Saturday, April 1
Bainton Field | Piscataway, N.J.
2 p.m.
Michigan State University
16-8, 4-1
10
at
4
Rutgers
13-13, 0-2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Michigan State
1
0
0
1
4
3
1
0
0
10
9
1
Rutgers
1
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
4
7
1
Photo by: Ben Clemens
Broecker Boosts Spartans To 10-4 Win At Rutgers Saturday
4/1/2023 7:19:00 PM | Baseball
Sophomore catcher smacks grand slam and two-run double.
PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Bryan Broecker's bat boosted Michigan State baseball to a 10-4 Victory for MSU at Rutgers, Saturday afternoon at RU's Bainton Field, clinching the Big Ten Conference series.
Broecker, the Spartans' sophomore catcher, belted a grand slam in the fifth inning and a two-run double in the sixth inning, adding a single in the fourth to finish a triple shy of the cycle, ending the game 3-for-4 with six RBI and two runs scored.
"I'm very happy for Bryan, he had a great day," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "Both he and I thought he missed some opportunities yesterday, but he certainly capitalized on them today. The grand slam was huge for us, and he was just seeing the ball well and hitting the ball hard all day long."
After Friday's 3-2 victory, Michigan State clinched the series win with Saturday's triumph, MSU's second series win in as many weekends, in improving to 16-8 overall and 4-1 in B1G action.
"Anytime you can win on the road, it's really important," Boss said. "You just try to rack up as many series wins in a season as you can. To win a series on the road is difficult to do, especially against a good opponent like Rutgers, who won 44 games last year, so they know what they're doing over there and they have a great idea of how to win. We were fortunate today that we took advantage of some opportunities that we had."
The Spartans have won their last four contests on the way to winning 11 of their last 12 games.
Rutgers leveled its record at 13-13 and is now 0-2 in league play.
With Saturday's win, MSU has won three in a row vs. RU, winning four of the last five meetings to moved to 18-8 in the overall series, as well as improving to 7-4 in series games played in Piscataway.
The grand slam by Broecker was MSU's first grand slam since Trent Farquhar also mashed a grand slam on the road, coming on March 21, 2022 at Nebraska. Broecker was the first Spartan with six RBI since Brock Vradenburg had six ribbies on Feb. 19, 2022.
Broecker's three hits were one-third of the Spartans' nine on the day, scoring 10 runs for their second double-digit outing in the last four games as part of posting 10+ runs in seven games this season.
Senior outfielder Casey Mayes joined Broecker with multiple hits, going 2-for-5 with a run scored, adding a stolen base. Junior infielder Brock Vradenburg was 1-for-3 with three runs scored. Fellow junior infielders Trent Farquhar and Mitch Jebb both had a hit apiece, with Farquhar knocking in an RBI to go with a stolen base, while Jebb scored a run.
Junior outfielder Jack Frank was 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored, adding two walks and got hit by a pitch to go with swiping one bag, while fellow junior outfielder Greg Ziegler also drew two walks and scored a run, adding a stolen base. Sophomore designated hitter Sam Busch did not have a hit, but drew two walks, posting one RBI and a run scored.
Sophomore Ryan Szczepaniak started on the mound, going 1.2 IP with three hits and two runs scored, along with three walks. Junior Harrison Cook took over and went 5.1 IP, spraying three hits in yielding two runs, one earned, walking three and ringing up one strikeout. Cook earned the win, improving to 3-1. Freshman Nolan Higgins pitched the final 2.0 innings, with just one hit, one walk and one K.
"I thought Harrison Cook was really good today and did a great job of kind of calming the waters, and getting us out of a couple jams," Boss said. "He really kind of settled into the game and got us into the game. He held them right there and gave our offense a chance."
Michigan State got on the board in its first at bat, as Vradenburg sparked a two-out rally with a single, and Busch drew a walk to get two on. Frank followed with a single through the left side to drive in Vradenburg and give the Spartans the early 1-0 lead.
