Spartans Battle Broncos Wednesday In “Capital Clash” At Jackson Field

MICHIGAN STATE (14-19, 3-6 B1G) vs WESTERN MICHIGAN (20-13, 11-4 MAC)
Location	Jackson® Field™ \|\| Lansing, Mich.
Tickets	Jackson® Field™ Ticket Office
Traffic / Parking	* REMINDER - Construction is happening on 127 en route to Lansing * MORE INFO \| US-127 Reconstruction Project Details
Weather	High/Low - Wed: 72^° / 47^°
Game Notes	MICHIGAN STATE \| WESTERN MICHIGAN
Social Media	@MSUbaseball \| MichiganStateBaseball @msu_baseball
Television	None
Game 1	Wednesday, April 17 - 6:05 p.m. ET
Probable Pitching Match-Up	WMU: #22 SR RHP Jayden Dentler (3-2, 5.00 ERA) MSU: #8 SR RHP Harrison Cook (0-2, 7.85 ERA)
Coverage	Live Stats \| Watch Live (None) \| Listen Live

• Michigan State baseball will face in-state foe Western Michigan in the "Capital Clash" at Jackson® Field™, home of the Lansing Lugnuts, on Wednesday, April 17 ... First pitch is slated for 6:05 p.m.

• The Spartans and Broncos are meeting at Jackson® Field™ for the seventh overall time and first time since 2010.

• MSU and WMU are meeting for the third time in a season after playing twice in March in Greenville, S.C. at Fluor Field, in two different weekend tournaments ... The Spartans have won both of this season's previous meetings on the way to winning the last five match-ups with the Broncos as part of winning eight of the last nine, nine of the last 11 and 17 of the last 20 meetings, cutting WMU's all-time series lead down to 95-89 ... the Spartans have a 9-5 advantage in neutral field meetings, including 4-2 in games at Jackson® Field™

• The Spartans' schedule is subject to change, stay tuned to MSUSpartans.com and @MSUBaseball on X/Twitter for schedule updates.

• Fans can follow this week's action with "Live Stats" and "Listen Live" links, where available, at MSUSpartans.com.

• For the eighth-straight year, the Spartan Media Network will carry a live audio stream for all home and select road Spartan baseball games this season ... The broadcast will be available exclusively at MSUSpartans.com by clicking on "Listen Live" on the baseball schedule ... Broadcast veteran Scott Moore calls the action, with Spartan baseball alum Jim Cotter providing analysis.

COACH VAN AMEYDE AWAY FROM TEAM
• Michigan State will be without veteran pitching coach Mark Van Ameyde (VAN-uh-mead) for an extended amount of time, as he will be away from the team after undergoing a successful kidney transplant on March 20.

SECOND OF TWO AT JACKSON® FIELD™
• Wednesday's "Capital Clash" vs. Western Michigan is the second of MSU's two scheduled games at Jackson® Field™ this season ... MSU also played there on April 3 for the 2024 Crosstown Showdown in an exhibition game against the Lansing Lugnuts.

SPARTANS AT JACKSON® FIELD™
• Additionally, Wednesday's MSU game vs. Western Michigan in the "Capital Clash" marks the third-straight season that the Spartans have played a regular-season game at Jackson® Field™ after playing in the 2022 Capital Clash vs. Michigan, and playing a three-game in two-day weekend series vs. Ohio State there last season due to the Red Cedar River flooding at Old College Field.

MSU IN MITTEN STATE MATCH-UPS
• This week's battle with the Broncos of WMU is the Spartans' sixth game out of 11 total scheduled events against teams from the Great Lakes State, with 10 official games and one exhibition ... the Spartans are currently 3-2 against fellow Mitten State opponents, having already beaten Western Michigan twice (13-3 in 8-innings on March 2 and 5-3 on March 8 at Fluor Field in Greenville, S.C.) along with beating Michigan, 16-6 on March 26 at Ann Arbor, before losing to Oakland, 11-7, the next day ... the Spartans also played an exhibition against the Lansing Lugnuts in the Crosstown Showdown (April 3) ... MSU's most recent in-state match-up was last week's game vs. Central Michigan at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field, won by CMU, 10-0 ... After the Spartans meet Western Michigan Wednesday at Jackson® Field™ in Lansing, home of the Lansing Lugnuts, MSU will host Michigan in a three-game B1G series Friday-Sunday, May 3-5, before wrapping up the in-state slate of games on May 14, hosting Eastern Michigan.

PROFESSIONAL STADIUM EXPERIENCE
• Wednesday's Capital Clash vs. WMU at Jackson® Field™ is the second different professional stadium, as part of seven games and one exhibition contests the Spartans play in.

The Spartans also played six games at their home-away-from-home, Fluor Field, in Greenville, S.C., home of the Greenville Drive. MSU hosted the First Pitch Invitational I on March 2-3, playing Western Michigan and Florida State on Saturday, March 2. MSU beat WMU, 13-3 in 8 innings, before losing to FSU, 11-2, as the Seminoles were among others receiving votes in the national rankings at the time and are now ranked No. 14. The Spartans then lost to Illinois, 12-6, in a non-conference match-up on Sunday, March 3.

The following weekend, MSU hosted the First Pitch Invitational II, squaring off with Western Michigan again on Friday, March 8, bucking the Broncos, 5-3. MSU then lost to Western Carolina, 9-5, on Saturday, March 9 and to VCU, 8-4, on March 10 to wrap up its Fluor Field stretch.

Along with tonight's game at Jackson® Field™, the Spartans also played the Lansing Lugnuts in the 2024 Crosstown Showdown on April 3 in a 7-inning exhibition contest.

HOME STATERS
• The Spartans have 22 players on its 2024 roster from the state of Michigan, while the Broncos have 16 Michiganders on their roster.

BOSS 800
• Last week's game vs. Central Michigan was MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr.'s 800th game at the helm of the Spartans, becoming the third MSU baseball head coach to coach 800 games leading the Spartans and also the third with 400+ wins, joining John Kobs and Danny Litwhiler.

