Friday, April 26
East Lansing, Mich.
6:35 PM ET
Michigan State University
13-27, 2-10
8
vs
3
Northwestern
17-21, 5-8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Northwestern
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
3
8
1
Michigan State
1
2
1
0
0
1
3
0
X
8
15
4
Photo by: MSU Athletic Communications
Bats Boost Spartans To 8-3 Win Over Northwestern Friday Night
4/26/2019 11:44:00 PM | Baseball
Mayes blasts HR, Walker goes 4-for-5 as MSU posts season-high 15 hits.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- A season-high 15 hits, including a two-run home run by Casey Mayes and a 4-for-5 performance at the plate by Zaid Walker boosted Michigan State baseball to an 8-3 win over Northwestern Friday night under the lights at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field. The Spartans have now won three in a row as part of four of the last five and five of the last six.
Mayes belted a two-run opposite field home run into the stiff wind as part of a three-run Spartan seventh inning, mirroring his three-run round tripper to almost the same spot last Friday night vs. Indiana. The freshman outfielder/designated hitter now has four home runs on the season, good for second on the team.
After entering the game in the fifth as designated hitter, Mayes came to bat in the seventh with one on and no outs, working the count to 3-2 against Northwestern relief pitcher Anthony Alepra, then belted the home run deep into the trees beyond the left field wall.
"At 3-2, I'm just looking for a ball that's in the zone that I can handle, and he gave me one low and away, so I just did my best to put a good swing on it and give our team the best chance to get ahead and stay ahead," Mayes said.
Mayes' home run was one of MSU's season-high 15 hits, topping the previous season-best of 14 vs. Indiana State on April 7. It was the Spartans second double-digit hits outing in the last three games and third in last six contests as part of their 12th game this season with double figures in the hits column.
"I believe the environment you're around is going to affect how you swing it and so we've got some of the younger guys getting some more opportunities and I believe that's helping some the older guys swing it better as well," Mayes said.Â
Walker was 4-for-5, while senior outfielder Dan Chmielewski was 3-for-5, new season highs for both outfielders. Both Walker and Chmielewski scored two runs, as did fellow outfielder, junior Bryce Kelley, who was 1-for-4 with two stolen bases. Senior infielder Royce Ando was 2-for-3 with two RBI, while senior infielder Marty Bechina and junior infielder Justin Antoncic were both 2-for-4, with Antoncic adding an RBI and run scored.Â
"We had some good at bats early. I think it was important for us to answer with one run in the bottom of the first and kind of feel like we were back in the ball game and we just had a lot of competitive at bats," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "The wind was blowing really hard and so it was tough. We hit a lot of balls hard in the first inning but only scored one run, kind of because where their defense was playing because of the wind. We come back in the second and continue to hit balls hard and we just kind of dinked them and dunked them there for a little while then put up a big number in the seventh."
Northwestern scored a run in the top of the first before MSU countered with a run of its own in the home half of the frame. The Spartans then plated a pair of runs in the second stanza and one in the third, before the Wildcats countered with a run in the top of the fourth to cut the gap to 4-2. Michigan State scored a single run in the sixth before hanging three on the board in the seventh for an 8-2 lead, before Northwestern got within 8-3 in the eighth, but couldn't get any closer.
Spartan sophomore pitcher Mason Erla went 7.0 IP, chalking up five strikeouts while scattering seven hits to go with one walk and yielding one earned run.Â
"Mason was good tonight. It was disappointing to give up the run there in the first with two outs and nobody on and a couple pitches later it's 1-0 and they had a runner in scoring position, but he settled into it, threw up a bunch of zeros and was ahead in the count really all night long, so really scattered five hits through seven innings and gave up the two in the eighth. That's more on me, he sat for a long time in the bottom of the seventh and I should have got him out of there, but he was really in control the whole way," Boss said.
Erla was relieved by junior Sam Benschoter after facing two batters in the eighth. Benschoter finished the final 2.0 IP with one K and one hit.
