Wednesday, February 28
Foley Field | Athens, Ga.
6:15 PM
Michigan State University
3-5
19
at
6
Georgia
8-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Michigan State
0
5
0
0
7
2
5
19
21
0
Georgia
2
1
0
3
0
0
0
6
8
2
Photo by: Kari Hodges - UGA Sports Communications
Bats Help Spartans Blast Way To 19-6 Seven-Inning Victory For MSU At Georgia Wednesday
2/28/2024 11:21:00 PM | Baseball
MSU knocks 21 hits, including two HR, two triples and two doubles.
ATHENS, Ga. -- Michigan State baseball bats erupted to the tune of 21 hits as the Spartans blasted Georgia, 19-6 in a seven-inning run-rule Victory for MSU Wednesday night at UGA's Foley Field.
It was the Spartans' first win over an SEC team since beating Auburn, 3-0, on March 5, 2016. The win was also MSU's first victory over an SEC team on their home field since March 9, 2013, winning at Kentucky,
Wednesday's start time was pushed back 15 minutes after a pre-game rainstorm rolled through Athens, raining steadily for over a half an hour. The rains momentarily stopped and the tarp was pulled in prep for the first battle between the Spartans and Bulldogs since 1958, only to see more rain fall just ahead of first pitch, but let up early in the top of the first.
After the rain stopped, temperatures got colder while the Spartan bats got hotter. MSU knocked out a season-high 21 hits in the seven-inning run-rule game, with six total extra-base hits on two home runs, two triples and two doubles. MSU's 21 hits were its first time over 20 hits since rapping out 22 hits on Feb. 14, 2020 vs. Morehead State (W, 15-3). All nine Spartans in the line-up had at least one hit Wednesday night, and several came in crucial times on the night, as 14 of the 19 runs came with two outs, as MSU hit .650 (13-for-20) with two outs.
"The way we took the mindset going into this tonight was that it's just another opportunity, just another game, it doesn't matter who we're playing or how big the stadium is," senior outfielder Jack Frank said. "As a senior, it was just trying to keep the guys level-headed and understand that anybody can win a baseball game on any day, and that's something that we keep preaching. It doesn't matter what conference you're in, or doesn't matter how many people go to your games or how many home runs you've hit, anybody can win in one game."
MSU improved to 3-5 on the young season, while the Spartans dealt the Bulldogs their first loss of the year, now 8-1. Michigan State has now won the last two meetings at Georgia, as the Spartans won the last meeting back in 1958, and have now won six of the last seven overall meetings and have an 11-7 all-time series lead, including 11-5 in Athens.
Georgia was led by Charlie Condon, who tied a school record with three home runs on the night. Condon is now hitting .639 through nine games with seven home runs on the season so far.
"That's a really good opponent over there and Wes (Johnson, first-year Georgia head coach), and they're going to win a lot of ballgames this year," Boss said.
The Bulldogs drew first blood with two runs in the first on Condon's first home run of the night, but freshman infielder Ryan McKay sparked the Spartan rally in the second to get the offense going.
Frank kept the Spartan offense going all night, finishing 3-for-4 with six RBI, becoming the first Spartan with six RBI since Bryan Broecker had half-a-dozen ribbies on April 1, 2023 at Rutgers. Frank had two doubles and a single, with all three hits driving in two runs at a time.
"I think it's just a product of the whole team having good at-bats and having a bunch of guys take a lot of pressure off individuals, and that's something we talk about earlier in the season, we all want to come up with the big hit and all want to be the guy that gets multiple hits. So when everybody's got three hits, it gets a lot easier; the ball looks a little bigger and it gets a little easier to stretch a single into a double. I think it's just a product of everyone doing their job and doing their one-ninth, like we say. Some days its your day, some days its not, but today was a good day all around."
The speedy Spartan Frank also swiped two stolen bases, giving him 39 for his career to move up to No. 9 on MSU's career stolen bases list, passing former teammate Mitch Jebb (2021-23) with 38 swipes.
