Tuesday, March 19
McLane Stadium at Kobs Field | East Lansing, Mich.
4:05 PM
Michigan State University
8-10
11
vs
1
Purdue Fort Wayne
8-14
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
R
H
E
Purdue Fort Wayne
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
7
2
Michigan State
0
3
3
0
1
0
3
1
11
9
1
Photo by: MSU Baseball Social Squad
Spartans Take Down Mastodons In 11-1 8-inning Victory For MSU Tuesday
3/19/2024 9:12:00 PM | Baseball
Busch and N.Williams belt HRs to back Mishoulam’s solid outing on mound.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State baseball used home runs from Sam Busch and Nick Williams to go with solid pitching and defense en route to routing Purdue Fort Wayne, 11-1 in eight innings, Tuesday afternoon at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field.
The Spartans and Mastodons were originally scheduled to meet on Wednesday, but cold temperatures in the East Lansing forecast for Wednesday forced the schedule adjustment and the match-up to be moved up to Tuesday.
MSU jumped out to a 6-1 lead after three innings and never looked back, adding a run in the fifth, followed by three more in the seventh and one in the eighth for the "walk-off" run-rule Victory for MSU.
"I thought our guys played well today," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "We didn't expand the strike zone much, and got the barrel to the ball with some good hits today and some home runs. We did a good job on the bases, good pitching and played good defense. All around good game today."
Senior starting pitcher Aaron Mishoulam went 6.0 IP, striking out six while scattering five hits and yielding two walks and one run.
"Aaron threw well today. He was ahead in the count and only walked two guys. He had command of three pitches and did a nice job. It had been a bit since he had been out there, and we wanted to run him back out today. Thankfully, we were able to extend him deeper into the game and that's something that he hadn't done in a while, but that was something that we needed out of him, so he did a nice job," Boss said.
The Spartans played solid defense all day, including getting some nifty glove work behind Mishoulam in the sixth on three nice defensive plays.
The Spartans have won three of their last four in moving to 8-10 on the season, while the Mastodons slide to 8-14 overall. Tuesday's win avenged last season's loss to PFW, MSU's first in the series, while moving to 6-1 all-time. The 10-run win was the second-largest in the overall series, behind a 12-1 triumph in 2004.
Junior infielder Sam Busch belted a three-run home run into the Red Cedar River and added an RBI groundout in the eighth for the final and "walk-off" run-rule score, finishing with a career-high four RBI.
"I would say that I tried to be more patient at the plate, swing at pitches in the zone, and shorten up my strike zone," Busch said. "I thought I did a really good job of that, only chasing a couple, but for the home run, I saw one right down the middle and tried to put a good swing on it. Luckily, I got it over the fence."
Busch got it over the fence in right and into the Red Cedar River beyond the wall in right, something that was meaningful for the East Lansing native.
"It's a pretty cool feeling. As a local kid, you see a lot of guys hitting those into the river growing up and it's just pretty surreal doing the same thing as guys I've watched growing up," Busch said.
Junior outfielder Nick Williams joined Busch in hitting a home run with a solo shot also into the Red Cedar River beyond the wall in right.
MSU rapped out nine hits, with senior outfielder Jack Frank the lone Spartan with multiple hits going 2-for-5, while Busch, N.Williams, senior infielder Dillon Kark and freshman infielder Ryan McKay were all 1-for-4. Junior designated hitter Christian Williams and junior catcher Noah Bright were both 1-for-3, and sophomore infielder Randy Seymour was 1-for-2.
Along with Busch's four ribbies, Bright drove in two, while N.Williams, Kark and freshman outfielder Landen Lozier had an RBI apiece.
Seymour scored three runs, while McKay and C.Williams touched home twice, with Bright and N.Williams scoring a run each. Lozier, C.Williams and Seymour all drew two walks each, while Kark, McKay, Busch and Bright all had one. Seymour also swiped two stolen bases.
After Mishoulam's solid outing, sophomore Nolan Higgins went 1.1 IP with one punchout and freshman Gannon Grundman made his home debut, going 0.2 IP with one K.
The Spartans plated three runs in the second and third innings, with N.Williams getting the scoring going with a leadoff home run to start off the second, smacking a homer into the Red Cedar River for the second time in the last four games, also doing so in Friday's game. MSU later loaded the bases and freshman outfielder Landen Lozier drew a bases-loaded walk to drive in classmate, McKay. C.Williams later came in to score on a wild pitch for a 3-0 Spartan lead.
After the Mastodons got on the board with a run in the top of the third, the Spartans broke the game open with a three-spot in the third.
C.Williams ignited the MSU rally in the third frame, drawing a two-out walk and Seymour followed by getting hit by a pitch, bringing Busch to the plate. The Spartan infielder belted the second Red Cedar River round-tripper of the day and a 6-1 lead for the Green & White.