Coach              Years               Gms.    W        L          T          Pct.
John H. Kobs 1935-63 (39)   969      576      377      16        .603
Daniel W. Litwhiler     1964-82 (19)   859      489      362      8          .574
Jake Boss Jr.    2009-pres. (16th)        803      430      373      0          .535

SPARTANS VS. BRONCOS AT JACKSON FIELD
• Wednesday is the seventh meeting between Michigan State and Western Michigan at Oldsmobile Park/Jackson® Field™, home of the Lansing Lugnuts ... MSU has a 4-2 advantage in meetings with WMU there, winning the last four in a row:

April 17, 2024 TBA
April 20, 2010 MSU 6, WMU 3
March 25, 2009           MSU 5, WMU 3
May 7, 2008    MSU 8, WMU 6
April 10, 2007 MSU 6, WMU 5
May 11, 2005 WMU 5, MSU 2
April 16, 2003 WMU 4, MWU 2

SPARTAN-BRONCO CONNECTIONS
Wednesday's match-up has connections galore between Michigan State and Western Michigan:

• Current MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr., WMU head coach Billy Gernon and MSU assistant coach/pitching coach Mark Van Ameyde were together on the Spartans' staff from 2009-10, before Gernon left to become head coach at WMU.

• Current MSU assistant coach Andrew Stone is in his third season with the Spartans, but was a four-year letterwinner at Western Michigan (2015-19) ... For his career, Stone finished with a .304 average with a .402 on-base percentage in 155 games played, making 104 starts ... Stone helped WMU to the 2016 MAC Tournament title and helped the Broncos advance to the NCAA Regionals for the first time since 1989 ... Stone was a three-time Academic All-MAC selection and a MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete ... He earned his bachelor's degree in sports management from Western Michigan in 2018, and his master's degree also in sports management from WMU in 2019 ... Stone's father is Jeff Stone, Western Michigan's former Senior Associate Athletic Director, overseeing academic and compliance services, who retired in 2022.

• Spartan junior pitcher Ryan Szczepaniak will be in a MSU vs WMU match-up as the lone Szczepaniak for the first time in his Spartan career, as his brother, Drew, was a pitcher at WMU ... Both Szczepaniak brothers were the pitchers of record at the same time during the 2022 season's first meeting on April 13, 2022 in East Lansing, with Drew pitching the bottom of the fifth, while Ryan pitched the top of the sixth ... Ryan had a three-up, three-down inning with one strikeout, while Drew faced four Spartan batters without a hit, allowing one walk ... in the second meeting of the season on May 11, 2022 in Kalamazoo, neither Szczepaniak brother saw action, as Ryan pitched the day before at Notre Dame, and Drew pitched three days prior at Central Michigan ... Drew pitched one inning in the 2023 season's first meeting, yielding MSU's go-ahead run and was dealt the tough-luck loss in the 8-3 Victory for MSU on March 22, 2023, and neither Szczepaniak brother pitched in the second meeting of 2023 on March 28, 2023, an 8-6 Spartan triumph.

LAST TIME OUT LOOK BACK
• Michigan State was swept in a three-game B1G weekend series at Purdue ... Senior infielder Dillon Kark led MSU going 4-for-12 for the weekend with one double, while junior infielder/outfielder Nick Williams, senior outfielder Greg Ziegler and freshman outfielder Landen Lozier all had three hits apiece.

MSU VS WMU PREVIOUS MEETINGS THIS SEASONS
• The Spartans and Broncos have two previous meetings this season, both in Greenville, S.C. at Fluor Field, home of the Greenville Drive.

-- Michigan State walloped Western Michigan, 13-3, in eight innings in the opening game of the First Pitch Invitational I on March 2.

• MSU rapped out 18 hits in the opener, while limiting WMU to just seven hits and three runs.

• Senior outfielder Jack Frank was 5-for-5, with a triple and four singles, becoming the first Spartan to go 5-for-5 in a game since Bailey Peterson had five hits in five at bats on Feb. 21, 2020 vs. Merrimack.

• Senior infielder Dillon Kark was 4-for-4 with five RBI and two runs scored, bashing a three-run "walk-off" HR in the bottom of the eighth to secure the run-rule Victory for MSU.

• Sophomore infielder Randy Seymour also belted a two-run home run, with a towering 382-foot smash over the Green Monster in left field for his first collegiate round-tripper.

• Junior outfielder Nick Williams was also 4-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, knocking an RBI double in the second and a two-run single in the fourth.

• Freshman infielder Ryan McKay was 2-for-4 with three runs and a ribbie.

• On the mound, Spartan senior southpaw Nick Powers chalked up five strikeouts in 7.0 IP, scattering seven hits while yielding three runs, two earns, and not walking any.

• Senior Nick Ferazzi went the other 1.0 IP of relief, with a 1-2-3 frame after chalking up a pair of Ks following a leadoff groundout.

-- In the second meeting, a week later in the First Pitch Invitational II, sophomore infielder Randy Seymour bashed his second home run in as many meetings with Western Michigan to boost the Spartans to a 5-3 Victory for MSU over the Broncos on March 8.

• Senior outfielder Jack Frank finished 3-for-3 with a run scored, while junior designated hitter Christian Williams was 2-for-3 with the two ribbies and scored a run.

• Seymour and junior infielder Sam Busch were both 2-for-4, with Busch driving in a run, while senior infielder Dillon Kark was 1-for-4 with an RBI.

• Sophomore starting southpaw Joseph Dzierwa settled in after a bumpy first frame and kept the Broncos in check from there, finishing with six strikeouts in 6.0 IP, scattering five hits and walking to, earning his first win of the season.

• Sophomore Nolan Higgins came on in the seventh and got out of a bases-loaded jam with a big strikeout to thwart the threat by the Broncos.

• Freshman Logan Pikur fired a 1-2-3 eighth inning, getting assistance from the infield with a nifty 4-6-3 double play.

• Sophomore Tommy Szczepanski pitched the ninth, after yielding a leadoff hit, chalked up two punchouts before inducing a foulout to senior catcher Sam Thompson to secure the Victory for MSU.

PUTTIN' THE SWEET IN HOME SWEET HOME
• Michigan State is off to a 7-5 ledger at home after winning the home-opening series over Evansville March 15-17, winning two of three, and beating Purdue Fort Wayne on March 19, before losing to Oakland on March 27 ... MSU went 17-4 at home last season and the Spartans have now won 30 of their last 42 home games (30-12) in their last 42 home games dating back to the 2022 season.