"Jack Frank is kind of the guy that makes our offense go, he's a senior, he's our leader and we need him to produce at the top of the order, and he certainly did that tonight," Boss said. "From top to bottom, I thought it was a big night for all those guys, and a lot of crooked numbers in the box score, which is always fun to see."
The junior duo of infielder Sam Busch and designated hitter Christian Williams blasted the homers, with Busch belting a 414-foot booming HR over the Foley Field scoreboard in right field in the fifth inning as part of MSU's seven runs in the frame. Williams smacked a line-drive laser into the trees beyond left field in the top of the seventh. Freshman infielder Ryan McKay and senior infielder Dillon Kark each knocked a triple.
"Tonight felt really good and feels extra good especially to see a lot of young guys showing up. It's the first time playing regularly for guys like (Ryan) McKay and Randy (Seymour) and things are starting to click, and Christian (Williams) is getting a bunch of hits," Frank said. So it's just really cool to see that, we all know the hard work they put in and I get to see them do it every day, so it's just good to see that carry over to the field, so scoring 19 runs on 21 hits just feels really good. It was a fun night."
McKay sparked the rally with a leadoff triple in the second inning to get the offense going, knocking not just the first three-bagger of his Spartan career, but the first triple of the season for MSU, and Kark added his triple in the seventh for Michigan State, which led the NCAA in triples last season with 30 three-baggers.
"I'm just really proud of our guys. I think we showed ourselves what we're capable of. I thought we prepared really well in the offseason and didn't get the results in the first two weekends of the season that we wanted, especially offensively," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "Tonight, I'm just really proud of the guys. I thought we dictated the pace of play tonight and were really aggressive on the bases offensively and got the barrel to the ball a lot, and put up a big number. I'm just very proud of our guys for a good night tonight."
C.Williams, McKay and sophomore infielder Randy Seymour all finished 3-for-4, while Busch, Kark, junior outfielder Nick Williams and graduate catcher Sam Thompson were all 2-for-5. Thompson, a Bremen, Georgia native, had roughly 20-25 friends and family in attendance Wednesday night, seeing him add three runs.
Sophomore outfielder Jake Dresselhouse rounded out the line-up with one hit.
Along with Frank's six RBI, Kark and N.Williams had three ribbies apiece, while Busch drove in two, coming on his HR, while C.Williams, McKay and Seymour each added an RBI.
Seymour scored four runs, followed by Thompson and McKay with three runs each, while Frank, N.Williams, C.Williams and Kark touched home twice, and Busch scored one run.
On the mound, senior Harrison Cook started the Spartans' bullpen day, going 2.0 IP with three Ks, while freshman Gavin Moczydlowsky went 2.0 IP with a pair of punchouts, and freshman Logan Pikur went 2.0 IP to earn his first win of his collegiate career. Graduate Nick Ferazzi went the final 1.0 IP to secure the Victory for MSU.
The Spartans return to their home-away-from-home, Fluor Field in Greenville, S.C., home of the Greenville Drive, to play in the First Pitch Invitational I Friday-Sunday, March 1-3.
MSU opens action in the Palmetto State by taking on in-state foe Western Michigan on Friday, March 1 at 6 p.m., following the Florida State vs. Illinois opener at 2 p.m. On Saturday, March 2, Illinois takes on Western Michigan at 2 p.m. before the Spartans face Florida State on Saturday, March 2 at 6 p.m., before finishing up the Spring Break trip playing fellow Big Ten Conference foe Illinois on Sunday, March 3 at 10 a.m., in a non-conference contest.
Fans can follow this weekend's action with "Watch Live" and "Live Stats" links at MSUSpartans.com, with video streaming available for all four games during the extended weekend.
The Spartans' weekend schedule is subject to change, fans can visit msuspartans.com or @MSUBaseball on X/Twitter for complete schedule information and updates.
It was the Spartans' first win over an SEC team since beating Auburn, 3-0, on March 5, 2016. The win was also MSU's first victory over an SEC team on their home field since March 9, 2013, winning at Kentucky,
Wednesday's start time was pushed back 15 minutes after a pre-game rainstorm rolled through Athens, raining steadily for over a half an hour. The rains momentarily stopped and the tarp was pulled in prep for the first battle between the Spartans and Bulldogs since 1958, only to see more rain fall just ahead of first pitch, but let up early in the top of the first.
