Michigan State University
Eastern Michigan
Baseball Blasts Eastern Michigan, 14-5
3/18/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 18, 2009
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Jake | Chris
YPSILANTI, Mich. - The Michigan State baseball team used a six-run fifth inning and scored five more runs over the final three innings en route to a 14-5 win over Eastern Michigan on Wednesday (March 18) in Ypsilanti, Mich.
"We got better at the plate today and had a lot of good at-bats," said MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. "We're trying to build some momentum as we head into conference play next weekend and hopefully, we can keep it going this weekend at home."
A passed ball and error by EMU shortstop Eric Noland led to three MSU runs in the second as Eric Roof, Jeff Holm and Bo Felt all came around to score.
The Eagles got one run back in the bottom of the second but MSU starter Tony Bucciferro left two stranded with back-to-back Ks to end the inning.
Kyle Rhoad hit a solo shot in the third to cut deficit to 3-2.
MSU broke the game open in the top of the fifth with six runs to take a 9-2 lead. After a pair of lead-off walks to Ben Vrobel and Brandon Eckerle, Chris Roberts hit his second home run in as many days to clear the bases and put MSU out front, 6-2.
"I got an elevated fastball and was able to put enough of the barrel on it to get it out," Roberts said.
Two more consecutive walks by EMU reliever Kevin Sikora and an infield single Johnny Lee packed the bases and a hit batter then brought another run home for the Spartans. In his second at-bat of the inning, Vrobel then drove in two more with a two-out double to shallow left field to close out the scoring in the fifth.
The Spartans tacked on another run in the seventh when a Vrobel groundout sent Jeff Holm across the plate for the third time.
A RBI triple by Jonathan Roof and three RBI singles by Robers, Johnny Lee and Bo Felt extended MSU's lead to 14-2 in the eighth.
The Eagles added one in the eighth and two more in the ninth, making the final 14-5.
Bucciferro earned the win in his second-career start, allowing just two runs off nine hits in seven complete innings. He also rung-up five and issued just one walk.
"Tony did a nice job today," said Boss. "He really competed for us. He got himself into some jams but also got himself out of some jams, too."
It was Boss' first trip back to Oestrike Stadium since guiding the Eagles to a MAC Championship last season.
"Those kids at Eastern are good kids, we went through a lot together last year and so it was good to see them but difficult to compete against them," said Boss.
The Spartans will play their first home game of the season this Friday (March 20) when they host Oakland at 3:05 p.m. at Oldsmobile Park.
