Michigan State University
Northwestern
Northwestern Stuns MSU Baseball, 6-3
5/13/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 13, 2006
EVANSTON, Ill. - Michigan State starter Craig Brookes struck out a career-high 12 batters, but the Spartans committed five errors and dropped a 6-3 decision to Northwestern on Saturday. Brookes' 12 strikeouts set a Spartan season high and were the most by a MSU pitcher in a single game since Brian Murphy struck out 11 against Columbia on March 7, 1998.
The Green and White (23-25, 10-15 Big Ten) built a 3-0 advantage over six-and-a-half innings, but things unraveled for the Spartans in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, MSU committed four errors, three of those on infield groundballs and the Spartan lead was washed away. The Wildcats scored four unearned runs on four errors, a walk and a hit to push ahead 4-3.
Northwestern (20-28, 17-8) added to its one-run lead in the eighth inning when Caleb Fields sent a two-out, two-run homer over the left-field fence.
Despite his fine performance, Brookes (1-4) suffered the loss for Michigan State. The junior right-hander struck out a batter in every inning pitched, until being replaced in the eighth, and struck out the side in both the third and fifth innings. Pitching 7.0 innings, only one of the five runs surrendered by Brookes were earned.
Ryan Myers (3-4) was credited with the win for Northwestern, allowing three runs on seven hits in 7.0 innings pitched. Throwing the final six outs, Julio Siberio earned his fourth save of the season.
Kyle Day led the Michigan State offense, going 3-for-5 with a home run. Troy Krider, Steve Gerstenberger and Sean Walker each had two hits, accounting for the rest of the Spartan hits.
Fields notched two of the Wildcats' six hits, while Aaron Newman, Pat McMahon, Antonio Mule and Dan Brauer each had one.
MSU and Northwestern meet again on Sunday, with a doubleheader scheduled for 12:00 p.m. CT.