After the rain stopped, temperatures got colder while the Spartan bats got hotter. MSU knocked out a season-high 21 hits in the seven-inning run-rule game, with six total extra-base hits on two home runs, two triples and two doubles. MSU's 21 hits were its first time over 20 hits since rapping out 22 hits on Feb. 14, 2020 vs. Morehead State (W, 15-3). All nine Spartans in the line-up had at least one hit Wednesday night, and several came in crucial times on the night, as 14 of the 19 runs came with two outs, as MSU hit .650 (13-for-20) with two outs.
"The way we took the mindset going into this tonight was that it's just another opportunity, just another game, it doesn't matter who we're playing or how big the stadium is," senior outfielder Jack Frank said. "As a senior, it was just trying to keep the guys level-headed and understand that anybody can win a baseball game on any day, and that's something that we keep preaching. It doesn't matter what conference you're in, or doesn't matter how many people go to your games or how many home runs you've hit, anybody can win in one game."
MSU improved to 3-5 on the young season, while the Spartans dealt the Bulldogs their first loss of the year, now 8-1. Michigan State has now won the last two meetings at Georgia, as the Spartans won the last meeting back in 1958, and have now won six of the last seven overall meetings and have an 11-7 all-time series lead, including 11-5 in Athens.
VICTORY FOR MSU!!!!!!
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) February 29, 2024
Final score from Athens:
Michigan State 19, Georgia 6 (7 inn.)
Spartans score 19 runs on 21 hits including 2 HR!! #VictoryForMSU pic.twitter.com/MZn3iPEtvg
Georgia was led by Charlie Condon, who tied a school record with three home runs on the night. Condon is now hitting .639 through nine games with seven home runs on the season so far.
"That's a really good opponent over there and Wes (Johnson, first-year Georgia head coach), and they're going to win a lot of ballgames this year," Boss said.
The Bulldogs drew first blood with two runs in the first on Condon's first home run of the night, but freshman infielder Ryan McKay sparked the Spartan rally in the second to get the offense going.
Frank kept the Spartan offense going all night, finishing 3-for-4 with six RBI, becoming the first Spartan with six RBI since Bryan Broecker had half-a-dozen ribbies on April 1, 2023 at Rutgers. Frank had two doubles and a single, with all three hits driving in two runs at a time.
"I think it's just a product of the whole team having good at-bats and having a bunch of guys take a lot of pressure off individuals, and that's something we talk about earlier in the season, we all want to come up with the big hit and all want to be the guy that gets multiple hits. So when everybody's got three hits, it gets a lot easier; the ball looks a little bigger and it gets a little easier to stretch a single into a double. I think it's just a product of everyone doing their job and doing their one-ninth, like we say. Some days its your day, some days its not, but today was a good day all around."
The speedy Spartan Frank also swiped two stolen bases, giving him 39 for his career to move up to No. 9 on MSU's career stolen bases list, passing former teammate Mitch Jebb (2021-23) with 38 swipes.
"Jack Frank is kind of the guy that makes our offense go, he's a senior, he's our leader and we need him to produce at the top of the order, and he certainly did that tonight," Boss said. "From top to bottom, I thought it was a big night for all those guys, and a lot of crooked numbers in the box score, which is always fun to see."
The junior duo of infielder Sam Busch and designated hitter Christian Williams blasted the homers, with Busch belting a 414-foot booming HR over the Foley Field scoreboard in right field in the fifth inning as part of MSU's seven runs in the frame. Williams smacked a line-drive laser into the trees beyond left field in the top of the seventh. Freshman infielder Ryan McKay and senior infielder Dillon Kark each knocked a triple.
"Tonight felt really good and feels extra good especially to see a lot of young guys showing up. It's the first time playing regularly for guys like (Ryan) McKay and Randy (Seymour) and things are starting to click, and Christian (Williams) is getting a bunch of hits," Frank said. So it's just really cool to see that, we all know the hard work they put in and I get to see them do it every day, so it's just good to see that carry over to the field, so scoring 19 runs on 21 hits just feels really good. It was a fun night."
