Michigan State University
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Western Michigan
Bucciferro, Spartans Shut Down Broncos, 6-0
4/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 15, 2009
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Jake | Tony
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Freshman pitcher Tony Bucciferro struck out a career-high nine batters and the Spartan offense posted back-to-back three-run innings to help the MSU baseball team down Western Michigan, 6-0, on Wednesday (April 15) afternoon at McLane Baseball Stadium. Bucciferro's nine Ks are the most by a Spartan pitcher this season.
"Today was probably my best performance so far this year," said Bucciferro. "I was keeping the ball down, limiting hits and didn't walk anyone so that was really good."
Bucciferro cruised through the first three innings as he retired every Bronco batter before giving up a double with one out in the fourth. With runners in scoring position and two outs in the fourth and fifth, the freshman righty kept the Broncos off the board by getting a pair of key inning-ending strikeotus.
With the game still scoreless in the bottom of the sixth, the Spartan offense came alive, scoring three times off four hits. Bo Felt drove in the game's first run and then an error on a sac bunt by Brandon Eckerle loaded the bases for the Spartans. With two out, third baseman A.J. Shindler singled to center field to give MSU a 3-0 lead.
Felt capitalized again in the seventh with two runners on he drove in Johnny Lee and then a throwing error also brought in Jeff Holm to bolster the lead to 5-0. With two outs later in the inning, Eckerle scored Felt on a perfectly executed bunt squeeze to close out the scoring.
Bucciferro gave way to Kurt Wunderlich in the eighth, who pitched a 1-2-3 inning and then A.J. Dunn got a double play and pop up to end the game in the ninth.
"Tony threw very, very well for us today - it was probably his best outing of the year," said MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. "It couldn't have come at a better time. We have a busy stretch coming up and needed Tony to go deep into this ballgame and he did that."
With the win, Bucciferro is now 3-1 this season.
The Spartans will take on the Lugnuts in the third annual Crosstown Showdown on Thursday (April 16) at Oldsmobile Park with first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. A few tickets remain available for purchase through the Michigan State ticket office at Jenison Field House and are available through 4 p.m. on Thursday. Fans can also purchase tickets through the Lansing Lugnuts ticket office.