Kelley swiped two stolen bases on the night for his Big Ten-leading 17th of the season. The junior speedster now has 63 swipes for his career, moving from a tie for No. 3 on the MSU career stolen base list with Brandon Eckerle (2008-11) with 61, to tying Jeff Holm (2008-11) with 63 for the No. 2 spot.
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Northwestern was first on the board with a two-out rally on a single by Shawn Goosenberg. He then stole second and was later driven in on a single by Willie Bourbon for a 1-0 Wildcat advantage.
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MSU quickly countered with a run in the home half of the first, with Antoncic lacing a one-out single to center, moving to second on a single by Bechina. Ando followed with a single to load the bases full of Spartans. Sophomore catcher Adam Proctor was up next and he grounded out to second but plated Antoncic to level the score at 1's.Â
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After Erla retired the Wildcats in order in the top of the second, the Spartan offense got going. Walker led off with a single and sophomore infielder Zach Iverson reached on a fielder's choice and Northwestern error. Another NU fielder's choice off the bat of Kelley erased Iverson at second, but Antoncic followed with an RBI single to center, plating Walker. Bechina singled to load the bases and Ando drew a bases-loaded RBI walk, before a strikeout ended the rally, but not before MSU had a 3-1 lead.
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The Spartans tacked on a run in the fourth frame after back-to-back single by Chmielewski and Walker, before moving up a base on a sacrifice bunt by senior designated hitter Nic Lacayo. Iverson followed with an RBI groundout to drive in Chmielewski and the Spartans led 4-1.
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Northwestern got a run back in the fourth on a one-out single by Ben Dickey, then Michael Trautwein laced an RBI double down the right field foul line to drive in Dickey and close the visitors to 4-2.
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The Spartans added a run in the sixth after Kelley singled to lead off the frame and stole second for his first swipe of the night. Three batters later Ando smacked a double down to left, plating Kelley.
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After the stretch, Michigan State hung three runs on the board in the bottom of the seventh. Chmielewski sparked the rally with a single to center, preceding Walker, who doubled to right. Chmielewski later scored on a wild pitch, before Mayes mashed his two-run home run to left for an 8-2 Spartan lead. The rally tried to continue with Kelley drawing a walk and stealing second, then Antoncic walked and two batters later, Ando walked to load the bases with two outs, bringing Proctor to the plate with the bases loaded for the third time in his five at bats. However, Ando was picked off first to end the inning.
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Despite trying to stay loose by throwing in the Spartan bullpen, Erla yielded a pair of singles to lead off the top of the eighth, and MSU brought Benschoter in to relieve Erla. After a pop up and an MSU error, David Dunn grounded out to drive in Erro to pull the visitors within 8-2, but Benschoter rang up a punchout to end the frame and slam the door on a Wildcat rally.
After MSU went down in order in the bottom of the eighth, Benschoter worked around a leadoff single with three-straight fielder's choice plays at second between Bechina and Ando, to end the game, sparking the celebration and newly established flashing lights victory tradition under the lights at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field. The Spartans are now 5-1 in home games at night, part of going 10-5 on the season in all night games.
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Game two of the three-game series is now slated for a Noon start on Saturday at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field.Â
Any schedule updates due to weather will be announced on www.MSUSpartans.com and on twitter @statebaseball.
Fans can also follow Spartan baseball action through "Live Stats," "Listen Live" and "Watch Live" links found at MSUSpartans.com. The games will be video streamed on BTN2Go, and will also be carried on the Spartan Sports Network live audio stream. The broadcast will be available exclusively at SpartanSportsNetwork.com and on the network's 24/7 app for mobile devices (available on iTunes and Google Play). Broadcast veteran Scott Moore calls the action alongside former MSU manager/bullpen catcher David Greenberg in select games.
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Mayes belted a two-run opposite field home run into the stiff wind as part of a three-run Spartan seventh inning, mirroring his three-run round tripper to almost the same spot last Friday night vs. Indiana. The freshman outfielder/designated hitter now has four home runs on the season, good for second on the team.
After entering the game in the fifth as designated hitter, Mayes came to bat in the seventh with one on and no outs, working the count to 3-2 against Northwestern relief pitcher Anthony Alepra, then belted the home run deep into the trees beyond the left field wall.
