Friday, April 26
Nick Swisher Field at Bill Davis Stadium | Columbus, Ohio
6 PM
Michigan State University
18-20, 6-7
11
at
4
Ohio State
19-19, 6-7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Michigan State
0
2
0
2
2
0
2
2
1
11
17
0
Ohio State
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
2
0
4
6
1
Photo by: Jeremy Fleming
Spartans Boosted By Ohio Natives To Beat Buckeyes, 11-4, Friday Night
4/26/2024 10:37:00 PM | Baseball
Frank and Dzierwa spark big Victory for MSU.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Michigan State baseball rode the efforts of its two Ohio natives on the roster to spark the Spartans to an 11-4 Victory for MSU over Ohio State Friday night at OSU's Nick Swisher Field at Bill Davis Stadium.
Michigan State won for the fourth time in its last five games, improving to 18-20 overall and 6-7 in B1G play. Ohio State is now 19-19 overall and is also 6-7 in conference competition. Friday was also the Spartans' second-straight win over the Buckeyes, winning four of the last five and nine of the last 13 in the series with OSU.
"It was a good win tonight against a good team. I thought that arm (starter Landon Beidelschies) they ran out there at us is really talented, his stuff is outstanding, and I thought our guys really stuck to the plan and the approach and did a great job of executing it," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "Jack Frank with a big day for us with four hits, Sam Thompson with three hits, and just up and down the line-up we had a lot of guys string together a lot of good at bats."
Sophomore southpaw starting pitcher Joseph Dzierwa, a native of Haskins, Ohio (Otsego HS), went 7.1 IP with 4 Ks, scattering six hits and four runs, with a large contingent of friends and family in the stands.
"To win the first game of the series is pretty big so I thought getting us off on the right first step was good, and playing in front of my family and friends was pretty cool too," Dzierwa said.
Dzierwa tallied a trio of three-up, three-down stanzas, getting solid defensive plays behind him.
"Joseph was really good tonight, that's what our Friday guy should do," Boss said. "He pounded the strike zone, didn't walk anybody and got ahead in the count a lot and was able to put some guys away, especially the first time through the order, and then he pitched to contact and got a lot of weak contact. He was outstanding tonight."
Dzierwa and the Spartans were also boosted by the return of pitching coach Mark Van Ameyde, who returned to the team on Thursday, meeting the team for practice, and was in the dugout for the first time Friday night after a successful kidney transplant on March 20.
"It was great to have him back. We were talking in the dugout about things, and I shook him off on a couple pitches he called, but I know he scouts really hard and worked on the scouting reports for us while he was gone, so it was just really good to have him back," Dzierwa said.
Dzierwa's excitement about having Coach Vandy back was echoed by Coach Boss.
"It was great having Coach Van Ameyde back," Boss said. "He showed up at practice yesterday and our guys gave him a really warm welcome and they were excited to have him back. It's awesome having him back in the dugout, and just talking about the game, but more importantly, just seeing him walk around and being healthy and feeling good."
Senior outfielder Jack Frank, a native of Strongsville, Ohio (Strongsville HS), was 4-for-4 with two runs scored, and also had a large section of family and friends.
In all, eight of the nine Spartans in the line-up had hits, and Frank was one of six MSU players with multiple knocks. Michigan State rapped out 17 hits in scoring the 11 runs, as the Spartans posted 10+ runs for the 10th game this season, improving to 9-1 when doing so.
MSU scored two runs in five of the six innings in which it scored, with two runs in the second, fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth frames, adding one in the ninth.
Freshman Logan Pikur went 1.2 IP with a K and no hits to finish out the night in relief of Dzierwa.
Senior outfielder Greg Ziegler smashed his first home run of the season and finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Junior outfielder Nick Williams also went 2-for-4 also with a homer.
Senior catcher Sam Thompson was 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored, while freshman infielder Ryan McKay was 2-for-5 with two RBI.
Spartan sophomore southpaw Dzierwa is a native of Haskins, Ohio and is one of two Ohio natives on the Spartans roster and Friday was his first time playing in his home state for the Green & White. Dzierwa went 7.1 IP with 4 Ks, scattering six hits and four runs.
