Friday, March 31
Bainton Field | Piscataway, N.J.
3 p.m.
Michigan State University
15-8, 3-1
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Rutgers
13-12, 0-1
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Michigan State
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Rutgers
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Photo by: Zac BonDurant
Michigan State Tops Rutgers, 3-2, Friday In Series Opener
3/31/2023 8:32:00 PM | Baseball
Spartans have won three in a row and 10 of last 11.
PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Michigan State baseball beat Rutgers, 3-2, Friday afternoon at RU's Bainton Field, spoiling the Scarlet Knights' Big Ten Conference opener in a hard-fought pitcher's duel.
MSU won its third game in a row and the Spartans have won 10 of their last 11 in improving to 15-8 overall and 3-1 in B1G action. Rutgers is 13-12 overall and 0-1 in conference competition. The Spartans also dealt the Scarlet Knights their first home loss of the season, as RU had won its previous four home games.
Additionally, Michigan State has won the last two match-ups with Rutgers and three of the last four, improving to 17-8 in the all-time series against the Scarlet Knights, including 6-4 in Piscataway.
The Spartans scored their three runs in rapping out nine hits, and won despite leaving 12 runners on base, including the bases loaded in the first and fourth innings. The Scarlet Knights scored two runs on eight hits and left eight runners on bases, including the bases loaded in the third frame.
One of MSU's biggest hits of the day was an RBI single by junior outfielder Jack Frank in the top of the seventh, driving in junior infielder Mitch Jebb, who led off with a walk. Jebb then moved to second on a single by fellow junior infielder Brock Vradenburg, to third on a flyout by sophomore designated hitter Sam Busch, and scored on Frank's single to center.
"I'm very pleased with the result today. I think Rutgers is an extremely good ballclub, and I know we're going to get a great effort out of them tomorrow, so we knew we really had to pitch well and defend well today, and I thought we did both," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "I think we left a couple opportunities on the field offensively, but we got a big hit when we needed it and made it stand up so. I think it was a quality win against a very good opponent and we need to be ready to go again tomorrow."
Vradenburg finished 3-for-5 with a double, as the only Spartan with multiple hits, spreading the offense around as seven of the nine in the starting line-up had a hit. Frank was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, while junior infielder Trent Farquhar was 1-for-3 with an RBI, and while Jebb went without a hit, he did score a run and registered an RBI, coming from drawing a bases-loaded walk in the fourth, one of two free passes that Jebb drew on the day.
Additionally, junior infielder Dillon Kark was 1-for-2, with a sacrifice and a HBP, while senior outfielder Casey Mayes was 1-for-3, also with a sac bunt. Sophomore catcher Bryan Broecker was 1-for-4 with a double, scoring a run, and Busch was 1-for-3.
Putting the pitcher in pitcher's duel for the Spartans was freshman starter Joseph Dzierwa, going 5.0 IP, yielding just one run, while walking two and striking out one in scattering four hits to earn the win, improving to 3-1. Senior reliever Andrew Carson came on in and went 3.0 IP with two Ks with one run and four hits. Senior closer Wyatt Rush pitched a hitless, scoreless ninth to pick up his sixth save of the season and eighth of his career, needing just one more save to crack into both MSU's season and career saves Top 10 list.
Rutgers starter Drew Conover took the loss, leveling his ledger at 2-2, after going 4.0 IP.
The Spartans threatened in their first at bats, as Vradenburg sparked a two-out rally with a single up the middle, and Busch followed with a single to right. Frank followed to load the bases, but a strikeout ended the opening frame and left the bases full of Spartans.
Rutgers countered with a bases-loaded threat in the third, but Dzierwa induced a fielder's choice up the middle, with the ball deflecting off his leg to Jebb at shortstop and he stepped on second to end the inning and leave 'em loaded and keeping the game scoreless.
Michigan State again loaded the bases in the fourth with two outs after freshman outfielder Jake Dresselhouse walked following leadoff free passes to Frank and Broecker. Dresselhouse's walk turned the Spartan lineup over and brought leadoff hitter Farquhar to the plate, and he drew a four-pitch walk to drive in Frank for the first run of the day. Jebb then followed with another four-pitch free pass to plate Broecker for a 2-0 MSU lead, before a strikeout ended the rally and left the bases full of visiting Spartans.
In the sixth, Rutgers drew a walk and HBP, chasing Dzierwa, and MSU brought in Carson. After yielding a bunt single to load the bases without an out, Carson induced a 6-4-3 double play from Jebb to Farquhar to Vradenburg, with a run scoring to get the Scarlet Knights on the board. Carson got the next batter to flyout to end the inning and limit the damage.
