weekend, playing USC Upstate, Gardner-Webb and Presbyterian on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 24-26 respectively. MSU plays at USC Upstate on Friday at 3 p.m., at Gardner-Webb at 2 p.m. on Saturday, then wraps up the weekend at Presbyterian on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Fans can follow the action with "Watch Live" and "Live Stats" links at MSUSpartans.com, where available.
After playing three games in the 2023 MLB Desert Invitational, the Spartans remained in Phoenix to take on the Antelopes in a contest not affiliated with the tournament.
Monday's action began with a moment of silence and a prayer from Grand Canyon in tribute and remembrance of the mass shooting on the East Lansing campus on Monday, Feb. 13, when three MSU 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. Several Grand Canyon fans had signs of support and offered their condolences to players, coaches and support staff, as well as Spartan fans.
"I'm really proud of our guys. After an emotionally tough week at home, it was good to get out on the road, and be together, and they really represented Michigan State in an unbelievable way," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "A huge thank you to the people of not only Grand Canyon University, but really everybody that we played this weekend for their hospitality and their thoughts and prayers for Michigan State."
Once the game was underway, Michigan State got out early and took control behind solid pitching, hitting and fielding to beat a good Grand Canyon team that upset No. 2 Tennessee on Saturday.
"I'm very proud of our guys, I thought we played extremely well today. We swung the bat well, we got good pitching and beat a very, very good Grand Canyon team," Boss said.
MSU was playing its third game in 24 hours, after playing a day-night doubleheader on Sunday that started at 1 p.m. MT / 3 p.m. ET, beating Fresno State, 7-4, Sunday afternoon before losing to Arizona, 7-1, in the night cap. Monday's win over Grand Canyon boosted MSU to 3-1 on the young season, marking the third-straight season that the Spartans have opened 3-1 or better.
Senior pitcher Andrew Carson made the first start of his Spartan career, after 26 relief appearances in 2022. Carson went 6.0 IP, with only three hits and ringing up three strikeouts, yielding one unearned run. Sophomore Ryan Szczepaniak threw 2.0 IP with a pair of Ks with only one hit and no runs, while senior Wyatt Rush finished in up with the final 1.0 IP, chalking up two strikeouts with only one hit and no runs. The three Spartan hurlers combined for 9.0 IP, five hits, one unearned run and seven strikeouts.
"Andrew's stuff is really good, and when he's in the strike zone, he's really tough to hit, and same with Ryan," Boss said. "So for Andrew to do what he did was great, he was really in control the whole way. He had one little hiccup where he walked back-to back guys and that was it. Ryan's first inning was good and then Wyatt Rush came in in the ninth and did what a senior leader does and did what we needed him to do, and he came in and did a nice job closing it out for us."
At the plate, the Spartans again knocked double-digit hits for the third time in the four games, with 15 Monday, led by junior infielder Brock Vradenburg going 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. Junior infielder Trent Farquhar went 2-for-4 with three runs scored, while fellow junior infielder Mitch Jebb was 2-for-5 with two ribbies and a run scored. Junior outfielder Jack Frank, senior outfielder Casey Mayes and sophomore designated hitter Sam Busch all had two hits apiece.
"Those guys are locked in and they did a heck of a job preparing all winter, and they're starting to see some of the fruits of their labor. Hitting could be contagious and obviously we need it to continue going into the next weekend, but guys are in a really good place right now and it's fun to watch them hit balls hard."
The Spartans got on the board first with a pair of runs in the third as Farquhar sparked the rally with a double to right, moved to third on a Jebb groundout and scored on an RBI single through the right side by Vradenburg. Frank followed with a single up the middle and Mayes drive in Vradenburg with a base hit to right center for a 2-0 MSU lead.
GCU got a run back in the bottom of the fourth, taking advantage of an MSU error to close within 2-1.
The Spartans regained their two-run lead with a run in the top of the fifth, as again Farquhar sparked the rally, this time getting hit by a pitch to lead off the frame. Jebb followed by lacing an opposite-field triple down the left-field line to drive in Farquhar and put the visiting Spartans on top, 3-1.
Michigan State threatened in the top of the sixth, loading the bases with two outs, but Jebb was denied a hit and RBI by GCU right fielder Cade Verdusco with a diving stop on Jebb's knock just down the right field line, to thwart the Spartan threat.
MSU tacked on a run in the seventh on sac fly from Kark, driving in Vradenburg, who led off with a single and moved to third on a double by Frank. The Spartans then hung a three-spot on the board in the top of the eighth, as Ziegler doubled down the right field line, followed by Farquhar reaching on a fielding error, and Ziegler moved to third on a throwing error. Jebb then laced a single through the right side to plate Ziegler, and Vradenburg was up next and knocked an RBI single to plate Farquhar, and Frank followed with a sac fly to drive in Jebb and give MSU a 7-1 lead.
Szczepaniak kept the Lopes at bay, before Rush came on in the ninth and sealed the Victory for MSU.
The Spartans continue action on the road, heading to South Carolina next weekend, playing USC Upstate, Gardner-Webb and Presbyterian on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 24-26 respectively. MSU plays at USC Upstate on Friday at 3 p.m., at Gardner-Webb at 2 p.m. on Saturday, then wraps up the weekend at Presbyterian on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Fans can follow the action with "Watch Live" and "Live Stats" links at MSUSpartans.com, where available.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Carson, Andrew (1-0)
L: Martinez, Jacob (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Farquhar, Trent 1 ; Frank, Jack 1 ; Ziegler, Greg 1
3B: Jebb, Mitch 1
RBI: Jebb, Mitch 2 ; Vradenburg, Brock 2 ; Frank, Jack 1 ; Mayes, Casey 1 ; Kark, Dillon 1
SF: Frank, Jack 1 ; Kark, Dillon 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Farquhar, Trent 3 ; Jebb, Mitch 1 ; Vradenburg, Brock 2 ; Ziegler, Greg 1
HBP: Farquhar, Trent 1
Batting:
2B: Gregory, Zack 1 ; Crenshaw, Dustin 1 ; Barreras, Emilio 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bush Jr., Homer 1
SB: Bush Jr., Homer 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
2
H
3
RBI
2
AB
4
R
3
H
2
RBI
0
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ 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