Michigan State University
Michigan
Wolverines Top MSU Baseball, 11-5
4/30/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 30, 2006
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Two big innings powered Michigan past Michigan State Sunday afternoon, as the Wolverines defeated the Spartans in Ann Arbor, 11-5. U of M wasted no time scoring four runs on four hits in the first inning. Two innings later, a lapse in the Spartan defense led to six unearned runs, and the Wolverines built a quick 10-0 lead. MSU tried to claw its way back into the game, out-hitting Michigan 12-11, but could not overcome the big deficit. Oliver Wolcott and Sean Walker both blasted their first home runs of the season in the Spartan loss.
Powering Michigan in the first inning was Doug Pickens and Derek VanBuskirk with RBI singles, while Nate Recknagel drove in two on a double to deep left field.
Michigan State was one out away from escaping the third inning. With two down and two runners on base, a costly Spartan error brought the first Michigan score across. Three straight walks and two singles later, Michigan had plated five more runs, scoring a total of six in the inning, all unearned.
The Green and White came up with three runs in the fourth inning and a score in the fifth. Sean Walker notched an RBI with a sacrifice fly and Oliver Wolcott launched a two-run homer over the right field wall in the fourth. The next inning, Jamey Embree scorched a single down the left field line to score Kyle Day.
Michigan added a score in the sixth and Walker's solo home run for MSU in the ninth made for an 11-5 final.
The Green and White's record fell to 21-21 overall, 9-11 in Big Ten play, while the Wolverines improved to 26-15, 14-6.
Responsible for four runs on four hits in an inning pitched, Chris Cullen (3-2) was handed the loss. Michigan's Drew Taylor (3-4) earned the win.
Walker, Embree and Troy Krider each had two hits for the Spartans and Steve Gerstenberger tallied three.
With no midweek game next week, MSU returns to action May 5-7, hosting Ohio State in a four-game series at Oldsmobile Park.
