Michigan State University
Penn State
Penn State Outlasts MSU Baseball In Extra Innings, 10-9
4/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 14, 2006
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Michigan State baseball fell, 10-9, in a back-and-forth, 10-inning battle at Penn State Friday afternoon. With bases loaded in the 10th, James Leitgeb hit the game-winning walk-off single for the Nittany Lions. The Spartans only trailed once throughout the game before falling in the final frame.
Michigan State (15-14, 4-5 Big Ten) scored in its first at bat and added a run in the third inning to build a quick 2-0 lead. In the Spartans' opening at bat, Troy Krider drew a walk, stole second and scored on a slow-roller down the third baseline by Adam Tripp. In the third inning, Alan Cattrysse collected one of his three hits of the day with an RBI single.
Sailing along for the first four innings, MSU hit a bump in the road in the fifth and Penn State (10-21, 4-5 Big Ten) jumped ahead, 4-2. Doing their damage with two outs and a runner on base, the Nittany Lions rattled off four straight hits, two of those for extra bases, as PSU scored four runs on five hits.
The Spartans regrouped in the top of the sixth to regain a 5-4 advantage. Cattrysse trotted to first base after being struck by a pitch and Ryan Basham reached on an error. With runners at the corners, Tony Clausen ripped a line-drive RBI single through the left side and Oliver Wolcott followed with an RBI single through the right side. Before Penn State could retire the third out of the inning, Troy Krider delivered a two-run double down the left field line and the Spartans went on top by one.
Penn State knotted the game at 5-5 in the bottom of the sixth inning on an RBI double by Cory Wine and the seventh would see each team score three runs for an 8-8 tie.
Fueling the Spartan offense in the seventh inning was Cattrysse and Basham. Cattrysse drove in his second run of the day and Basham unloaded a two-run homer, his fourth long-ball of the season, and second in as many games.
With runners at first and second in the ninth inning, MSU executed a double steal and pinch hitter Sean Walker stepped in and provided a clutch RBI single.
Retiring the first two batters in the ninth, it looked as though the Spartans were about to wrap-up the win, but Penn State sent the game into extra innings with two-out, one-run rally. After MSU went down with no score in the 10th, Leitgeb's single in the home at bat gave Penn State the 10-9 win.
Entering the contest in the eighth inning, Mike Monterey (3-5) was saddled with the loss. Throwing the final six outs for Penn State, Gary Amato (4-1) recorded the win, allowing one run on three hits.
At the plate for the Spartans, Cattrysse and Krider each went 3-for-4 with two RBI. Wine and Lance Thompson paced the Nittany Lion attack, with three hits a piece.
Michigan State and Penn State meet again on Saturday for a doubleheader, beginning at 1 p.m. The four-game series will conclude with a single contest on Sunday, also set for 1 p.m.
Game Notes:
-Michigan State and Penn State combined for a season-high 33 hits.
-Basham's home run ties him with Adam Tripp for the team lead (4).
-The Green and White committed five errors in the contest, tying a season high.
-Michigan State has played five extra-inning games this year and each have lasted 10 innings. MSU is now 2-3 in extra play.
