Thursday, May 16
McLane Stadium at Kobs Field | East Lansing, Mich.
6:05 PM
Michigan State University
23-26, 10-12
1
vs
2
Nebraska
33-18, 15-7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Nebraska
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
8
0
Michigan State
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
7
1
Photo by: MSU Baseball Social Squad
MSU Nipped By Nebraska, 2-1, In Thursday Night’s Series Opener
5/16/2024 11:41:00 PM | Baseball
Spartans clipped by Huskers in tight ballgame.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State baseball pushed one of the top teams and top pitchers in the conference to the brink, but came up short in a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Nebraska in the first game of the final Big Ten Conference series Thursday night at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field.
A pre-game weather and rain delay pushed back the start time of the highly anticipated match-up with heavy conference standing implications from 6:05 until 7:30. Nebraska came into the contest in second-place in the B1G standings challenging for the regular-season title, while the Spartans entered tied for seventh in battling for a top eight spot to qualify for the B1G Tournament.
Once the weather cleared, the Spartans wasted little time getting on the scoreboard with a run in their first at bat. The Huskers countered with a run in the third and fourth frames, but MSU's defense limited the damage in both innings, as well as throughout the night, stranding Huskers on base in four-straight innings, including multiple runners in the fourth and sixth frames along with leaving them loaded in the seventh.
"I thought it was a really well-played game by both teams. I thought our effort was outstanding tonight," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said.
MSU slides to 23-26 overall and 10-12 in B1G play, while Nebraska moves to 33-18 overall and 15-7 overall. The loss snaps the Spartans' four-game win streak in series openers, as MSU had won its previous four Friday night series lid-lifters and were defeated in their lone game played on a Thursday this regular-season.
Spartan senior starter Harrison Cook went 6.0 IP, ringing up four strikeouts, scattering five hits while yielding two runs and three walks. Sophomore reliever Nolan Higgins came on in the seventh and sprayed three hits while tallying one punchout and allowing two walks, but no runs.
"I thought Harrison Cook was as good as he's been all year, and Nolan Higgins was lights out tonight as well," Boss said.
The Huskers countered with starter Brett Sears, who went 6.2 IP, with four strikeouts, six hits, one run and one walk, in improving to 8-0 on the year and lowering his ERA to 2.01. Earlier in the day, Sears was named one of 68 semifinalists for the Dick Howser Trophy, awarded annually to the top college baseball player in the country.
Nebraska's defense was also up to the task, making several defensive plays to rob Spartans of hits, including a line-drive snag in the second and a diving catch in right in the seventh.
"We went against the guy that could be the pitcher of the year in our conference," Boss said. "He threw well tonight, and defensively, I thought they made four plays that were what I consider above-average plays that were game-changing type of plays, and so you've got to give them credit. I thought we hit some balls hard tonight and had some opportunities, and they just made plays and that's how the game is. I'm proud of our effort. Our guys were ready to go tonight and we'll be ready to go again tomorrow."
The Spartan senior duo of outfielder Jack Frank and infielder Dillon Kark were both 2-for-4 at the plate, with Frank scoring a run. Fellow seniors, outfielder Greg Ziegler and Sam Thompson also both had a hit apiece, with Ziegler notching an RBI. Sophomore infielder Randy Seymour added a hit. Frank, Ziegler and Thompson all knocked a double each, while Ziegler's RBI came on a sacrifice fly.
After the anticipation to start the game was delayed, once it did, the Spartans stormed out of the gates.
Frank started off the home half of the opening stanza with a single, then darted around to third on a single by Kark. Two batters later, Ziegler lofted a fly ball to right for the sac fly to plate Frank and an early 1-0 Spartan advantage.
The Huskers tied it up on back-to-back doubles in the third, but limited the second half of the pair to a double and not a triple, as Frank fielded the ball off the wall down the right field line, fired to Seymour with the relay and Seymour unleashed a laser to Kark at third for the tag and the out to end the inning and keep it 1-1.
Nebraska went ahead in the fourth on an RBI single and a 2-1 advantage.
The Huskers threatened to extend their lead in the seventh, but Higgins induced a grounder to junior infielder Sam Busch at first base and covered first base for the flip and final out of the frame to leave 'em loaded.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Spartans threatened, chasing Husker starter Sears. After the pitching change, junior pinch-hitter Christian Williams roped a deep drive to the gap in right center, but Husker right fielder Garret Anglim, who had just come into the game, made a diving catch on the hill in right center to thwart the threat and close the inning.
Frank knocked a one-out double in the eighth, but the rally fizzled. Thompson drew a two-out rally in the ninth trying to ignite a comeback, but it was snuffed out to end the inning and the game.