The visitor's lead was short-lived as Rutgers' Ryan Lasko led off the bottom of the first with a solo home run on the first pitch from Szczepaniak.
RU took a 2-1 lead with an RBI single by Lasko in the second and loaded the bases with two outs, chasing Szczepaniak. The Spartans called Cook to the mound from the bullpen and induced a groundout to get out of the jam and keep the score 2-1 through two frames.
MSU leveled the game at 2-2 in the top of the fourth after Broecker smacked a long single off the wall. Anderson got hit by a pitch and two batters later, Ziegler drew a walk to load the bases, and Broecker scampered home on a passed ball.
The tie game lasted as long as the Spartans' first-inning lead, as the Scarlet Knights countered with a run in the bottom of the fourth, scoring on a sacrifice fly, before Cook got out of the inning with a groundout and kept it at 3-2 through four frames.
Just like in the first inning, Vradenburg sparked the Spartan rally with a one-out walk in the fifth. Busch followed by drawing a walk of his own, and Rutgers made a pitching change, and Frank was hit by the first pitch from reliever Sam Portnoy, to fill the bases full of Spartans. Broecker quickly emptied them with his first career grand slam with a blast to left field to give MSU a 6-3 advantage.
The visiting Spartans added to the lead in the sixth as Ziegler led off getting hit by pitch. Two batters later, Jebb laced a single to right and Ziegler zipped around to third. Vradenburg reached on fielder's choice to load the bases, and Busch followed with a sac fly to center to drive in Ziegler for a 7-3 lead for the anthracite uniformed Spartans. Frank the drew a walk and after another Rutgers pitching change, Broecker welcomed reliever John Modugno to the game by smacking a double to right center for a two-run double and Frank was thrown out at home trying to make it a three-run double, but not before the Spartans had a 9-3 advantage.
Mayes knocked a one-out single to start a Spartan rally in the seventh, then stole second. Two batters later, Farquhar laced a single through the right side to drive in Mayes and put MSU on top, 10-3.
After stretching and singing, Rutgers got a run back after a two-out bases loaded walk, but Cook got out of the jam with a lineout, leaving the score 10-4.
The Spartans threatened to add on to their lead in the eighth, as Frank drew a two-out walk and stole second, before Broecker walked, and Rutgers made pitching change, bringing in Sam Bello to replace Modugno, who got a strikeout to end the frame.
Higgins took over on the mound in the bottom of the eighth, yielding a leadoff single before getting the next three Scarlet Knights out. After MSU got one on, but nothing else in the ninth, Higgins limited a Rutgers rally, yielding a one-out walk to ring up a strikeout and groundout to Farquhar to end the game and ignite the Victory for MSU celebration and the series win.
The Spartans vs. Scarlet Knights wrap up their series with the 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.
Broecker, the Spartans' sophomore catcher, belted a grand slam in the fifth inning and a two-run double in the sixth inning, adding a single in the fourth to finish a triple shy of the cycle, ending the game 3-for-4 with six RBI and two runs scored.
"I'm very happy for Bryan, he had a great day," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "Both he and I thought he missed some opportunities yesterday, but he certainly capitalized on them today. The grand slam was huge for us, and he was just seeing the ball well and hitting the ball hard all day long."
After Friday's 3-2 victory, Michigan State clinched the series win with Saturday's triumph, MSU's second series win in as many weekends, in improving to 16-8 overall and 4-1 in B1G action.
"Anytime you can win on the road, it's really important," Boss said. "You just try to rack up as many series wins in a season as you can. To win a series on the road is difficult to do, especially against a good opponent like Rutgers, who won 44 games last year, so they know what they're doing over there and they have a great idea of how to win. We were fortunate today that we took advantage of some opportunities that we had."
The Spartans have won their last four contests on the way to winning 11 of their last 12 games.