In the sixth, Seymour drew a two-out walk, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a PFW error.
Seymour sparked the Spartan rally in the seventh with a one-out infield single, then stole second and later third on a Busch walk. Bright drove both Seymour and Busch home with a double to the left-center gap, and two batters later, Kark traded places with Bright on a double down the left field line, putting the Spartans ahead, 10-1.
McKay drew a one-out walk, preceding C.Williams with a single through the left side. After a PFW pitching change, Seymour walked to load the bases, bringing Busch to the plate and his RBI-groundout driving in McKay for the "walk-off" run-rule Victory for MSU.
Michigan State now turns its attention to opening Big Ten Conference action by heading to College Park, Md., to meet Maryland, Friday-Sunday, March 22-24 at UMD's Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium. Friday's B1G opener for both teams gets going at 6 p.m., before Saturday's game two at 2 p.m. The series wraps up with Sunday's finale with a 1 p.m. first pitch
Fans can follow this week's action with "Watch Live" and "Live Stats" links at MSUSpartans.com. "Listen live" options will only be available where available through Maryland's broadcast this weekend.
The schedule is subject to change based on weather.
---------
For the first time ever, Michigan State baseball fans have the ability to purchase season tickets.
Season tickets packages are on sale through the Spartan Ticket Office. The MSU baseball season ticket package, which includes 24 home games at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field, is available for $50.
All ticket levels for seniors, adults and children are the same price. Admission remains free for all Michigan State students by showing their MSU ID at the entry gate.
The 2024 Spartan baseball season includes Big Ten match-ups against Rutgers, Penn State and Nebraska, along with regional clashes with Central Michigan, Oakland and Notre Dame, in addition to giving fans admission to all three home games of baseball Rivalry Week against Michigan.
Individual game tickets will go on sale later this spring.
Fans can contact the Spartan Ticket Office at 517-355-1610 or by email at tickets@msu.edu for questions or more information. A direct link to purchase season tickets is here.
The Spartans and Mastodons were originally scheduled to meet on Wednesday, but cold temperatures in the East Lansing forecast for Wednesday forced the schedule adjustment and the match-up to be moved up to Tuesday.
MSU jumped out to a 6-1 lead after three innings and never looked back, adding a run in the fifth, followed by three more in the seventh and one in the eighth for the "walk-off" run-rule Victory for MSU.
"I thought our guys played well today," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "We didn't expand the strike zone much, and got the barrel to the ball with some good hits today and some home runs. We did a good job on the bases, good pitching and played good defense. All around good game today."
Senior starting pitcher Aaron Mishoulam went 6.0 IP, striking out six while scattering five hits and yielding two walks and one run.
"Aaron threw well today. He was ahead in the count and only walked two guys. He had command of three pitches and did a nice job. It had been a bit since he had been out there, and we wanted to run him back out today. Thankfully, we were able to extend him deeper into the game and that's something that he hadn't done in a while, but that was something that we needed out of him, so he did a nice job," Boss said.
The Spartans played solid defense all day, including getting some nifty glove work behind Mishoulam in the sixth on three nice defensive plays.
The Spartans with some NIFTY leather-flashing glove work in the 6th inning!!#FlashTheLeather#GoGreen | @Samwbusch | @aaronmish1 | @RandySeymour14 | @KarkDillon pic.twitter.com/jSKYvehiSm
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) March 19, 2024
The Spartans have won three of their last four in moving to 8-10 on the season, while the Mastodons slide to 8-14 overall. Tuesday's win avenged last season's loss to PFW, MSU's first in the series, while moving to 6-1 all-time. The 10-run win was the second-largest in the overall series, behind a 12-1 triumph in 2004.
Junior infielder Sam Busch belted a three-run home run into the Red Cedar River and added an RBI groundout in the eighth for the final and "walk-off" run-rule score, finishing with a career-high four RBI.
"I would say that I tried to be more patient at the plate, swing at pitches in the zone, and shorten up my strike zone," Busch said. "I thought I did a really good job of that, only chasing a couple, but for the home run, I saw one right down the middle and tried to put a good swing on it. Luckily, I got it over the fence."
Busch got it over the fence in right and into the Red Cedar River beyond the wall in right, something that was meaningful for the East Lansing native.
"It's a pretty cool feeling. As a local kid, you see a lot of guys hitting those into the river growing up and it's just pretty surreal doing the same thing as guys I've watched growing up," Busch said.
Junior outfielder Nick Williams joined Busch in hitting a home run with a solo shot also into the Red Cedar River beyond the wall in right.