Nebraska remains in second-place as league-leader Illinois also won Thursday night. MSU slides to tied for eighth, tied with Maryland, who lost to Penn State on Thursday, while Ohio State pulls a game ahead of the Spartans and Terrapins after winning at Rutgers.
The Spartans and Huskers return to the diamond of McLane Stadium at Kobs Field on Friday for game two of the series that will now start at 5:02 p.m., before Saturday's series and regular-season finale at 12:02 p.m. Both Friday and Saturday's games will be nationally televised on the Big Ten Network.
Saturday is also MSU's Senior Day as the Spartans will honor their senior players and managers in a pre-game ceremony. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to join in the celebration.
Friday is MSU's 517 Night, celebrating the greater Lansing community and connecting local non-profits, organizations, and businesses with fans. An exclusive 517 Spartan Baseball sticker will be available to fans while supplies last.
The Spartans will also be recognizing organ donor awareness on Friday, celebrating MSU assistant coach/pitching coach Mark Van Ameyde and MSU's Team Impact Kid, Andrew.
Van Ameyde had a kidney transplant on March 20 and rejoined the team on April 27, while Andrew had a heart transplant in late December and joined the Spartans in West Lafayette for the Purdue series.
It is also Fan Appreciation Weekend the entire weekend, as Spartan Baseball thanks their fans for their support throughout the regular season.
Fans can visit https://sprtns.co/MSUBSBTix to purchase tickets to Spartan baseball games, or visit https://sprtns.co/24BSBPromoSched for complete promotion information.
For those fans that can't make it in person, they can follow this week's MSU baseball action with "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 X/Twitter for schedule updates.
A pre-game weather and rain delay pushed back the start time of the highly anticipated match-up with heavy conference standing implications from 6:05 until 7:30. Nebraska came into the contest in second-place in the B1G standings challenging for the regular-season title, while the Spartans entered tied for seventh in battling for a top eight spot to qualify for the B1G Tournament.
Once the weather cleared, the Spartans wasted little time getting on the scoreboard with a run in their first at bat. The Huskers countered with a run in the third and fourth frames, but MSU's defense limited the damage in both innings, as well as throughout the night, stranding Huskers on base in four-straight innings, including multiple runners in the fourth and sixth frames along with leaving them loaded in the seventh.
"I thought it was a really well-played game by both teams. I thought our effort was outstanding tonight," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said.
MSU slides to 23-26 overall and 10-12 in B1G play, while Nebraska moves to 33-18 overall and 15-7 overall. The loss snaps the Spartans' four-game win streak in series openers, as MSU had won its previous four Friday night series lid-lifters and were defeated in their lone game played on a Thursday this regular-season.
Spartan senior starter Harrison Cook went 6.0 IP, ringing up four strikeouts, scattering five hits while yielding two runs and three walks. Sophomore reliever Nolan Higgins came on in the seventh and sprayed three hits while tallying one punchout and allowing two walks, but no runs.
"I thought Harrison Cook was as good as he's been all year, and Nolan Higgins was lights out tonight as well," Boss said.
The Huskers countered with starter Brett Sears, who went 6.2 IP, with four strikeouts, six hits, one run and one walk, in improving to 8-0 on the year and lowering his ERA to 2.01. Earlier in the day, Sears was named one of 68 semifinalists for the Dick Howser Trophy, awarded annually to the top college baseball player in the country.
Nebraska's defense was also up to the task, making several defensive plays to rob Spartans of hits, including a line-drive snag in the second and a diving catch in right in the seventh.
"We went against the guy that could be the pitcher of the year in our conference," Boss said. "He threw well tonight, and defensively, I thought they made four plays that were what I consider above-average plays that were game-changing type of plays, and so you've got to give them credit. I thought we hit some balls hard tonight and had some opportunities, and they just made plays and that's how the game is. I'm proud of our effort. Our guys were ready to go tonight and we'll be ready to go again tomorrow."
The Spartan senior duo of outfielder Jack Frank and infielder Dillon Kark were both 2-for-4 at the plate, with Frank scoring a run. Fellow seniors, outfielder Greg Ziegler and Sam Thompson also both had a hit apiece, with Ziegler notching an RBI. Sophomore infielder Randy Seymour added a hit. Frank, Ziegler and Thompson all knocked a double each, while Ziegler's RBI came on a sacrifice fly.
After the anticipation to start the game was delayed, once it did, the Spartans stormed out of the gates.
Frank started off the home half of the opening stanza with a single, then darted around to third on a single by Kark. Two batters later, Ziegler lofted a fly ball to right for the sac fly to plate Frank and an early 1-0 Spartan advantage.
The Spartans are on the board in their first at bat!