McKay sparked the rally with a leadoff triple in the second inning to get the offense going, knocking not just the first three-bagger of his Spartan career, but the first triple of the season for MSU, and Kark added his triple in the seventh for Michigan State, which led the NCAA in triples last season with 30 three-baggers.
"I'm just really proud of our guys. I think we showed ourselves what we're capable of. I thought we prepared really well in the offseason and didn't get the results in the first two weekends of the season that we wanted, especially offensively," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "Tonight, I'm just really proud of the guys. I thought we dictated the pace of play tonight and were really aggressive on the bases offensively and got the barrel to the ball a lot, and put up a big number. I'm just very proud of our guys for a good night tonight."
C.Williams, McKay and sophomore infielder Randy Seymour all finished 3-for-4, while Busch, Kark, junior outfielder Nick Williams and graduate catcher Sam Thompson were all 2-for-5. Thompson, a Bremen, Georgia native, had roughly 20-25 friends and family in attendance Wednesday night, seeing him add three runs.
Sophomore outfielder Jake Dresselhouse rounded out the line-up with one hit.
Along with Frank's six RBI, Kark and N.Williams had three ribbies apiece, while Busch drove in two, coming on his HR, while C.Williams, McKay and Seymour each added an RBI.
Seymour scored four runs, followed by Thompson and McKay with three runs each, while Frank, N.Williams, C.Williams and Kark touched home twice, and Busch scored one run.
On the mound, senior Harrison Cook started the Spartans' bullpen day, going 2.0 IP with three Ks, while freshman Gavin Moczydlowsky went 2.0 IP with a pair of punchouts, and freshman Logan Pikur went 2.0 IP to earn his first win of his collegiate career. Graduate Nick Ferazzi went the final 1.0 IP to secure the Victory for MSU.
The Spartans return to their home-away-from-home, Fluor Field in Greenville, S.C., home of the Greenville Drive, to play in the First Pitch Invitational I Friday-Sunday, March 1-3.
MSU opens action in the Palmetto State by taking on in-state foe Western Michigan on Friday, March 1 at 6 p.m., following the Florida State vs. Illinois opener at 2 p.m. On Saturday, March 2, Illinois takes on Western Michigan at 2 p.m. before the Spartans face Florida State on Saturday, March 2 at 6 p.m., before finishing up the Spring Break trip playing fellow Big Ten Conference foe Illinois on Sunday, March 3 at 10 a.m., in a non-conference contest.
Fans can follow this weekend's action with "Watch Live" and "Live Stats" links at MSUSpartans.com, with video streaming available for all four games during the extended weekend.
The Spartans' weekend schedule is subject to change, fans can visit msuspartans.com or @MSUBaseball on X/Twitter for complete schedule information and updates.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Pikur, Logan (1-0)
L: Ethan Sutton (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Frank, Jack 2
3B: McKay, Ryan 1 ; Kark, Dillon 1
HR: Busch, Sam 1 ; Williams, Christian 1
RBI: Frank, Jack 6 ; Williams, Nick 3 ; Busch, Sam 2 ; Williams, Christian 1 ; McKay, Ryan 1 ; Kark, Dillon 3 ; Seymour, Randy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Frank, Jack 2 ; Williams, Nick 2 ; Busch, Sam 1 ; Williams, Christian 2 ; McKay, Ryan 3 ; Kark, Dillon 2 ; Seymour, Randy 4 ; Thompson, Sam 3
SB: Frank, Jack 2 ; Kark, Dillon 1 ; Seymour, Randy 1
HBP: Williams, Christian 1
Batting:
HR: Charlie Condon 3 ; Tre Phelps 1
RBI: Charlie Condon 4 ; Tre Phelps 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Slate Alford 1 ; Charlie Condon 3 ; Dylan Goldstein 1 ; Tre Phelps 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
6
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
1
AB
4
R
3
H
3
RBI
1
AB
4
R
4
H
3
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
C
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF/C
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
C
/ BaseballC
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballPursuit to Greatness | Spartans All-Access
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