Michigan State University
Oakland
Moody Pitches Spartans to Win in Home Opener
3/20/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 20, 2009
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Jake | Nolan
LANSING, Mich. - Senior pitcher Nolan Moody scattered six hits, struck out four and threw his first-career complete game in Michigan State's 8-4 win over Oakland in its home opener on Friday (March 20) at Oldsmobile Park. Moody at one point retired 13 consecutive batters and then retired the final nine to improve his record to 3-2.
"It feels really good," said Moody. "I've never done it (thrown a complete game) before so it's great for it to happen."
MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. was thrilled with the senior tri-captain's performance in the team's first home game of the season.
"I really can't say enough about the effort of Nolan Moody today," said Boss. "He was just outstanding and kind of settled into it after a rocky start in the first two innings. (The guys) made a nice play for him to get him out of a jam and then he just really settled in threw well."
With the score 1-0 in the bottom of the first, the Spartans sent 12 batters to the plate and scored six times to take 6-1 lead. Eli Boike, Jonathan Roof and Chris Roberts all reached to start the inning and Eric Roof drove in the first Spartan run of the day. Jeff Holm and Johnny Lee then each followed with RBI singles. A sacrifice bunt by Bo Felt and two more walks drove in three more MSU runs and also chased OU starting pitcher Jeff Gorecki after just 2/3 of an inning.
The Golden Grizzles got two runs back in the top of the second off a solo home run from Taylor Traub and an RBI single from Justin Wilson.
"(Giving up the home run) lit a fire under me, not to mention the team got the lead so I didn't want to let them down," Moody said.
With Moody and OU reliever Aaron Wick both working quickly and taking command of the game, neither team scored until Boike extended the MSU lead to 7-3 in the sixth with his team-leading fifth home run of the season. Boike finished the day 2-for-4 at the plate.
After OU added solo run in the top of the seventh, MSU regained its four-run cushion when Bo Felt got his second RBI of the day with a drive to left center field to make the score 8-4.
Gorecki suffered the loss for OU, falling to 0-2 on the year.
The Spartans and Golden Grizzlies will play game two of the three-game set on Saturday (March 21) at 1:05 p.m. at Olds Park.
