Michigan State University
Penn State
Dramatic Ending Caps Spartan Doubleheader Sweep Of Penn State
5/14/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 14, 2005
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Sophomore second baseman E.J. Daws (Bozeman, Mont.) drew a bases-loaded walk in the seventh inning to help Michigan State (20-27, 9-14 Big Ten) capture a 6-5 win over Penn State (26-23, 11-16 Big Ten) to complete a sweep in Saturday's doubleheader at Kobs Field. The Spartans also won the first game by a score of 10-6 over the Nittany Lions.
In the second game, Penn State scored two runs in the first inning off MSU starting pitcher Mike Takashima (Rochester Hills, Mich.) to take a 2-0 lead, thanks to back-to-back RBI doubles by sophomore Matt Lewis and senior Michael Milliron. The Spartans rebounded to score three runs in the bottom of the first to take a 3-2 lead, highlighted by sophomore shortstop Troy Krider's (Coldwater, Mich.) RBI double down the right-field line.
The Nittany Lions tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the fifth as freshman James Spinelli reached on a leadoff bunt single and later scored from second on a Spartan fielding error. MSU regained the lead at 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth, thanks to an RBI single by sophomore right fielder Adam Tripp (Saugus, Calif.). Tripp later scored on a wild pitch from third base as the Spartans built a 5-3 lead.
A run-scoring double by junior Colin Runt and an RBI groundout by freshman Scott Gaffney helped PSU knot the score at 5-5 in the sixth inning.
 Sophomore Ryan Basham went 2-for-3 in MSU's 6-5 win over Penn State in the second game of a doubleheader at Kobs Field on Saturday.  | |
Sophomore left fielder Ryan Basham (Lowell, Ind.) led off the bottom of the seventh with a single and junior first baseman Jamey Embree (Grosse Pointe, Mich.) followed with a double to start the Spartan rally. After freshman designated hitter Tony Clausen (Jenison, Mich.) loaded the bases with an intentional walk, sophomore catcher Kris Morris (Jenison, Mich.) reached on a fielder's choice, forcing out Basham at home. Two batters later, Daws walked to bring home the game-winning run.
Basham and freshman first baseman Mike Monterey (Farmington Hills, Mich.) each went 2-for-3 at the plate for Michigan State. Freshman reliever Drew Mahan (1-2) pitched a scoreless seventh inning to earn his first collegiate win as the Spartans limited the Nittany Lions to just five hits in the contest. Gaffney (1-2) took the loss for Penn State, allowing one run on two hits in one and one-third innings of work.
In the first game, Michigan State jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a two-run homer by Tripp. Daws connected on a two-out, two-run shot to left field in the second inning to give the Spartans a 4-0 advantage. Monterey, who collected his first collegiate hit with two away, scored on the play.
Penn State got on the board in the top of the third to cut MSU's lead to 4-1. Milliron and junior Lance Thompson opened the inning with back-to-back singles. Milliron later stole third base and scored on a wild pitch. Michigan State responded by scoring three runs in the bottom of the third to increase its lead to 7-1, including a two-run single by senior third baseman Erik Morris (Orchard Lake, Mich.) off PSU starting pitcher Craig Clark.
Penn State pulled to within 7-2 on a run-scoring double by Thompson in the top of the fifth. In the bottom of the frame, red-shirt freshman James Keyton (Lansing, Mich.) lined a solo home run to right center, the first of his collegiate career, as Michigan State moved out to an 8-2 lead.
In the top of the sixth, the Nittany Lions recorded their second four-run rally of the series to close the gap to 8-6. A two-run single by Spinelli highlighted the four-run outburst. The Spartans provided the final margin in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run homer by Krider to right field.
Krider, Tripp and Erik Morris each tallied two hits and two RBI for the Spartans. Sophomore Craig Brookes (6-1) picked up the win for Michigan State, despite giving up six runs (four earned) on nine hits in five and two-thirds innings.
Thompson led Penn State offensively, hitting 3-for-4 with an RBI. Clark (3-4) took the loss for the Nittany Lions, allowing seven runs (six earned) on seven hits in three innings of work.
The series finale is scheduled for Sunday, May 15 at 1 p.m. at Kobs Field.