POWERS NO. 125 ON D1BASEBALL'S TOP 150 STARTING PITCHERS
• Senior left-handed starting pitcher Nick Powers is No. 125 on D1Baseball.com's Top 150 Starting Pitchers and is the lone Spartan representative on the publication's mid-season player rankings.

• Powers currently leads MSU and ranks third in the B1G and 47th in the NCAA in victories with five ... he is also fifth in the conference in strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.09).

• Powers has a 5-3 record with a 4.15 ERA in nine starts, including one complete game ... he has 45 strikeouts to just 11 walks in a team-leading 56.1 IP.

FRANK-ING FAST ON THE BASEPATHS AND UP THE RECORD BOOK
• Senior outfielder Jack Frank snagged three stolen bases in the weekend series vs. Niagara, now with 16 on the season and 49 stolen bases for his career ... with the 49 swipes, Frank has climbed within one of No. 5 on MSU's career stolen bases, one shy of Brandon Hughes (2015-17).

• Frank is also third in the B1G and 51st in the NCAA with the 16 stolen bases ... he also is fourth in the conference and 60th in the country in stolen bases per game (0.48).

• The 16 swipes is just three shy of his single-season career-high of 19 stolen bases last season, and is his third-straight double-digit swipes season after 10 in 2022.

NUMBER 2 FOR 2 BAGS
• Senior infielder Dillon Kark is matching his jersey number of 2 for 2-baggers with a team-high 12 doubles, good for ranking eighth in the B1G ... Kark is also seventh in the conference in doubles per game (0.36).

• Kark has knocked a double in three of the last six games ... he has had two streaks of three-straight games with a double, as well as a stretch of four in five games.

ABOUT WESTERN MICHIGAN
• The Broncos are 20-13 overall and 11-5 in MAC action ... WMU won its eighth in a row with a 12-2 (7-inning) win over NAIA opponent Goshen on Tuesday evening ... the Broncos' eight-game winning streak is their longest since winning nine in a row in 2005 ... over the weekend, the Broncos swept Miami (Ohio), winning 3-0, 8-5 and 17-11 ... last week, WMU won, 10-9, at Michigan.

• WMU is hitting .319 as a team, with 364 hits (11.0 pg) and 265 runs (8.0 pg), with 37 HR ... the Broncos are also 29-of-43 on the basepaths (0.9 stolen bases per game).

• Senior infielder Cade Sullivan leads the Broncos hitting .415, and was second in the MAC and 32nd in the NCAA entering Tuesday's game, bolstering his average after going 3-for-5 with three runs ... Sullivan adds a .659 slugging percentage and a .506 on-base percentage, with 56 hits with nine doubles and eight HR.

• Redshirt-junior outfielder Dylan Nevar adds a .369 average with seven HR, while infielder/outfielder CJ Richmond is close behind with a .363 average, with a team-leading 10 doubles and matches Sullivan for the team-lead with eight HR.

• Senior outfielder Jackson Kitchen leads WMU with 11 stolen bases (11-13).

• The WMU pitching staff has a combined 5.86 ERA with 254 strikeouts (7.7 pg) and 141 walks (4.3 pg), with two combined shutouts, and the opposition has a .293 average.

• Senior right-hander Jayden Dentler is Wednesday's probable starter, with a 3-2 record and a 5.00 ERA, logging 27 K and 17 BB in 26.2 IP, and the opposition has a .268 average against him.

• WMU head coach Billy Gernon is in his 14th year at the reins of the Broncos with a 293-390 record and Gernon is in his 23rd year overall as a head coach with a 450-665-3 career record.

COMMON OPPONENTS
• Michigan State and Western Michigan have five common opponents, boosted by WMU playing in both First Pitch Invitationals in Greenville, S.C., at Fluor Field.

• MSU beat Michigan, 16-6 on March 26, while WMU has played Michigan five times, opening the season with four games in Phoenix Feb. 16-18, winning the first two (14-13 (11 inn.) and 11-9 (10 inn.)), before falling 9-4 (7 inn.) and 6-2, then also beat the Wolverines last week, 10-9 on April 9 in Ann Arbor.

• The Spartans and Broncos were in the First Pitch Invitational I field together, with the Spartans losing to Florida State, 11-2, while the Broncos lost to FSU, 8-3 ... MSU lost to Illinois, 12-6, while WMU lost, 8-6 (10 inn.).

• In the First Pitch Invitational II, the Spartans lost to Western Carolina, 9-5, while the Broncos lost, 18-6 (7 inn.) ... Michigan State lost to VCU, 8-4, while Western Michigan lost to the Rams, 9-7 (11 inn.).

• Both MSU and WMU would have two other opponents in common if not for rainouts, as the Spartans beat Purdue Fort Wayne, 11-1 (8 inn.) on March 19, while the Broncos and Mastodons were rained out on March 26 ... MSU was scheduled to play at Notre Dame on April 2, but got rained out, while WMU played the Irish on March 19, losing 16-11 in South Bend.

MSU VS. THE MAC
• Western Michigan is one of three Michigan State opponents from the Mid-American Conference so far, having also played Ball State and Central Michigan, along with the two previous games with WMU ... MSU is currently 2-2 vs. MAC teams ... the Spartans lost to Ball State, 4-1, on Feb. 18 at the Swig & Swine Classic at Shipyard Park in Charleston, S.C. ... MSU beat Western Michigan, 13-3 in 8 innings on March 2 in the First Pitch Invitational I at Fluor Field in Greenville, S.C. ... A week later, the Spartans then beat the Broncos again, 5-3, on March 8 at the First Pitch Invitational II, also at Fluor Field in Greenville, S.C. ... MSU lost to Central Michigan, 10-0 (7 inn.), on April 9 ... MSU has two more games against MAC foes, after meeting Western Michigan on Wednesday ... MSU will also host Bowling Green on Tuesday, May 7 and welcome Eastern Michigan the following week on Tuesday, May 14.