MSU's 11 runs were the Spartans' 10th game with 10+ runs this season.
Ziegler got the scoring going for Michigan State with his two-run home run in the second inning, crushing it over the wall and into the trees beyond left field.
The Spartans scored two runs on four singles in the fourth, before N.Williams knocked his two-run homer in the fifth. MSU's two runs in the seventh on three singles and a sac fly by Ziegler. In the eighth, Michigan State scored two more runs on three hits, before adding a run in the ninth, taking advantage of an error and two singles.
MSU and OSU return to the diamond for game two of the series on Saturday with a 2 p.m. first pitch, before Sunday's series finale at 1 p.m.
Michigan State returns home to McLane Stadium at Kobs Field to host Notre Dame on Tuesday, April 30 at 7:05 p.m., before hosting Michigan in a three-game B1G series, Friday-Sunday, May 3-5. Friday's series opener is slated for 6:05 p.m., before game two of the series on Saturday at 3:35 p.m. The MSU-UM series wraps up on Sunday at 2:05 p.m.
Fans can follow next weekend'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.
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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 are also on sale through the Spartan Ticket Office.
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.
Michigan State won for the fourth time in its last five games, improving to 18-20 overall and 6-7 in B1G play. Ohio State is now 19-19 overall and is also 6-7 in conference competition. Friday was also the Spartans' second-straight win over the Buckeyes, winning four of the last five and nine of the last 13 in the series with OSU.
"It was a good win tonight against a good team. I thought that arm (starter Landon Beidelschies) they ran out there at us is really talented, his stuff is outstanding, and I thought our guys really stuck to the plan and the approach and did a great job of executing it," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "Jack Frank with a big day for us with four hits, Sam Thompson with three hits, and just up and down the line-up we had a lot of guys string together a lot of good at bats."
Sophomore southpaw starting pitcher Joseph Dzierwa, a native of Haskins, Ohio (Otsego HS), went 7.1 IP with 4 Ks, scattering six hits and four runs, with a large contingent of friends and family in the stands.
"To win the first game of the series is pretty big so I thought getting us off on the right first step was good, and playing in front of my family and friends was pretty cool too," Dzierwa said.
Dzierwa tallied a trio of three-up, three-down stanzas, getting solid defensive plays behind him.
"Joseph was really good tonight, that's what our Friday guy should do," Boss said. "He pounded the strike zone, didn't walk anybody and got ahead in the count a lot and was able to put some guys away, especially the first time through the order, and then he pitched to contact and got a lot of weak contact. He was outstanding tonight."
Dzierwa and the Spartans were also boosted by the return of pitching coach Mark Van Ameyde, who returned to the team on Thursday, meeting the team for practice, and was in the dugout for the first time Friday night after a successful kidney transplant on March 20.
"It was great to have him back. We were talking in the dugout about things, and I shook him off on a couple pitches he called, but I know he scouts really hard and worked on the scouting reports for us while he was gone, so it was just really good to have him back," Dzierwa said.
Dzierwa's excitement about having Coach Vandy back was echoed by Coach Boss.
"It was great having Coach Van Ameyde back," Boss said. "He showed up at practice yesterday and our guys gave him a really warm welcome and they were excited to have him back. It's awesome having him back in the dugout, and just talking about the game, but more importantly, just seeing him walk around and being healthy and feeling good."
Senior outfielder Jack Frank, a native of Strongsville, Ohio (Strongsville HS), was 4-for-4 with two runs scored, and also had a large section of family and friends.
In all, eight of the nine Spartans in the line-up had hits, and Frank was one of six MSU players with multiple knocks. Michigan State rapped out 17 hits in scoring the 11 runs, as the Spartans posted 10+ runs for the 10th game this season, improving to 9-1 when doing so.
MSU scored two runs in five of the six innings in which it scored, with two runs in the second, fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth frames, adding one in the ninth.
Freshman Logan Pikur went 1.2 IP with a K and no hits to finish out the night in relief of Dzierwa.
VICTORY FOR MSU!!!!