MSU got the run back for its two-run cushion the next half inning, as Jebb led off the top of the seventh with the walk, followed by Vradenburg's single and Frank's RBI single, before a double play ended the Spartan rally.
In the bottom of the eighth, Rutgers had a one-out single by Josh Kuroda-Grauer followed by a ground-rule double from Evan Sleight. With Jordan Sweeney at bat, a wild pitch allowed Kuroda-Grauerto score to close the Scarlet Knights within 3-2. That would be the closest they would get as Sweeney grounded into a 5-3 double play, as Kark snared the chopper and tagged Sleight at third and fired a frozen rope to Vradenburg at first to complete with two outs in one play and end the inning.
Rush came on in the ninth and rang up a groundout and back-to-back flyouts to Dresselhouse in center to end the game and secure the Victory for MSU.
The Spartans vs. Scarlet Knights series continues with the middle game of the three-game set on Saturday at 2 p.m., before the series finale on Sunday at 1 p.m.
MSU then plays in the 2023 Crosstown Showdown, meeting the Lansing Lugnuts, the local low-A affiliate of the Oakland A's, in an exhibition game on Tuesday, April 4 at 7 p.m.
Fans can follow Spartan baseball action with links at MSUSpartans.com.
MSU's schedule is subject to change, stay tuned to MSUSpartans.com and @MSUBaseball on Twitter for schedule updates.
MSU won its third game in a row and the Spartans have won 10 of their last 11 in improving to 15-8 overall and 3-1 in B1G action. Rutgers is 13-12 overall and 0-1 in conference competition. The Spartans also dealt the Scarlet Knights their first home loss of the season, as RU had won its previous four home games.
Additionally, Michigan State has won the last two match-ups with Rutgers and three of the last four, improving to 17-8 in the all-time series against the Scarlet Knights, including 6-4 in Piscataway.
The Spartans scored their three runs in rapping out nine hits, and won despite leaving 12 runners on base, including the bases loaded in the first and fourth innings. The Scarlet Knights scored two runs on eight hits and left eight runners on bases, including the bases loaded in the third frame.
One of MSU's biggest hits of the day was an RBI single by junior outfielder Jack Frank in the top of the seventh, driving in junior infielder Mitch Jebb, who led off with a walk. Jebb then moved to second on a single by fellow junior infielder Brock Vradenburg, to third on a flyout by sophomore designated hitter Sam Busch, and scored on Frank's single to center.
"I'm very pleased with the result today. I think Rutgers is an extremely good ballclub, and I know we're going to get a great effort out of them tomorrow, so we knew we really had to pitch well and defend well today, and I thought we did both," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "I think we left a couple opportunities on the field offensively, but we got a big hit when we needed it and made it stand up so. I think it was a quality win against a very good opponent and we need to be ready to go again tomorrow."
Vradenburg finished 3-for-5 with a double, as the only Spartan with multiple hits, spreading the offense around as seven of the nine in the starting line-up had a hit. Frank was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, while junior infielder Trent Farquhar was 1-for-3 with an RBI, and while Jebb went without a hit, he did score a run and registered an RBI, coming from drawing a bases-loaded walk in the fourth, one of two free passes that Jebb drew on the day.
Additionally, junior infielder Dillon Kark was 1-for-2, with a sacrifice and a HBP, while senior outfielder Casey Mayes was 1-for-3, also with a sac bunt. Sophomore catcher Bryan Broecker was 1-for-4 with a double, scoring a run, and Busch was 1-for-3.
Putting the pitcher in pitcher's duel for the Spartans was freshman starter Joseph Dzierwa, going 5.0 IP, yielding just one run, while walking two and striking out one in scattering four hits to earn the win, improving to 3-1. Senior reliever Andrew Carson came on in and went 3.0 IP with two Ks with one run and four hits. Senior closer Wyatt Rush pitched a hitless, scoreless ninth to pick up his sixth save of the season and eighth of his career, needing just one more save to crack into both MSU's season and career saves Top 10 list.
Rutgers starter Drew Conover took the loss, leveling his ledger at 2-2, after going 4.0 IP.
The Spartans threatened in their first at bats, as Vradenburg sparked a two-out rally with a single up the middle, and Busch followed with a single to right. Frank followed to load the bases, but a strikeout ended the opening frame and left the bases full of Spartans.