NIAGARA WEEKEND SHUT OUT RECAP
• Michigan State blanked Niagara, 9-nil on April 5 in the opener of the weekend's series opener, as MSU posted its first shutout since March 20, 2022 when the Spartans beat Houston Baptist, 1-0.

• Spartan starter sophomore southpaw Joseph Dzierwa went 7.0 IP, before senior reliever Aaron Mishoulam (1.0 IP) and freshman reliever Garrett Brewer (1.0 IP) finished it off for the combined shutout ... in the last blanking, three Spartans pitchers also combined for the shutout as well, with Nick Powers (6.1 IP), Andrew Carson (1.2 IP), Kyle Bischoff (1.0 IP) vs. Houston Baptist, March 20, 2022.

• Dzierwa was dominant, as he tied his career-high for third time this season with nine strikeouts in 7.0 IP as MSU snapped hot-hitting Niagara's eight-game win streak Friday.

• He retired 11-straight Niagara batters with six strikeouts in that span, covering the first through the fourth innings.

• After allowing two singles to open the game, Dzierwa got out of the inning with a flyout, then back-to-back Ks ... He opened the second with two more strikeouts in a row for four in a row, part of the 11-straight retired Purple Aces, until a single in the top of the fourth.

• Dzierwa, Mishoulam and Brewer combined to stymie Niagara's bats as they came into game ranking No. 16 in the NCAA with a team average of .321, averaging over 11 hits and nine runs per game, and were held in check to five hits and no runs Friday night ... Two Purple Eagles were in the top 15 in the nation in average, as Eric Rataczak was No. 13 at .446, while Nick Monile was hitting .438 coming into Friday ... They were a combined 1-for-8 with a strikeout apiece, with Monile lacing a two-out single in the fourth for the lone hit between them ... Rataczak had a season-long 13-game hitting streak snapped by going hitless for just the fourth time this season.
RACKING UP THE STRIKEOUTS
• MSU's pitching staff has been racking up the strikeouts to the tune of 9.1 Ks/nine innings, ranking fourth in the conference and 94th in the country.

• Individually, sophomore southpaw starter Joseph Dzierwa is fourth in the B1G and 53rd in the NCAA in strikeouts with 55, while senior lefty Nick Powers is 10th in the league with 42 punchouts ... Dzierwa is also fourth in the conference in Ks/nine innings at 10.92.

LIGHTING UP SCOREBOARD LIGHT A LITE BRITE
• A deluge of runs by Michigan State before and after a rain delay propelled the Spartans to a 16-6 Victory for MSU at Michigan on March 26 ... MSU plated seven runs in the top of the ninth, tying the season-high for most runs in an inning, matching a 7-run frame in the fifth inning at Georgia on Feb. 28 during the Spartans' 19-6, 7-inning, run-rule rout of the Bulldogs.

• The Spartans have beaten the Wolverines in the last two meetings overall, while Michigan State has scored 14 or more runs in its last three wins over Michigan, opening the 2023 season with a 15-8 win out in Phoenix at the MLB Desert Invite. MSU then won the series finale, 14-2 on April 23, avoiding a sweep after UM had won the first two games of the Big Ten weekend series, 5-3 and 8-3.

• Along with matching the second-high for most runs in a frame, MSU's 7-run ninth inning at UM on Tuesday was the Spartans' second 7-run inning in the last two seasons against Michigan and the third big inning of four or more runs, as the Spartans plated seven runs in the eighth after a 5-run sixth inning in the aforementioned 15-8 Victory for MSU over Michigan in the 2023 season-opener.

OPRAH-LIKE DISTRIBUTION OF HITS, RUNS AND RBI
• Michigan State rapped out 19 hits in the win at Michigan, with all nine starters plus the lone pinch hitter knocking at least one hit, while seven Spartans had multiple hits ... All nine starters plus the one pinch hitter all scored at least one run each and eight of the nine starters in addition to the lone pinch hitter had at least one RBI ... Eight of the nine starters also drew at least one walk, as the Spartans earned a season-high 13 free passes and their second double-digit walk outing of the season.

FRESHMEN DRIVING IN THE WINNING RBI
• The Spartans had a stretch where three of their four official game-winning RBI were driven in by freshmen, most recently with freshman infielder Ryan McKay's walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth in the 3-2 Victory for MSU over Rutgers on March 31.

• Spartan freshman outfielder Landen Lozier drove in the Spartans' two winning runs with official game-winning RBI in the wins over Purdue Fort Wayne on March 19 and at Michigan on March 26 ... Lozier drew a bases-loaded walk for the Spartans second run in the 11-1 win over Purdue Fort Wayne on March 19, and laced an RBI single in the seventh for Michigan State's seventh run at Michigan for the difference-maker run in the 16-6 deluge of runs in the win over the Wolverines.

RED CEDAR RIVER BUSCH BLAST AND FRANK JACK
• Junior infielder Sam Busch blasted his team-leading fourth home run for his first homer at home and belted it over the wall in right field and into the Red Cedar River on March 19 vs. Purdue Fort Wayne.

• Senior outfielder Jack Frank hit a three-run jack into the Red Cedar River in the third inning of Saturday's win over Rutgers ... it was Frank's third HR of the season, but first of the year in a home game.

RANDY SEY-MORE HOME RUNS
• MSU sophomore infielder Randy Seymour belted the first two home runs of his career, and both came not only at Fluor Field in Greenville, S.C., but they both were against Western Michigan ... He hit his first career home run in MSU's 13-3, 8-inning run-rule walloping of WMU on March 2, smacking it over the Green Monster in left field ... Seymour then smacked a 375-foot blast to left center in the 5-3 Victory for MSU over WMU on March 8.

• Seymour smacked his third homer of the season for his first homer at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field, knocking a three-run opposite-field round-tripper over the wall in right field and into the Red Cedar River on March 15 in the loss to Evansville.

SHOE ON BOTH FEET
• MSU senior pitcher Aaron Mishoulam made two appearances during the week of March 26-31, with one as a starter and one as a reliever.

• Mishoulam earned a save and started with a solid performance, going 4.0 IP at Michigan in non-conference win on March 26 and added a save in the 5-2 Victory for MSU over Rutgers on March 30 for his first career save as a Spartan.

• He started at Michigan and went 4.0 IP with four strikeouts.

