Michigan State University
Iowa
MSU Baseball Splits Big Ten Saturday Doubleheader At Iowa
4/2/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 2, 2005
IOWA CITY, Iowa - The Michigan State baseball team earned a split in its Big Ten doubleheader against Iowa on Saturday, April 2, at Duane Banks Field. The Spartans dropped the first game, 7-6, but rebounded to win the second game by a score of 11-5.
The Spartans (10-12, 2-1 Big Ten) opened the first game with a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Sophomore center fielder Adam Tripp (Saugus, Calif.) reached on a fielding error and scored on a wild pitch. Iowa used a two-run rally in the bottom of the first to claim a 2-1 advantage behind an RBI double by senior Kris Welker and a Spartan fielding error in the outfield.
Michigan State retook the lead at 3-2 in the second inning. Sophomore catcher Sean Walker (Round Lake, Ill.) reached on a fielding error and junior designated hitter Alan Cattrysse (Chatham, Ont.) singled to start the rally. Freshman third baseman Steve Gerstenberger (Fort Gratiot, Mich.) brought home Walker with a fielder's choice and scored on the next play thanks to a second Iowa fielding miscue. The Hawkeyes (5-12, 1-2 Big Ten) scored three runs with two outs in the fifth inning to take a 5-3 lead, highlighted by a two-run bloop single by Welker.
MSU tied the game at 6-6 with three runs in the top of the seventh. Freshman pinch hitter Ryan Sontag (Monroe, Mich.) opened the frame with a hit by a pitch, while Gerstenberger and Tripp loaded the bases for the Spartans with back-to-back singles. Sophomore shortstop Troy Krider (Coldwater, Mich.) hit an RBI single, scoring Sontag, and Gerstenberger then scored on an error. Senior first baseman Erik Morris (Orchard Lake, Mich.) hit a game-tying RBI sacrifice fly to score Tripp. Iowa loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh on an MSU fielding error and two singles before senior Skylar Moss brought home the game-winning run on a fielder's choice.
Welker's 2-for-4 effort with three RBI led Iowa's offensive attack, while freshman Dusty Napoleon went 2-for-2 at the plate. Junior reliever Tim Gudex (2-3) earned the win for the Hawkeyes after allowing one run (none earned) on two hits in two-thirds of an inning in relief.
Krider led Michigan State offensively, hitting 2-for-4 with a run batted in, while five other Spartans recorded a hit for the game. Freshman reliever Mike Monterey (Farmington Hills, Mich.) took the loss (0-3) for the Spartans, giving up two runs (none earned) on four hits in two innings of relief.
In the second game, Iowa jumped to an early 2-0 lead in the second inning on RBI singles by Napoleon and sophomore Jason White off MSU starting pitcher Craig Brookes (Naperville, Ill.).
A two-run single by junior Oliver Wolcott (Plymouth, Mich.) and an RBI single by sophomore left fielder Ryan Basham (Lowell, Ind.) highlighted a three-run, to-out rally in the third inning, helping the Spartans gain the lead at 3-2.
State increased its advantage to 5-2 with a run in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Tripp to bring home Sontag, who recorded a two-out double off Iowa starter Austin Steward down the right-field line. Another run crossed the plate for the Spartans in the fifth inning when Krider led off the frame with a double and later scored on a wild pitch for a 6-2 MSU lead.
Michigan State put the game out of reach with a five-run outburst in the sixth inning to increase its advantage to 11-2. A two-run double by Krider, an RBI single by Basham and a solo homer to left field by Walker highlighted the inning for the Spartans. The Hawkeyes managed to score three runs in the seventh inning, but Brookes held on to get the final out of the game.
Krider (2-for-3, three runs, two RBI), Basham (2-for-4, two runs, two RBI), Wolcott (2-for-3, two RBI), Walker (2-for-4, two runs, HR, two RBI) and Sontag (2-for-2, double, three runs) each tallied two hits to lead Michigan State's 12-hit offensive attack. Brookes (2-1) earned a complete-game victory for the Spartans, allowing five runs (four earned) on nine hits. Brookes also recorded three strikeouts and two walks.
Senior Andy Lytle led Iowa offensively, hitting 2-for-4 at the plate with a run scored. Seward (0-1) took the loss for the Hawkeyes after giving up five runs on seven hits in four and one-third innings of work.
The series finale will take place at Duane Banks Field on Sunday, April 3, at 1 p.m.