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) May 16, 2024
End 1st |
NEB 0
MSU 1
The Spartans strike first as Frank leads off w/ single, moves around to 3rd on Kark single and scores on Ziegler sac fly.
Cook back to the mound with the lead.#GoGreen | @GKZ27 | @JackF_22 pic.twitter.com/ozA5U6TDoi
The Huskers tied it up on back-to-back doubles in the third, but limited the second half of the pair to a double and not a triple, as Frank fielded the ball off the wall down the right field line, fired to Seymour with the relay and Seymour unleashed a laser to Kark at third for the tag and the out to end the inning and keep it 1-1.
2 frozen ropes = 1 out!!
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) May 17, 2024
Mid 3rd |
NEB 1
MSU 1
Huskers tie it up on RBI double, but a nice relay from Frank to Seymour to Kark for tag & out keeps it from being an RBI triple and ends the inning!!
Frank to lead off B3rd.#GoGreen | @JackF_22 | @RandySeymour14 | @KarkDillon pic.twitter.com/DALA484IRZ
Nebraska went ahead in the fourth on an RBI single and a 2-1 advantage.
The Huskers threatened to extend their lead in the seventh, but Higgins induced a grounder to junior infielder Sam Busch at first base and covered first base for the flip and final out of the frame to leave 'em loaded.
Time to stretch & sing about 🥜&🍿 here at the ol' ballgame ...
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) May 17, 2024
NEB 2
MSU 1
Huskers load bases but Higgins gets out jam w/ grounder to Busch & flip to Higgins, perfectly executing PFP drill to leave bases full of Huskers.
McKay starts off B7#GoGreen | @Samwbusch | @nohiggy77 pic.twitter.com/rBSPnLJwPo
In the bottom of the seventh, the Spartans threatened, chasing Husker starter Sears. After the pitching change, junior pinch-hitter Christian Williams roped a deep drive to the gap in right center, but Husker right fielder Garret Anglim, who had just come into the game, made a diving catch on the hill in right center to thwart the threat and close the inning.
Frank knocked a one-out double in the eighth, but the rally fizzled. Thompson drew a two-out rally in the ninth trying to ignite a comeback, but it was snuffed out to end the inning and the game.
Nebraska remains in second-place as league-leader Illinois also won Thursday night. MSU slides to tied for eighth, tied with Maryland, who lost to Penn State on Thursday, while Ohio State pulls a game ahead of the Spartans and Terrapins after winning at Rutgers.
The Spartans and Huskers return to the diamond of McLane Stadium at Kobs Field on Friday for game two of the series that will now start at 5:02 p.m., before Saturday's series and regular-season finale at 12:02 p.m. Both Friday and Saturday's games will be nationally televised on the Big Ten Network.
Saturday is also MSU's Senior Day as the Spartans will honor their senior players and managers in a pre-game ceremony. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to join in the celebration.
Friday is MSU's 517 Night, celebrating the greater Lansing community and connecting local non-profits, organizations, and businesses with fans. An exclusive 517 Spartan Baseball sticker will be available to fans while supplies last.
The Spartans will also be recognizing organ donor awareness on Friday, celebrating MSU assistant coach/pitching coach Mark Van Ameyde and MSU's Team Impact Kid, Andrew.
Van Ameyde had a kidney transplant on March 20 and rejoined the team on April 27, while Andrew had a heart transplant in late December and joined the Spartans in West Lafayette for the Purdue series.
It is also Fan Appreciation Weekend the entire weekend, as Spartan Baseball thanks their fans for their support throughout the regular season.
Fans can visit https://sprtns.co/MSUBSBTix to purchase tickets to Spartan baseball games, or visit https://sprtns.co/24BSBPromoSched for complete promotion information.
For those fans that can't make it in person, they can follow this week's MSU baseball action with "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 X/Twitter for schedule updates.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Sears, Brett (8-0)
L: Cook, Harrison (2-3)
S: Clark, Caleb (1)
Batting:
2B: Overbeek, Joshua 1 ; Stokes, Rhett 1
RBI: Overbeek, Joshua 1 ; Columbus, Ben 1
SH: Stokes, Rhett 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Stone, Tyler 1 ; Stokes, Rhett 1
SB: Overbeek, Joshua 1
CS: Stokes, Rhett 1
HBP: Evans, Cole 1
Batting:
2B: Frank, Jack 1 ; Ziegler, Greg 1 ; Thompson, Sam 1
RBI: Ziegler, Greg 1
SH: McKay, Ryan 1
SF: Ziegler, Greg 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Frank, Jack 1
CS: Seymour, Randy 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballC
/ Baseball
C
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballPursuit to Greatness | Spartans All-Access
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