• Mishoulam then came on and sealed the win over Rutgers on March 30, chalking up three strikeouts with just one hit in 2.0 IP, working a 1-2-3 inning in the eighth, then working around a single and error, with all three strikeouts coming in the ninth, ringing up third and final K to seal the victory for MSU.

DOUBLE-DIGIT RUNS SPARK SUCCESS
• With MSU's 10 runs in the season-opener, the Spartans improved to 33-0 in the last four seasons and had won 35 in a row when scoring 10+ runs, before that streak was snapped in the 20-10 loss to Marshall on Feb. 23 ... Michigan State is now 6-1 in 2024 when plating 10 or more runs, after going 14-0 in 2023, 9-0 in 2022, 7-0 in 2021, 2-0 in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, 1-0 in 2019 ... MSU was 3-1 in 2018, with the previous loss coming in a 12-10 loss to Niagara on March 18, 2018, then starting the 35-game streak by winning two other times in posting 10 or more runs.

• MSU started the season with 10 runs in the season-opener, then added 10 runs in the loss to Marshall on Feb. 23, before bouncing back with a three-game win streak when plating 10 or more runs, starting with double-digit runs in back-to-back games with 19 runs in 7-innings at Georgia on Feb. 28 and 13 runs in 8-innings two days later vs. Western Michigan on March 2 at Greenville ... the Green & White then scored 11 runs in the home and series opener vs. Evansville on March 15, and added 11 runs in the 11-1 8-inning run-rule Victory for MSU over Purdue Fort Wayne on March 19 in the first home midweek game of the season ... the Spartans erupted for a 16-6 Victory for MSU at Michigan on March 26.

DOUBLE THE BIG TEN WEEKLY HONORS
• Michigan State baseball players Nick Williams was named the Big Ten Co-Player of the Week while Ryan McKay was tabbed Big Ten Freshman of the Week, announced on March 4 by the conference office.

• Williams and McKay both collect the first B1G accolades of their MSU careers. It also marks the first time that two Spartans earned B1G weekly awards in the same week since last season's first week of the awards, when Brock Vradenburg collected Player of the Week honors and Dominic Pianto was the Co-Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 21, 2023 after the opening weekend of the season. Overall, it is the eighth time in program history that two or more Spartans earned conference weekly accolades in the same week.

B1G Co-Player of the Week Nick Williams • #10 • JR • OF
Racine, Wisc./Union Grove HS/Wabash Valley CC

• Posted a .556 average, hitting 10-for-18, averaging over two hits per game, with multiple hits in three of the four outings, posting games of two hits, four hits, one hit and three hits.

• Logged a .579 on-base percentage and an .833 slugging percentage.

• Went 2-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored at Georgia, helping the Spartans to a 19-6 7-inning run-rule Victory for MSU, as the Spartans posted their first win over an SEC team since 2016, and dealing Georgia its first loss of the season.

• Went 4-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, with a double and adding a walk in MSU's 13-3 8-inning run-rule win over Western Michigan ... Was 1-for-4 with a double vs. Florida State.

• Wrapped up week going 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored on a 79-foot blast w/ 100mph exit velocity home run over the Green Monster at Fluor Field, which is the high A-affiliate of the Boston Red Sox and has same dimensions as Fenway Park.

B1G Freshman of the Week Ryan McKay • #1 • FR • INF
Clarkston, Mich. / Orchard Lake St. Mary's HS

• Hit .588 (8-for-15) with a .733 slugging percentage and a .588 on-base percentage in four games, averaging two hits per game, with multi-hit outings in three of the four games, for first three multiple hit games of Spartan career.

• Started week off going a career-high 3-for-4 with a triple, adding an RBI and scoring career-high three runs in MSU's 19-6 7-inning run-rule rout at Georgia, leading the Spartans to their first win over an SEC team since 2016 and dealing Georgia its first loss of the season. The three runs scored were first career runs scored in an MSU uniform.

• After Georgia took a 2-0 lead after the first frame, sparked the Spartan rally in the second to get the offense going with a leadoff triple and later scored MSU's first run of the night, knocking not just the first three-bagger of his Spartan career, but the first triple of the season for MSU.

• Came up again later in the second as MSU batted around, drawing a bases-loaded walk for an RBI ... Added singles in the fifth and seventh innings.

• Started weekend off going 2-for-4 with three runs scored, tying career-high for second-straight game, and an RBI, adding a stolen base and a walk in the 13-3 8-inning run-rule Victory for MSU over Western Michigan in Greenville.

• Went 2-for-3 with a double, a run and an RBI vs. Florida State, then wrapped up week going 1-for-4 vs. Illinois.

EARLY HOME OPENER
• MSU's March 15 home-opener date was tied for 2018 for the earliest home openers in program history ... Evansville was only the third out-of-state opponent for the Spartans in their last 10 home openers, playing Niagara in 2018 ... the home-opener game-time temperature was 54 degrees, making it the warmest home-opener in the last 10 years.

Last 10 Years Of Home-Openers
Year     Date    Result Game-Time Temp
2024    March 15*       MSU 11, Evansville 3 54
2023    March 21         MSU 8, Western Michigan 3   50
2022    March 18         MSU 4, Houston Baptist 3      48
2021    March 26 ^      Indiana 8, MSU 2        49
2020    No home-opener due to COVID         --
2019    March 20< march="" 27           ="" msu="" 3,="" western="" michigan="" 2  ="">
2018    March 15*       MSU 10, Niagara 1      34
2017    March 21         MSU 11, Central Michigan 2   52
2016    March 23         MSU 4, Central Michigan 1     38
2015    March 24         MSU 8, Central Michigan 3     40

* = tied for earliest home-opening date in program history
^ = B1G-only ledger due to COVID
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BACK-TO-BACK DOUBLE-DIGIT RUNS
• Michigan State hung 19 runs on the scoreboard at Georgia in a 19-6, 7-inning run-rule Victory for MSU on Feb. 28, then turned around and plated 13 runs in a 13-3, 8-inning run-rule walloping of Western Michigan on March 2, for MSU's first back-to-back games with 10+ runs of the season ... it was the first time the Spartans had consecutive games with double-digit runs since April 23 and 25, 2023, when MSU won at Michigan, 14-2, on April 23, then beat Notre Dame, 12-5, on April 25.