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) April 27, 2024
Final score from Nick Swisher Field at Bill Davis Stadium in Columbus:
Michigan State 11, Ohio State 4
High fives and handshakes alllllll around as the Spartans win the opener of @B1Gbaseball weekend series!!
G2 Sat at 2 pm.#VictoryForMSU pic.twitter.com/9Rp3D638ZA
Senior outfielder Greg Ziegler smashed his first home run of the season and finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Junior outfielder Nick Williams also went 2-for-4 also with a homer.
Senior catcher Sam Thompson was 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored, while freshman infielder Ryan McKay was 2-for-5 with two RBI.
Spartan sophomore southpaw Dzierwa is a native of Haskins, Ohio and is one of two Ohio natives on the Spartans roster and Friday was his first time playing in his home state for the Green & White. Dzierwa went 7.1 IP with 4 Ks, scattering six hits and four runs.
End 1st |
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) April 26, 2024
MSU 0
OSU 0
Dzierwa works a 3-⬆️, 3-⬇️ frame with a pair of swinging strikeouts and Nick Williams makes a niiiiiiiiice diving catch on a sinking liner to end the frame.
C.Williams-Ziegler-McKay up in the Spartan line-up.#GoGreen | @NicklasWilliam1 pic.twitter.com/R31WVOKLez
MSU's 11 runs were the Spartans' 10th game with 10+ runs this season.
Ziegler got the scoring going for Michigan State with his two-run home run in the second inning, crushing it over the wall and into the trees beyond left field.
Greg Ziegler with a 2-run #ZiggyBlast HR for his 1st homer of the season!!
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) April 26, 2024
MSU 2
OSU 0#GoGreen | @GKZ27 pic.twitter.com/PZQcxLb1PP
The Spartans scored two runs on four singles in the fourth, before N.Williams knocked his two-run homer in the fifth. MSU's two runs in the seventh on three singles and a sac fly by Ziegler. In the eighth, Michigan State scored two more runs on three hits, before adding a run in the ninth, taking advantage of an error and two singles.
MSU and OSU return to the diamond for game two of the series on Saturday with a 2 p.m. first pitch, before Sunday's series finale at 1 p.m.
Michigan State returns home to McLane Stadium at Kobs Field to host Notre Dame on Tuesday, April 30 at 7:05 p.m., before hosting Michigan in a three-game B1G series, Friday-Sunday, May 3-5. Friday's series opener is slated for 6:05 p.m., before game two of the series on Saturday at 3:35 p.m. The MSU-UM series wraps up on Sunday at 2:05 p.m.
Fans can follow next weekend'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.
---------
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 are also on sale through the Spartan Ticket Office.
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: Dzierwa, Joseph (5-1)
L: Beidelschies, Landon (4-7)
Batting:
2B: Frank, Jack 1 ; Ziegler, Greg 1
HR: Williams, Nick 1 ; Ziegler, Greg 1
RBI: Kark, Dillon 1 ; Williams, Nick 2 ; Ziegler, Greg 3 ; McKay, Ryan 2 ; Thompson, Sam 1 ; Seymour, Randy 1
SF: Ziegler, Greg 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Frank, Jack 2 ; Williams, Nick 2 ; Williams, Christian 2 ; Ziegler, Greg 2 ; Thompson, Sam 1 ; Seymour, Randy 2
SB: Ziegler, Greg 1
CS: Frank, Jack 1
PO: Frank, Jack 1
Batting:
2B: Graveline, Matthew 1 ; Pettorini, Tyler 1 ; Okuley, Mitchell 1
HR: Kaczmar, Henry 1
RBI: Kaczmar, Henry 2 ; Pettorini, Tyler 1 ; Mershon, Joseph 1
SF: Mershon, Joseph 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lipsey, Trey 1 ; Kaczmar, Henry 2 ; Graveline, Matthew 1
HBP: Lipsey, Trey 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
2
H
4
RBI
0
AB
5
R
1
H
3
RBI
1
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
3
Players Mentioned
LHP
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballC
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballPursuit to Greatness | Spartans All-Access
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