Michigan State University
Lamar
Lamar Edges Spartan Baseball, 4-2
2/28/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 28, 2008
BEAUMONT, Texas - Senior outfielder Dennis Jones went 3-for-4 and senior pitcher Mike Monterey pitched six solid innings, but a two-run home run by Lamar's Jeff Vickers was the difference as the Michigan State baseball team dropped a tight 4-2 ballgame Thursday night at Lamar. MSU is now 2-2 and has three more games left at the Lamar Invitational.
Jones had three hits and stole a base to lead the MSU offense, which out-hit Lamar by a 9-8 margin. Michigan State just couldn't string the hits together, as no other Spartan had more than one hit.
Vickers went 2-for-4 with three RBI to lead Lamar.
The Cardinals got on the board in the bottom of the first when Anthony Moore led off with a bunt single and scored on an RBI groundout by Vickers. Lamar would then take a 2-0 lead in the second inning when Chris Dunkin doubled down the right-field line and scored on a Steven Tucker bunt single.
MSU got its first run in the top of the third when senior Brandon Doherty and freshman Brandon Eckerle each singled to right to put runners on first and second with two outs. Day then hit a grounder to the right side, where Lamar's first baseman Tucker threw wild. Doherty scored on the play.
The Spartans tied the game at 2-2 in the fourth when Gerstenberger doubled to right and later scored on a double-play groundout by freshman Jonathan Roof.
Monterey (0-1) struck out five over six innings. He allowed four runs on seven hits and walked just one. Freshman Scott Heitshusen pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Monterey. Lamar's Ricky Testa (1-0) pitched three innings of relief for the win.
The Spartans play Kansas State Friday at 2 p.m. (ET).
NOTES
Dennis Jones has three multi-hit games already this season, and he has compiled a seven-game hitting streak dating back to last season...Justin Potes and Steve Gerstenberger have also hit safely in each of this season's four games...Chris Roberts made a running catch at the warning track in right field in the bottom of the sixth...The contest, which lasted 2:50, was the fastest game of the season, eclipsing last Sunday's mark of 2:53...Arkansas State defeated Kansas State, 2-1, in Thursday's early game.