WILL-IAMS POWER
• Junior designated hitter/catcher Christian Williams went 4-for-4 on one double and three singles, with three RBI and one run scored in the 6-2 Victory for MSU over Marshall on Feb. 24.

• C. Williams becomes the first Spartan to go 4-for-4 since Justin Antoncic knocked four hits in four at bats on April 7, 2019 vs. Indiana State.

• C. Williams sparked MSU's rally in the second inning with a leadoff double, then added an RBI single in the third that gave MSU a 3-2 advantage, a lead they didn't relinquish.

• He then added RBI singles in the fifth and seventh stanzas for the Spartans' insurance runs.

• Junior outfielder Nick Williams added a 4-for-4 outing vs. Western Michigan on March 2, with three RBI and two runs scored, with a double and adding a walk in MSU's 13-3 8-inning run-rule win.

• N. Williams was 1-for-4 with a double vs. Florida State in Saturday's second game.

• N. Williams wrapped up week going 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored on a 79-foot blast w/ 100mph exit velocity home run over the Green Monster at Fluor Field, which is the high A-affiliate of the Boston Red Sox and has same dimensions as Fenway Park.

FIVE-FOR-FIVE FRANK
• Senior outfielder Jack Frank was 5-for-5 in the 13-3, 8-inning, run-rule win over Western Michigan on March 2, becoming the first Spartan to have five hits in five at bats since Bailey Peterson on Feb. 21, 2020, going 5-for-5 vs. Merrimack.

SIX RIBBIE FRANK
• Senior outfielder Jack Frank also knocked out six RBI in the 19-6 7-inning run-rule Victory for MSU at Georgia on Feb. 28.

• Frank finished 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.

FIVE KARK SPECIAL
• Senior infielder Dillon Kark finished 4-for-4 with five RBI in the 13-3, 8-inning, run-rule win over Western Michigan on March 2, becoming the first Michigan State player with five RBI since Brock Vradenburg knocked five ribbies on April 23, 2023 at Michigan.

• Kark had an RBI single in the first, then added a sac fly in the sixth before a 3-run "walk-off" home run in the eighth to hit the run-rul Victory for MSU.

FRANK-ING THE BASES UP
• Senior outfielder Jack Frank made the basepaths sound like a remake of Ben Stein in Ferris Bueller's Day Off: "Frank... Frank... Frank... Frank," as the Spartan speedster reached base in eight consecutive at bats, reaching base in his final three at bats in the Georgia game on Feb. 28, then went 5-for-5 in the Western Michigan game on March 2.

• The eight-straight at bats reaching base streak is MSU's longest since Brock Vradenburg did so on March 10-11, 2023.

GEORGIA HIT AND HIGH SCORE PARTY
• Some news and notes from Michigan State's 19-6 win at Georgia on Feb. 28:

-- 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.

-- 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.

-- All nine Spartans in the line-up had at least one hit.

-- 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).

-- 14 of the 19 runs came with two outs, as MSU hit .650 (13-for-20) with two outs.

-- The Spartans' 7-run fifth inning was their most in an inning since scoring seven in a 15-8 Victory for MSU vs. Michigan in Phoenix in the 2023 season-opener on Feb. 17, 2023.

-- Michigan State had three innings of four or more runs, the first time with three big-inning frames in the same game since March 2, 2014 when the Spartans had a innings of four, four and seven-run rallies in an 18-13 win over Eastern Illinois.

-- MSU's last run-rule win was April 15, 2023 vs. Western Illinois-G2 (W, 11-1).

-- The 19 runs was the most scored by the Spartans since a 19-10 win at Charleston Southern on March 4, 2023.

-- Michigan State improved to 3-5 on the young season, while the Spartans dealt the Bulldogs their first loss of the year, now 8-1.

-- MSU 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.

BOSS IN SWEET 16th SEASON WITH SPARTANS
• Head coach Jake Boss Jr. is in his 16th year at Michigan State and 17th overall as a collegiate head coach ... Boss entered the 2024 season at No. 3 on MSU's longest coaching list behind John H. Kobs (1935-63), the namesake for Kobs Field, location of McLane Stadium, with 39 seasons, and legendary head coach Denny Litwhiler (1964-82) with 19 seasons ... Boss is also No. 3 on the Spartan head coach list for wins and games coached, also behind Kobs with 576 wins in 969 games, and Litwhiler with 489 wins in 859 games.

SEASON-OPENING SUCCESS
• Between last season's 15-8 Victory for MSU over Michigan in the season-opener and the 2024 season-opening 10-3 win over Merrimack on Feb. 16, the Spartans have been victorious in their season-opener in five of the last six seasons ... overall, MSU is now 13-3 in the 16 season-openers under Coach Boss, only losing in 2013 vs. Furman, 2018 at Fresno State and 2022 at UNLV.

LIGHTIN' UP THE SCOREBOARD ON OPENING DAY
• The Spartans' 10 runs on Opening Day on Feb. 16 in the 10-3 Victory for MSU was Michigan State's second-straight season-opener scoring 10+ runs after hanging 15 runs in 2023 opener ... MSU has now plated double-figure runs in its season-opener five times in the 16 seasons under Coach Boss, joining 2012 (W, 11-4 vs. St. Johns), 2016 (W, 11-5 vs. Presbyterian), 2020 (W, 15-3 vs. Morehead State), 2023 (W, 15-8 vs. Michigan) and now 2024 (W, 10-3 vs. Merrimack).

BIG INNING IN OPENER
• In the 10-3 win over Merrimack, MSU had a six-run ninth inning to break the game open, sending nine batters to the plate, scoring six runs on five hits, and taking advantage of two Merrimack errors.

• The big inning against Merrimack marked the second-straight opener that MSU plated four or more in the game, as the Spartans had two big innings in the 2023 opener, with a five-run sixth stanza and a 7-run eighth inning in the 15-8 Victory for MSU over Michigan in Phoenix, Ariz.

PROFESSIONAL STADIUM EXPERIENCE
• The previous two weekends in Greenville, S.C., the Spartans played six of their eight total official games and one exhibition contest in two different professional stadiums.