Rutgers leveled its record at 13-13 and is now 0-2 in league play.
With Saturday's win, MSU has won three in a row vs. RU, winning four of the last five meetings to moved to 18-8 in the overall series, as well as improving to 7-4 in series games played in Piscataway.
The grand slam by Broecker was MSU's first grand slam since Trent Farquhar also mashed a grand slam on the road, coming on March 21, 2022 at Nebraska. Broecker was the first Spartan with six RBI since Brock Vradenburg had six ribbies on Feb. 19, 2022.
Broecker's three hits were one-third of the Spartans' nine on the day, scoring 10 runs for their second double-digit outing in the last four games as part of posting 10+ runs in seven games this season.
Senior outfielder Casey Mayes joined Broecker with multiple hits, going 2-for-5 with a run scored, adding a stolen base. Junior infielder Brock Vradenburg was 1-for-3 with three runs scored. Fellow junior infielders Trent Farquhar and Mitch Jebb both had a hit apiece, with Farquhar knocking in an RBI to go with a stolen base, while Jebb scored a run.
Junior outfielder Jack Frank was 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored, adding two walks and got hit by a pitch to go with swiping one bag, while fellow junior outfielder Greg Ziegler also drew two walks and scored a run, adding a stolen base. Sophomore designated hitter Sam Busch did not have a hit, but drew two walks, posting one RBI and a run scored.
Sophomore Ryan Szczepaniak started on the mound, going 1.2 IP with three hits and two runs scored, along with three walks. Junior Harrison Cook took over and went 5.1 IP, spraying three hits in yielding two runs, one earned, walking three and ringing up one strikeout. Cook earned the win, improving to 3-1. Freshman Nolan Higgins pitched the final 2.0 innings, with just one hit, one walk and one K.
"I thought Harrison Cook was really good today and did a great job of kind of calming the waters, and getting us out of a couple jams," Boss said. "He really kind of settled into the game and got us into the game. He held them right there and gave our offense a chance."
Michigan State got on the board in its first at bat, as Vradenburg sparked a two-out rally with a single, and Busch drew a walk to get two on. Frank followed with a single through the left side to drive in Vradenburg and give the Spartans the early 1-0 lead.
The visitor's lead was short-lived as Rutgers' Ryan Lasko led off the bottom of the first with a solo home run on the first pitch from Szczepaniak.
RU took a 2-1 lead with an RBI single by Lasko in the second and loaded the bases with two outs, chasing Szczepaniak. The Spartans called Cook to the mound from the bullpen and induced a groundout to get out of the jam and keep the score 2-1 through two frames.
MSU leveled the game at 2-2 in the top of the fourth after Broecker smacked a long single off the wall. Anderson got hit by a pitch and two batters later, Ziegler drew a walk to load the bases, and Broecker scampered home on a passed ball.
The tie game lasted as long as the Spartans' first-inning lead, as the Scarlet Knights countered with a run in the bottom of the fourth, scoring on a sacrifice fly, before Cook got out of the inning with a groundout and kept it at 3-2 through four frames.
Just like in the first inning, Vradenburg sparked the Spartan rally with a one-out walk in the fifth. Busch followed by drawing a walk of his own, and Rutgers made a pitching change, and Frank was hit by the first pitch from reliever Sam Portnoy, to fill the bases full of Spartans. Broecker quickly emptied them with his first career grand slam with a blast to left field to give MSU a 6-3 advantage.
Mid 6th |
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) April 1, 2023
MSU 9
RU 3
Broecker belts a 2-run double before Frank is thrown out at plate trying to make it a 3-run double to end frame.
Broecker now w/ 6 RBI in 2 innings.
