Michigan State University
Akron
Spartan Baseball Wins Third Straight, Tops Akron, 5-1
3/12/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 12, 2011
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Junior right-hander Tony Bucciferro struck out six and only allowed one run and five hits in seven innings as the Michigan State baseball team won its third straight game, 5-1 over Akron, Saturday afternoon in the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational. The Spartans improved to 10-3 with the win, while Akron fell to 2-9.
Senior first baseman Jeff Holm led MSU at the plate, going 3-for-3 with three RBIs. Shortstop Justin Scanlon also had a multi-hit game, his eighth of the season, with two hits.
The Spartans jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first as a bases loaded walk to Holm brought home Brandon Eckerle, who singled to lead off the game.
Bucciferro (3-0) surrendered his only run of the game in the bottom of the first. In his final six innings he gave up just two hits, and at one point, retired 12 consecutive batters.
MSU took the lead for good with two runs in the third. Both runs scored via the bunt - Andrew Carpenter's sacrifice plated Torsten Boss, while Scanlon's bunt single to third base plated Holm.
The Spartans made it 4-1 by scoring an unearned run in the fifth. With one out, Ryan Jones advanced to second on an error by the shortstop, then scored on a two-out single by Holm through the right side.
In the seventh, Michigan State scored its final run to take a 5-1 lead. The Spartans took advantage of another Akron error as Boss went to second after a miscue by Zip left fielder Matt Corpora and later scored on a Holm single. The Zips committed four errors in the game.
Trey Popp and Bryce Jenney both pitched 1-2-3 innings in the eighth and ninth, respectively, to seal the game for the Spartans.
Michigan State closes out its eight-game spring trip Sunday at 11 a.m. against Pittsburgh in Lakeland, Fla., at Henley Field.