• The Spartans also played six games at their home-away-from-home, Fluor Field, in Greenville, S.C., home of the Greenville Drive. MSU hosted the First Pitch Invitational I on March 2-3, beating Western Michigan, 13-3 (8 innings), before losing to Florida State , 11-2, on March 2, and losing to Illinois, 12-6 on March 3.

• MSU hosted the First Pitch Invitational II, again beating Western Michigan, 5-3, on March 8, before falling to Western Carolins (9-5) on March 9 and to VCU (8-4) on March 10 to wrap up its Fluor Field stretch.

• Michigan State will take on the Lansing Lugnuts, the High-A affiliate of the Oakland A's, in the 2024 Crosstown Showdown on Wednesday, April 3 at Jackson® Field™ in an exhibition game.

• The Spartans will also play Western Michigan at Jackson® Field™ on Wednesday, April 17.

POWER OUTAGE
• Senior pitcher Nick Powers fired a complete game in the 6-2 Victory for MSU over Marshall in Port Charlotte, Fla. on Feb. 24.

• Powers rang up nine strikeouts and scattered six hits, but didn't allow a Marshall base runner to safely reach second after the first inning, while getting help from his defense that turned a season-high three double plays.

• After allowing two runs on two hits in the opening frame, Powers settled in and had three-up, three-down innings for the next seven stanzas, facing four batters in the ninth, but ringing up his ninth and final strikeout for the last out to secure the Victory for MSU.

• A day after Marshall knocked out 18 hits and 20 runs vs. MSU on Friday evening, Powers stymied the same Marshall lineup to just six hits and two runs, with only four hits and no runs after the first inning.

• It was his first career complete game and also was the first complete game in the Big Ten this season and the first CG in the B1G since May 27, 2022 when Indiana's Bradley Brehmer when 9.0 vs. Illinois.

• Powers is the first Spartan pitcher to throw a complete-game since 2019 when Mike Mokma went the distance vs. Ohio State on March 9, 2019 in Greenville, S.C.

WHERE THERE'S A WILL-IAMS THERE'S A WAY
• Michigan State has two Williams on its roster, but they are not related ... junior designated hitter/catcher Christian Williams is in third season with the Spartans and is from Carmel, Indiana ... junior outfielder Nick Williams is in his first season with the Green & White and is from Racine, Wisconsin.

WILL-IAMS POWER
• Junior designated hitter/catcher Christian Williams went 4-for-4 on one double and three singles, with three RBI and one run scored in the 6-2 Victory for MSU over Marshall on Saturday.

• C. Williams becomes the first Spartan to go 4-for-4 since Justin Antoncic knocked four hits in four at bats on April 7, 2019 vs. Indiana State.

• C. Williams sparked MSU's rally in the second inning with a leadoff double, then added an RBI single in the third that gave MSU a 3-2 advantage, a lead they didn't relinquish.

• He then added RBI singles in the fifth and seventh stanzas for the Spartans' insurance runs.

FRANK FLYING ON BASEPATHS AND IN RECORD BOOK
• Senior outfielder Jack Frank entered the 2024 season with 33 stolen bases, starting the season ranked No. 12 on MSU's career stolen bases list.

• Frank swiped four bases in the opening weekend to vault up to tie for No. 10 on the list, tying Danny Gleaves (2017-20), leaving him just one from former teammate Mitch Jebb (2021-23) at No. 9 with 38 swipes ... Frank passed Jebb with two stolen bases at Georgia on Feb. 28 and added two more stolen bases the next game vs. Western Michigan on Feb. 2.

• Frank now has nine stolen bases this season for 42 career stolen bases, holding the No. 9 spot on MSU's stolen bases list, just three from tying Cam Gibson (2013-15) with 45 swipes.

• Of Frank's four stolen bases in the opening weekend, three came in the Opening Day win over Merrimack.

• Frank became the first Spartan with three stolen bases in one game since Danny Gleaves swiped a trio of bases on May 5, 2018 at Penn State.

16 FOR 16
• Sophomore pitcher Joseph Dzierwa matched his jersey number of 16 with 16 strikeouts in 10.0 IP in his first two starts of the season, adding nine more Ks in his third outing, before posting six Ks in outing number four and eight in his fifth and most recent outing on March 15.

CHALKIN' UP CAREER-HIGH STRIKEOUTS
• Two Spartan pitchers registered career-highs in the opening weekend:
-- Sophomore starter Joseph Dzierwa rang up career-high nine strikeouts in start vs. Seton Hall on Feb. 17, bettering previous career-best of eight Ks on March 19, 2023 vs. Indiana State.

-- Junior reliever Noah Matheny rang up six strikeouts in 4.0 IP vs. Lehigh on Feb. 17, striking out the side in two innings as part of retiring all 12 Mountain Hawk batters he faced ... Matheny's previous MSU career-high was five Ks in 5.0 IP vs. Arizona on Feb. 19, 2023 in Phoenix, Ariz.

-- Sophomore starter Nolan Higgins chalked up a career-best seven Ks in Opening Day start vs. Merrimack, topping previous career-high of six Ks vs. Oakland on April 12, 2023.

-- Sophomore reliever Robert Klann collected three Ks in 2.0 IP vs. Seton Hall on Feb. 17, for his first multi-strikeout outing of his career and bettering his previous career-best of one K vs. Wofford on March 8, 2023.

• Three other Spartan pitchers had smashing debuts:
-- Senior Aaron Mishoulam made first start in the Green & White and went 5.0 IP and chalked up seven strikeouts against Lehigh on Feb. 17.

-- Sophomore Tommy Szczepanski made MSU debut in the season-opener vs. Merrimack on Feb. 16, striking out the side to secure the 10-3 Victory for MSU ... Szczepanski also came on in relief in the game vs. Lehigh, adding a pair of punchouts in 1.1 IP.

-- Freshman Logan Pikur made his collegiate debut in the season-opener vs. Merrimack on Feb. 16, tallying two Ks in 1.0 IP ... Pikur also added one more K in 1.2 IP vs. Ball State on Feb. 18.