Rutgers countered with a bases-loaded threat in the third, but Dzierwa induced a fielder's choice up the middle, with the ball deflecting off his leg to Jebb at shortstop and he stepped on second to end the inning and leave 'em loaded and keeping the game scoreless.
End 3rd |
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) March 31, 2023
MSU 0
RU 0
Dzierwa deflects comebacker to Farquhar for the out to end the frame!!
Frank to lead off T4th.#GoGreen | #SpartanStrong | @DzierwaJoseph | @trentjf7 pic.twitter.com/XPMVmk9EmR
Michigan State again loaded the bases in the fourth with two outs after freshman outfielder Jake Dresselhouse walked following leadoff free passes to Frank and Broecker. Dresselhouse's walk turned the Spartan lineup over and brought leadoff hitter Farquhar to the plate, and he drew a four-pitch walk to drive in Frank for the first run of the day. Jebb then followed with another four-pitch free pass to plate Broecker for a 2-0 MSU lead, before a strikeout ended the rally and left the bases full of visiting Spartans.
In the sixth, Rutgers drew a walk and HBP, chasing Dzierwa, and MSU brought in Carson. After yielding a bunt single to load the bases without an out, Carson induced a 6-4-3 double play from Jebb to Farquhar to Vradenburg, with a run scoring to get the Scarlet Knights on the board. Carson got the next batter to flyout to end the inning and limit the damage.
MSU got the run back for its two-run cushion the next half inning, as Jebb led off the top of the seventh with the walk, followed by Vradenburg's single and Frank's RBI single, before a double play ended the Spartan rally.
Time to stretch and sing about 🥜&🍿in Piscataway...
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) March 31, 2023
MSU 3
RU 1
Frank knocks RBI single, plating Jebb.#GoGreen | #SpartanStrong | @JackF_22 pic.twitter.com/yVjyTsax7R
In the bottom of the eighth, Rutgers had a one-out single by Josh Kuroda-Grauer followed by a ground-rule double from Evan Sleight. With Jordan Sweeney at bat, a wild pitch allowed Kuroda-Grauerto score to close the Scarlet Knights within 3-2. That would be the closest they would get as Sweeney grounded into a 5-3 double play, as Kark snared the chopper and tagged Sleight at third and fired a frozen rope to Vradenburg at first to complete with two outs in one play and end the inning.
End 8th |
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) March 31, 2023
MSU 3
RU 2
Rutgers plates a run, but Kark starts a tremendous double play, snagging chopper, then tagging runner at 3rd and firing frozen rope to Vradenburg at 1st for the DP!!
Vradenburg will lead off T9th as MSU looks for insurance run.#GoGreen | #SpartanStrong pic.twitter.com/iART9IP2Lz
Rush came on in the ninth and rang up a groundout and back-to-back flyouts to Dresselhouse in center to end the game and secure the Victory for MSU.
VICTORY FOR MSU!!!
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) March 31, 2023
Final score from Piscataway of G1 of the 3-game @B1Gbaseball series:
Michigan State 3, Rutgers 2
The Spartans have won 3 in a row & 10 of their last 11!!#VictoryForMSU | #SpartanStrong pic.twitter.com/6d45kEJysX
The Spartans vs. Scarlet Knights series continues with the middle game of the three-game set on Saturday at 2 p.m., before the series finale on Sunday at 1 p.m.
MSU then plays in the 2023 Crosstown Showdown, meeting the Lansing Lugnuts, the local low-A affiliate of the Oakland A's, in an exhibition game on Tuesday, April 4 at 7 p.m.
Fans can follow Spartan baseball action with links at MSUSpartans.com.
MSU's schedule is subject to change, stay tuned to MSUSpartans.com and @MSUBaseball on Twitter for schedule updates.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Dzierwa, Joseph (3-1)
L: Conover, Drew (2-2)
S: Rush, Wyatt (6)
Batting:
2B: Vradenburg, Brock 1 ; Broecker, Bryan 1
RBI: Farquhar, Trent 1 ; Jebb, Mitch 1 ; Frank, Jack 1
SH: Kark, Dillon 1 ; Mayes, Casey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jebb, Mitch 1 ; Frank, Jack 1 ; Broecker, Bryan 1
CS: Mayes, Casey 1
HBP: Farquhar, Trent 1 ; Kark, Dillon 1
Batting:
2B: Lasko, Ryan 1 ; Sleight, Evan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brito, Chris 1 ; Kuroda-Grauer, Josh 1
HBP: Kuroda-Grauer, Josh 1
Game Leaders
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1
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1
AB
3
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1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
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/ BaseballPursuit to Greatness | Spartans All-Access
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