Michigan State University
Western Illinois
Spartan Baseball Defeats Western Illinois, 2-1, To Win Series
3/27/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 27, 2005
MACOMB, Ill. - The Michigan State baseball team split the final two games of its series against Western Illinois Sunday, March 27, at WIU's Vince Grady Field. The Spartans dropped the second game, which was suspended in the eighth inning Saturday, 3-0, but came back to win the series finale by a score of 2-1. Sophomore center fielder Adam Tripp (Saugus, Calif.) recorded four hits in the final two games to lead Michigan State.
After four scoreless innings in the third and final game, the Spartans (8-9) opened the fifth inning with back-to-back singles by sophomore designated hitter James Keyton (Lansing, Mich.) and sophomore first baseman Sean Walker (Round Lake, Ill.) off WIU starter Tim Navin. After freshman second baseman Steve Gerstenberger (Fort Gratiot, Mich.) loaded the bases with a bunt single, Tripp scored Keyton from third base with an RBI sacrifice fly to center field for a 1-0 lead. On the next play, sophomore shortstop Troy Krider (Coldwater, Mich.) increased MSU's advantage to 2-0 with an RBI single to right field to score Walker.
Western Illinois (5-20) cut the MSU lead in half in the sixth on an RBI single to right field by Nick Simmons, scoring senior Dan Davy, who opened the inning with a walk. However, State's one-run lead held up as the Spartans recorded their eighth victory on the season.
Tripp and junior third baseman Alan Cattrysse (Chatham, Ontario) led Michigan State on the offensive end with each going 2-for-3 at the plate. MSU starting pitcher Craig Brookes (1-1) allowed only one run on three hits in five and two-thirds innings to earn his first win of 2005. Brookes, a sophomore right-hander from Naperville, Ill., struck out two and walked three. Freshman reliever Mike Monterey (Farmington Hills, Mich.) earned his first collegiate save after giving up only three hits in three and a third innings thrown. Monterey also struck out three Western Illinois batters.
Simmons (2-for-4, RBI) and Jim Sanew (2-for-3) each tallied two hits for WIU. Navin (0-6) took the loss for the Leathernecks, giving up two runs on six hits in five innings of work.
Before the series finale took place, the final two innings of Saturday's postponed second game was played and Western Illinois maintained the 3-0 lead for the win. Western Illinois was led offensively by senior Dan Davy, who was 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Junior Clint Buchen (1-1) captured the win for WIU after holding the Spartans to only four hits. Navin pitched two shutout innings to earn the save for the Leathernecks.
Michigan State junior Chris Malec (2-2) was tagged with the loss, giving up three runs (two earned) on four hits in five innings of work. Malec (Lindenhurst, Ill.) also recorded three strikeouts and three walks. Freshmen relievers Mark Sorensen (Northville, Mich.) and Drew Mahan (Okemos, Mich.) combined to pitch three scoreless innings with two strikeouts.
The Spartans travel to Toledo, Ohio, to battle the Rockets on Tuesday, March 29, at 3 p.m.