Cook back to work in B6th. #GoGreen | #SpartanStrong | @BryanBroecker pic.twitter.com/uDhu6uZzwV
The visiting Spartans added to the lead in the sixth as Ziegler led off getting hit by pitch. Two batters later, Jebb laced a single to right and Ziegler zipped around to third. Vradenburg reached on fielder's choice to load the bases, and Busch followed with a sac fly to center to drive in Ziegler for a 7-3 lead for the anthracite uniformed Spartans. Frank the drew a walk and after another Rutgers pitching change, Broecker welcomed reliever John Modugno to the game by smacking a double to right center for a two-run double and Frank was thrown out at home trying to make it a three-run double, but not before the Spartans had a 9-3 advantage.
Mid 6th |
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) April 1, 2023
MSU 9
RU 3
Broecker belts a 2-run double before Frank is thrown out at plate trying to make it a 3-run double to end frame.
Broecker now w/ 6 RBI in 2 innings.
Cook back to work in B6th. #GoGreen | #SpartanStrong | @BryanBroecker pic.twitter.com/uDhu6uZzwV
Mayes knocked a one-out single to start a Spartan rally in the seventh, then stole second. Two batters later, Farquhar laced a single through the right side to drive in Mayes and put MSU on top, 10-3.
Time to stretch and sing about 🥜&🍿 in Piscataway...
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) April 1, 2023
Spartans 10
Scarlet Knights 3
MSU adds run on Farquhar RBI single to score Mayes for 10th run - Spartans have now scored double-digit runs for the 7th time this season!!#GoGreen | #SpartanStrong | @trentjf7 | @caseymayes3 pic.twitter.com/iI78C45Xyi
After stretching and singing, Rutgers got a run back after a two-out bases loaded walk, but Cook got out of the jam with a lineout, leaving the score 10-4.
The Spartans threatened to add on to their lead in the eighth, as Frank drew a two-out walk and stole second, before Broecker walked, and Rutgers made pitching change, bringing in Sam Bello to replace Modugno, who got a strikeout to end the frame.
Higgins took over on the mound in the bottom of the eighth, yielding a leadoff single before getting the next three Scarlet Knights out. After MSU got one on, but nothing else in the ninth, Higgins limited a Rutgers rally, yielding a one-out walk to ring up a strikeout and groundout to Farquhar to end the game and ignite the Victory for MSU celebration and the series win.
VICTORY FOR MSU!!!
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) April 1, 2023
Final score from Piscataway in G2 of series:
MSU 10, Rutgers 4
High fives & handshakes all around as the Spartans win series & improve to 4-1 in @B1Gbaseball action... boosted by 6 RBI by Broecker w/ grand slam & 2-run double.#VictoryForMSU | #SpartanStrong pic.twitter.com/ixWAGjRd0X
The Spartans vs. Scarlet Knights wrap up their series with the 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: Cook, Harrison (3-1)
L: Coppola, Christian (1-3)
Batting:
2B: Broecker, Bryan 1
HR: Broecker, Bryan 1
RBI: Farquhar, Trent 1 ; Busch, Sam 1 ; Frank, Jack 1 ; Broecker, Bryan 6
SF: Busch, Sam 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jebb, Mitch 1 ; Vradenburg, Brock 3 ; Busch, Sam 1 ; Frank, Jack 1 ; Broecker, Bryan 2 ; Mayes, Casey 1 ; Ziegler, Greg 1
SB: Farquhar, Trent 1 ; Frank, Jack 1 ; Mayes, Casey 1 ; Ziegler, Greg 1
HBP: Frank, Jack 1 ; Anderson, Jacob 1 ; Ziegler, Greg 1
Batting:
HR: Lasko, Ryan 1
RBI: Lasko, Ryan 2 ; Sleight, Evan 1 ; Pinkney, Hugh 1
SH: Axelson, Andy 1
SF: Sleight, Evan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lasko, Ryan 1 ; Brito, Chris 1 ; Pinkney, Hugh 2
SB: Lasko, Ryan 1 ; Kuroda-Grauer, Josh 1
HBP: Kuroda-Grauer, Josh 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
6
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
5
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
6
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
C
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ 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