Wednesday, April 12
McLane Stadium at Kobs Field | East Lansing, Mich.
6:05 p.m.
Michigan State University
20-10
8
vs
3
Oakland
14-18
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Oakland
1
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
7
2
Michigan State
1
0
4
0
1
2
0
0
X
8
10
0
Spartans Grind Out 8-3 Victory Over Golden Grizzlies Wednesday
4/12/2023 11:56:00 PM | Baseball
MSU has won nine of 11 in improving to 20-10 on season; fastest to 20 wins since 2016.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Timely hitting led by Brock Vradenburg and a season-high strikeout total from Nolan Higgins helped Michigan State grind out an 8-3 win over the Golden Grizzlies of Oakland Wednesday night at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field.
The win was MSU's third in a row as part of winning nine of the last 11, improving to 20-10 on the season. It's the earliest in the season that the Spartans have reached 20 wins since 2016, when MSU was 20-5 after a win on April 8.
Oakland had its four-game win streak halted with the loss, as OU is now 14-18 overall. The Spartans have won 13 of the last 14 meetings with the Golden Grizzlies, with MSU improving to 21-2 vs. Oakland under head coach Jake Boss Jr. with the win.
Junior infielder Vradenburg was 4-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored, knocking two triples and two singles in his first four at bats of the night, helped MSU pull away from a 3-1 deficit heading into the bottom of the third. The Spartans scored four runs in the home half of the third, adding a run in the fifth and two more in the sixth for the 8-3 final.
Vradenburg's four hits on the night added to his team-leading hit total, now at 53, while the two RBI gives him 38 on the season, also tops on the team, while boosting his average to .424, and among the Big Ten and NCAA leaders in all three categories.
"There's always a threat for some type of extra base hit and RBI every time he steps to the plate," Boss said about Vradenburg. "He's hitting the ball really hard right now. He gave away a couple of at-bats last night, but tonight you saw kind of what he's been like for the majority of the year. He's staying in the middle of the field. The ball is off the barrel. He was locked in tonight for sure."
Freshman pitcher Higgins came on in relief in the top of the fourth, and rang up a season-high six strikeouts in 4.0 IP, holding Oakland to just two hits without a run and yielding four walks.
"He's able to get himself out of a jam," Boss said about Higgins. "I would prefer he not get himself into one with the walks, but at the same time, he's got a bright future here for us because there's life to the fastball. The slider is really good. When he can corral that and keep that close to the strike zone, he's going to get a lot of guys out."
A season-high home attendance crowd of 1,541 was treated to a festive evening with beautiful weather on Student Section Night. Several promotions were conducted for the MSU students in attendance, and the ceremonial first pitch was thrown out by Sam Munson, Student Engagement Coordinator for MSU Athletics.
"Unbelievable crowd tonight. This is my 15th year here, and for a midweek game on a Wednesday night, non-conference game, I don't know that we've ever had a crowd like that. Kudos to our marketing staff for really getting people out," Boss said. "I just told our guys that people are excited for what they're doing and people want to get behind them, and I think that's a testament to them and their effort and how they've prepared, and ultimately, how they're playing right now. This is a special place. When you give that kind of effort, when you're playing well like that, people want to support you, and they're doing it. And it was it was really fun to see tonight."
The Green & White fans in attendance got to see MSU knock out 10 hits, the Spartans' third-straight game with double-digit hits to boost the three-game win streak. Overall, Wednesday was MSU's 19th game this season with double-figures in the hit column on the scoreboard.
Along with Vradenburg's four hits, junior outfielder Jack Frank was 2-for-3 with two RBI, while junior outfielder Mitch Jebb was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and one driven in. Junior infielder Trent Farquhar was 1-for-3 with three runs scored, drawing two walks. Senior outfielder Casey Mayes was 1-for-3 and also drew a free pass. Sophomore designated hitter Sam Busch drew three walks with one RBI and a run scored despite not getting a hit. Junior infielder Dillon Kark added an RBI sac bunt on a squeeze bunt play, and added a walk, part of the nine free passes issued by Oakland pitching. Farquhar and Frank added a stolen base apiece.
Higgins took over on the mound after senior starter Brian Martin went 3.0 IP, spraying four hits and three runs, with two BB and one K. Senior reliever Andrew Carson took over for Higgins to open the eighth, posting a pair of punchouts with just one hit and one walk in 2.0 IP.
Oakland bolted out of the gates and onto the scoreboard, with Brandon Nigh knocking an RBI double in the top of the first for an early 1-0 Golden Grizzlies' lead.
The Spartans quickly countered in the home half of the opening frame, as Farquhar drew a walk, then two batters later Vradenburg singled and Busch followed with a walk to fill the bases full of MSU players. A balk advanced all three Spartans up a base, with Farquhar scoring MSU's first but not last run of the night.
Oakland plated a pair of runs in the third on a two-run double by Ian Cleary. Martin got out of the inning following junior outfielder Greg Ziegler throwing out Cleary trying to go from first to third on a single by Thomas Green, with Kark applying the tag for the out to end the frame.