FIRST ROUND-TRIPPERS
• Two Spartans smashed their first home runs of their Green & White career in MSU's 10-3 win over Merrimack on Opening Day:

-- Junior transfer catcher Noah Bright bashed his first home run coming in his first ever game as a Spartan, smacking a solo shot to left field in the sixth inning, to tie it up at 4-all.

-- Sophomore Jake Dresselhouse belted the first home run of his MSU career in the sixth inning to put the Spartans on top for good at 5-4.

JOINING IN THE DEBUT PARTY
• Junior transfer outfielder Nick Williams was 3-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base in his MSU debut.

BACK-TO-BACK TWICE
• Michigan State went back-to-back twice in the 10-3 Victory for MSU over Merrimack on Opening Day, with junior catcher Noah Bright and Jake Dresselhouse going back-to-back in the sixth inning, then junior infielder Sam Busch and sophomore infielder Jacob Anderson knocking back-to-back homers in the ninth.

140TH SEASON OF MICHIGAN STATE BASEBALL
Michigan State is playing its 140th season of baseball in 2024 and was the first varsity sport on campus. The first season of Spartan baseball was 1884, going 4-2 in the six-game schedule, and baseball has been played every season since, with only no varsity in 1944 due to World War II. MSU has played over 4,500 games in program history.

70TH ANNIVERSARY OF 1954 MICHIGAN STATE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES TEAM
Michigan State will be celebrating the 1954 Spartan team that won the Big Ten Championship en route to the College World Series, the first and lone trip to the CWS by MSU.

The 1954 season was one for the ages as the Spartans won their first Big Ten Championship, ran through the NCAA tournament en route to a College World Series 3rd place finish, and completed the season with a then school-record 25-10-1 record behind the leadership of Spartan legend John Kobs. The '54 team featured three future Major League players in Ed Hobaugh, Bob Powell, and College World Series MVP Tom Yewcic, and future NFL quarterback and 1968 NFL MVP Earl Morrall.

After winning the Big Ten Championship, the Spartans defeated Ohio University to earn its first bid to the College World Series. Michigan State won its first two games of the CWS, beating Massachusetts, 16-5, then topping Arizona, 2-1, before dropping a close game to Rollins College, 5-4. The Spartans rebounded to beat Rollins in extra innings 3-2 before dropping the season finale to eventual champion Missouri, 4-3, on a controversial call late in the game on a foul tip that wasn't called and led to the winning run crossing the plate.

SZCZEPANSKI NAMED TO NCBWA STOPPER OF THE YEAR PRESEASON WATCH LIST
Michigan State baseball sophomore pitcher Tommy Szczepanski has been named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List.

Szczepanski was one of six players from the Big Ten on the 73-player list for the 19th Annual NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award, given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I Baseball.

This is the second-straight season a Spartan has been on the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List, as last year's senior closer Wyatt Rush was named to the Midseason List, and went on to ring up 10 saves to finish third in the B1G and tied for 19th in the NCAA in saves in his final season in the Green & White.

Szczepanski, a native of Bay City, Michigan, is in his first season at MSU after transferring from Virginia Tech. At VA Tech, Szczepanski was rated No. 122 in Perfect Game's USA's Top 500 Incoming Freshman entering the 2023 season.

He made six appearances with one start, including coming on in relief for two combined shutouts for the Hokies. Szczepanski fired 10 strikeouts in 6.0 IP (15.0 K/9 innings), yielding just five hits while holding the opposition to a .217 average against him. He also chalked up a season-high three strikeouts twice, striking out the side in his collegiate debut on Feb. 26, 2023 vs. Bryant, then adding three punchouts in 2.0 IP shutout frames vs. Bowling Green on May 6, 2023.

HOME STATERS
• The Spartans have 22 players on its 2024 roster from the state of Michigan.

SPARTAN MEDIA NETWORK
• For the eighth-straight year, the Spartan Media Network will carry a live audio stream for all home and select road Spartan baseball games this season ... The broadcast will be available exclusively at MSUSpartans.com by clicking on "Listen Live" on the baseball schedule ... Broadcast veteran Scott Moore calls the action, with Spartan baseball alum Jim Cotter providing analysis for home games.

UP NEXT
• Michigan State returns home to host Penn State in a three-game B1G series, Friday-Sunday, April 19-21 ... Friday's opener is an 8:02 p.m. first pitch and will be nationally televised on Big Ten Network ... Saturday's game two is at 3:35 p.m. before the series finale on Sunday at 1:05 p.m.

• Fans can follow this week's action with "Tickets," "Watch Live," "Listen Live" and "Live Stats" links at MSUSpartans.com.

• Michigan State's schedule is subject to change, stay tuned to MSUSpartans.com and @MSUBaseball on Twitter for schedule updates.

Spartans Battle Broncos Wednesday In “Capital Clash” At Jackson Field

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jacob Anderson

Garrett Brewer

Noah Bright

Bryan Broecker

Sam Busch

Andrew Carson

Harrison Cook

Jake Dresselhouse

Joseph Dzierwa

Nick Ferazzi

Jack Frank

Nolan Higgins

Mitch Jebb

Dillon Kark

Robert Klann

Landen Lozier

Noah Matheny

Ryan McKay

Aaron Mishoulam

Dominic Pianto

Logan Pikur

Nick Powers

Wyatt Rush

Randy Seymour

Ryan Szczepaniak

Tommy Szczepanski

Sam Thompson

Brock Vradenburg

Christian Williams

Nick Williams

Greg Ziegler

Spartans Battle Broncos Wednesday In “Capital Clash” At Jackson Field

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jacob Anderson

Garrett Brewer

Noah Bright

Bryan Broecker

Sam Busch

Andrew Carson

Harrison Cook

Jake Dresselhouse

Joseph Dzierwa

Nick Ferazzi

Jack Frank

Nolan Higgins

Mitch Jebb

Dillon Kark

Robert Klann

Landen Lozier

Noah Matheny

Ryan McKay

Aaron Mishoulam

Dominic Pianto

Logan Pikur

Nick Powers

Wyatt Rush

Randy Seymour

Ryan Szczepaniak

Tommy Szczepanski

Sam Thompson

Brock Vradenburg

Christian Williams

Nick Williams

Greg Ziegler

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