MSU rapped out nine hits, with senior outfielder Jack Frank the lone Spartan with multiple hits going 2-for-5, while Busch, N.Williams, senior infielder Dillon Kark and freshman infielder Ryan McKay were all 1-for-4. Junior designated hitter Christian Williams and junior catcher Noah Bright were both 1-for-3, and sophomore infielder Randy Seymour was 1-for-2.
Along with Busch's four ribbies, Bright drove in two, while N.Williams, Kark and freshman outfielder Landen Lozier had an RBI apiece.
Seymour scored three runs, while McKay and C.Williams touched home twice, with Bright and N.Williams scoring a run each. Lozier, C.Williams and Seymour all drew two walks each, while Kark, McKay, Busch and Bright all had one. Seymour also swiped two stolen bases.
After Mishoulam's solid outing, sophomore Nolan Higgins went 1.1 IP with one punchout and freshman Gannon Grundman made his home debut, going 0.2 IP with one K.
The Spartans plated three runs in the second and third innings, with N.Williams getting the scoring going with a leadoff home run to start off the second, smacking a homer into the Red Cedar River for the second time in the last four games, also doing so in Friday's game. MSU later loaded the bases and freshman outfielder Landen Lozier drew a bases-loaded walk to drive in classmate, McKay. C.Williams later came in to score on a wild pitch for a 3-0 Spartan lead.
After the Mastodons got on the board with a run in the top of the third, the Spartans broke the game open with a three-spot in the third.
C.Williams ignited the MSU rally in the third frame, drawing a two-out walk and Seymour followed by getting hit by a pitch, bringing Busch to the plate. The Spartan infielder belted the second Red Cedar River round-tripper of the day and a 6-1 lead for the Green & White.
In the sixth, Seymour drew a two-out walk, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a PFW error.
Seymour sparked the Spartan rally in the seventh with a one-out infield single, then stole second and later third on a Busch walk. Bright drove both Seymour and Busch home with a double to the left-center gap, and two batters later, Kark traded places with Bright on a double down the left field line, putting the Spartans ahead, 10-1.
McKay drew a one-out walk, preceding C.Williams with a single through the left side. After a PFW pitching change, Seymour walked to load the bases, bringing Busch to the plate and his RBI-groundout driving in McKay for the "walk-off" run-rule Victory for MSU.
VICTORY FOR MSU!!!
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) March 19, 2024
High fives and handshakes all around as the Spartans take down the Mastodons!!
Final score from McLane Stadium at Kobs Field:
Michigan State 11, Purdue Fort Wayne 1 (8 inn.)#VictoryForMSU pic.twitter.com/Z2FHSDrTFA
Michigan State now turns its attention to opening Big Ten Conference action by heading to College Park, Md., to meet Maryland, Friday-Sunday, March 22-24 at UMD's Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium. Friday's B1G opener for both teams gets going at 6 p.m., before Saturday's game two at 2 p.m. The series wraps up with Sunday's finale with a 1 p.m. first pitch
Fans can follow this week's action with "Watch Live" and "Live Stats" links at MSUSpartans.com. "Listen live" options will only be available where available through Maryland's broadcast this weekend.
The schedule is subject to change based on weather.
---------
For the first time ever, Michigan State baseball fans have the ability to purchase season tickets.
Season tickets packages are on sale through the Spartan Ticket Office. The MSU baseball season ticket package, which includes 24 home games at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field, is available for $50.
All ticket levels for seniors, adults and children are the same price. Admission remains free for all Michigan State students by showing their MSU ID at the entry gate.
The 2024 Spartan baseball season includes Big Ten match-ups against Rutgers, Penn State and Nebraska, along with regional clashes with Central Michigan, Oakland and Notre Dame, in addition to giving fans admission to all three home games of baseball Rivalry Week against Michigan.
Individual game tickets will go on sale later this spring.
Fans can contact the Spartan Ticket Office at 517-355-1610 or by email at tickets@msu.edu for questions or more information. A direct link to purchase season tickets is here.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Mishoulam, Aaron (1-1)
L: Owen Willard (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Jacob Walker 1
RBI: Grant Thoroman 1
SF: Grant Thoroman 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jacob Walker 1
SB: Justin Osterhouse 1
Batting:
2B: Kark, Dillon 1 ; Bright, Noah 1
HR: Williams, Nick 1 ; Busch, Sam 1
RBI: Lozier, Landen 1 ; Kark, Dillon 1 ; Williams, Nick 1 ; Busch, Sam 4 ; Bright, Noah 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Williams, Nick 1 ; McKay, Ryan 2 ; Williams, Christian 2 ; Seymour, Randy 3 ; Busch, Sam 2 ; Bright, Noah 1
SB: Seymour, Randy 2
CS: Frank, Jack 1
HBP: Seymour, Randy 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
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AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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/ BaseballPursuit to Greatness | Spartans All-Access
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