Farquhar led off the third just like he led off the first, with a walk, then Jebb singled through the right side. Vradenburg knocked his first triple of the night, this one to the gap in right center, to drive in Farquhar and Jebb. After Busch walked, Frank singled through the right side to plate Vradenburg. Kark came to bat next, and he laid down a squeeze sac bunt to bring Busch into score for a 5-3 Spartan advantage.
Higgins made sure MSU didn't relinquish the lead, denying an Oakland rally in the fourth, his first frame of work, ringing up two Ks in the inning, the second to end it and leave two Golden Grizzlies on the bases. He then worked a 1-2-3 inning in the fifth, with two more punchouts.
Vradenburg led off the fifth frame with a triple off the wall in center field. That brought Busch to the dish and he grounded out to the pitcher, but it allowed Vradenburg to scamper home and the Spartans had doubled up the Golden Grizzlies at 6-3.
In the top of the sixth, Higgins again worked out of a jam, yielding a one-out double and a two-out walk, but then fielded his own position perfectly, scooping up a dribbler between the mound and first base, and just running to the bag himself for the inning-ending putout.
Farquhar started off the Spartan sixth with a bunt single, and later took second on a failed pickoff attempt. Jebb then drove him in with a single to right. Vradenburg laced a single to left and Jebb scampered around to third, and two batters later, Frank knocked a double down the right field line to drive in Jebb for an 8-3 MSU lead to complete the night's scoring.
Carson took over in the eighth, and after a hit by pitch and single to open the frame, settled in and induced a 4-6-3 double play that Oakland challenged, but was upheld for the first two outs of the inning. Carson then rang up a strikeout to end the frame. The Spartan reliever then worked a hitless ninth, yielding a one-out walk after a strikeout, then a fielder's choice out before a flyout to Frank in right for the final out and freeing the Victory for MSU celebration.
Michigan State continues its busy five-game week hosting Western Illinois in a three-game non-conference weekend, Friday-Sunday, April 14-16. The Spartans and Leathernecks series opens Friday evening at 6:05 p.m., followed by Saturday's 3:35 p.m. start time, before wrapping up on Sunday at 1:05 p.m.
MSU's schedule is subject to change, stay tuned to MSUSpartans.com and @MSUBaseball on Twitter for schedule updates.
The win was MSU's third in a row as part of winning nine of the last 11, improving to 20-10 on the season. It's the earliest in the season that the Spartans have reached 20 wins since 2016, when MSU was 20-5 after a win on April 8.
Oakland had its four-game win streak halted with the loss, as OU is now 14-18 overall. The Spartans have won 13 of the last 14 meetings with the Golden Grizzlies, with MSU improving to 21-2 vs. Oakland under head coach Jake Boss Jr. with the win.
Junior infielder Vradenburg was 4-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored, knocking two triples and two singles in his first four at bats of the night, helped MSU pull away from a 3-1 deficit heading into the bottom of the third. The Spartans scored four runs in the home half of the third, adding a run in the fifth and two more in the sixth for the 8-3 final.
Vradenburg's four hits on the night added to his team-leading hit total, now at 53, while the two RBI gives him 38 on the season, also tops on the team, while boosting his average to .424, and among the Big Ten and NCAA leaders in all three categories.
"There's always a threat for some type of extra base hit and RBI every time he steps to the plate," Boss said about Vradenburg. "He's hitting the ball really hard right now. He gave away a couple of at-bats last night, but tonight you saw kind of what he's been like for the majority of the year. He's staying in the middle of the field. The ball is off the barrel. He was locked in tonight for sure."
Freshman pitcher Higgins came on in relief in the top of the fourth, and rang up a season-high six strikeouts in 4.0 IP, holding Oakland to just two hits without a run and yielding four walks.
"He's able to get himself out of a jam," Boss said about Higgins. "I would prefer he not get himself into one with the walks, but at the same time, he's got a bright future here for us because there's life to the fastball. The slider is really good. When he can corral that and keep that close to the strike zone, he's going to get a lot of guys out."
A season-high home attendance crowd of 1,541 was treated to a festive evening with beautiful weather on Student Section Night. Several promotions were conducted for the MSU students in attendance, and the ceremonial first pitch was thrown out by Sam Munson, Student Engagement Coordinator for MSU Athletics.
"Unbelievable crowd tonight. This is my 15th year here, and for a midweek game on a Wednesday night, non-conference game, I don't know that we've ever had a crowd like that. Kudos to our marketing staff for really getting people out," Boss said. "I just told our guys that people are excited for what they're doing and people want to get behind them, and I think that's a testament to them and their effort and how they've prepared, and ultimately, how they're playing right now. This is a special place. When you give that kind of effort, when you're playing well like that, people want to support you, and they're doing it. And it was it was really fun to see tonight."
The Green & White fans in attendance got to see MSU knock out 10 hits, the Spartans' third-straight game with double-digit hits to boost the three-game win streak. Overall, Wednesday was MSU's 19th game this season with double-figures in the hit column on the scoreboard.
Along with Vradenburg's four hits, junior outfielder Jack Frank was 2-for-3 with two RBI, while junior outfielder Mitch Jebb was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and one driven in. Junior infielder Trent Farquhar was 1-for-3 with three runs scored, drawing two walks. Senior outfielder Casey Mayes was 1-for-3 and also drew a free pass. Sophomore designated hitter Sam Busch drew three walks with one RBI and a run scored despite not getting a hit. Junior infielder Dillon Kark added an RBI sac bunt on a squeeze bunt play, and added a walk, part of the nine free passes issued by Oakland pitching. Farquhar and Frank added a stolen base apiece.
Higgins took over on the mound after senior starter Brian Martin went 3.0 IP, spraying four hits and three runs, with two BB and one K. Senior reliever Andrew Carson took over for Higgins to open the eighth, posting a pair of punchouts with just one hit and one walk in 2.0 IP.
Oakland bolted out of the gates and onto the scoreboard, with Brandon Nigh knocking an RBI double in the top of the first for an early 1-0 Golden Grizzlies' lead.
The Spartans quickly countered in the home half of the opening frame, as Farquhar drew a walk, then two batters later Vradenburg singled and Busch followed with a walk to fill the bases full of MSU players. A balk advanced all three Spartans up a base, with Farquhar scoring MSU's first but not last run of the night.
Oakland plated a pair of runs in the third on a two-run double by Ian Cleary. Martin got out of the inning following junior outfielder Greg Ziegler throwing out Cleary trying to go from first to third on a single by Thomas Green, with Kark applying the tag for the out to end the frame.
Farquhar led off the third just like he led off the first, with a walk, then Jebb singled through the right side. Vradenburg knocked his first triple of the night, this one to the gap in right center, to drive in Farquhar and Jebb. After Busch walked, Frank singled through the right side to plate Vradenburg. Kark came to bat next, and he laid down a squeeze sac bunt to bring Busch into score for a 5-3 Spartan advantage.
Higgins made sure MSU didn't relinquish the lead, denying an Oakland rally in the fourth, his first frame of work, ringing up two Ks in the inning, the second to end it and leave two Golden Grizzlies on the bases. He then worked a 1-2-3 inning in the fifth, with two more punchouts.
Vradenburg led off the fifth frame with a triple off the wall in center field. That brought Busch to the dish and he grounded out to the pitcher, but it allowed Vradenburg to scamper home and the Spartans had doubled up the Golden Grizzlies at 6-3.
In the top of the sixth, Higgins again worked out of a jam, yielding a one-out double and a two-out walk, but then fielded his own position perfectly, scooping up a dribbler between the mound and first base, and just running to the bag himself for the inning-ending putout.
Farquhar started off the Spartan sixth with a bunt single, and later took second on a failed pickoff attempt. Jebb then drove him in with a single to right. Vradenburg laced a single to left and Jebb scampered around to third, and two batters later, Frank knocked a double down the right field line to drive in Jebb for an 8-3 MSU lead to complete the night's scoring.
Carson took over in the eighth, and after a hit by pitch and single to open the frame, settled in and induced a 4-6-3 double play that Oakland challenged, but was upheld for the first two outs of the inning. Carson then rang up a strikeout to end the frame. The Spartan reliever then worked a hitless ninth, yielding a one-out walk after a strikeout, then a fielder's choice out before a flyout to Frank in right for the final out and freeing the Victory for MSU celebration.
Michigan State continues its busy five-game week hosting Western Illinois in a three-game non-conference weekend, Friday-Sunday, April 14-16. The Spartans and Leathernecks series opens Friday evening at 6:05 p.m., followed by Saturday's 3:35 p.m. start time, before wrapping up on Sunday at 1:05 p.m.
MSU's schedule is subject to change, stay tuned to MSUSpartans.com and @MSUBaseball on Twitter for schedule updates.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Higgins, Nolan (3-1)
L: Sean Fekete (1-2)
Batting:
2B: Brandon Nigh 1 ; Jared Miller 1 ; Reggie Bussey 1
RBI: Brandon Nigh 1 ; Ian Cleary 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Drew Collins 2 ; Reggie Bussey 1
SB: Reggie Bussey 1
HBP: Jared Miller 1
Batting:
2B: Frank, Jack 1
3B: Vradenburg, Brock 2
RBI: Jebb, Mitch 1 ; Vradenburg, Brock 2 ; Busch, Sam 1 ; Frank, Jack 2 ; Kark, Dillon 1
SH: Kark, Dillon 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Farquhar, Trent 3 ; Jebb, Mitch 2 ; Vradenburg, Brock 2 ; Busch, Sam 1
SB: Farquhar, Trent 1 ; Frank, Jack 1
CS: Frank, Jack 1 ; Mayes, Casey 1
HBP: Frank, Jack 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
2
H
4
RBI
2
AB
5
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
3
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF/RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballPursuit to Greatness | Spartans All-Access
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