"At 3-2, I'm just looking for a ball that's in the zone that I can handle, and he gave me one low and away, so I just did my best to put a good swing on it and give our team the best chance to get ahead and stay ahead," Mayes said.
Mayes' home run was one of MSU's season-high 15 hits, topping the previous season-best of 14 vs. Indiana State on April 7. It was the Spartans second double-digit hits outing in the last three games and third in last six contests as part of their 12th game this season with double figures in the hits column.
"I believe the environment you're around is going to affect how you swing it and so we've got some of the younger guys getting some more opportunities and I believe that's helping some the older guys swing it better as well," Mayes said.Â
Walker was 4-for-5, while senior outfielder Dan Chmielewski was 3-for-5, new season highs for both outfielders. Both Walker and Chmielewski scored two runs, as did fellow outfielder, junior Bryce Kelley, who was 1-for-4 with two stolen bases. Senior infielder Royce Ando was 2-for-3 with two RBI, while senior infielder Marty Bechina and junior infielder Justin Antoncic were both 2-for-4, with Antoncic adding an RBI and run scored.Â
"We had some good at bats early. I think it was important for us to answer with one run in the bottom of the first and kind of feel like we were back in the ball game and we just had a lot of competitive at bats," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "The wind was blowing really hard and so it was tough. We hit a lot of balls hard in the first inning but only scored one run, kind of because where their defense was playing because of the wind. We come back in the second and continue to hit balls hard and we just kind of dinked them and dunked them there for a little while then put up a big number in the seventh."
Northwestern scored a run in the top of the first before MSU countered with a run of its own in the home half of the frame. The Spartans then plated a pair of runs in the second stanza and one in the third, before the Wildcats countered with a run in the top of the fourth to cut the gap to 4-2. Michigan State scored a single run in the sixth before hanging three on the board in the seventh for an 8-2 lead, before Northwestern got within 8-3 in the eighth, but couldn't get any closer.
Spartan sophomore pitcher Mason Erla went 7.0 IP, chalking up five strikeouts while scattering seven hits to go with one walk and yielding one earned run.Â
"Mason was good tonight. It was disappointing to give up the run there in the first with two outs and nobody on and a couple pitches later it's 1-0 and they had a runner in scoring position, but he settled into it, threw up a bunch of zeros and was ahead in the count really all night long, so really scattered five hits through seven innings and gave up the two in the eighth. That's more on me, he sat for a long time in the bottom of the seventh and I should have got him out of there, but he was really in control the whole way," Boss said.
Erla was relieved by junior Sam Benschoter after facing two batters in the eighth. Benschoter finished the final 2.0 IP with one K and one hit.
Kelley swiped two stolen bases on the night for his Big Ten-leading 17th of the season. The junior speedster now has 63 swipes for his career, moving from a tie for No. 3 on the MSU career stolen base list with Brandon Eckerle (2008-11) with 61, to tying Jeff Holm (2008-11) with 63 for the No. 2 spot.
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Northwestern was first on the board with a two-out rally on a single by Shawn Goosenberg. He then stole second and was later driven in on a single by Willie Bourbon for a 1-0 Wildcat advantage.
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MSU quickly countered with a run in the home half of the first, with Antoncic lacing a one-out single to center, moving to second on a single by Bechina. Ando followed with a single to load the bases full of Spartans. Sophomore catcher Adam Proctor was up next and he grounded out to second but plated Antoncic to level the score at 1's.Â
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After Erla retired the Wildcats in order in the top of the second, the Spartan offense got going. Walker led off with a single and sophomore infielder Zach Iverson reached on a fielder's choice and Northwestern error. Another NU fielder's choice off the bat of Kelley erased Iverson at second, but Antoncic followed with an RBI single to center, plating Walker. Bechina singled to load the bases and Ando drew a bases-loaded RBI walk, before a strikeout ended the rally, but not before MSU had a 3-1 lead.
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The Spartans tacked on a run in the fourth frame after back-to-back single by Chmielewski and Walker, before moving up a base on a sacrifice bunt by senior designated hitter Nic Lacayo. Iverson followed with an RBI groundout to drive in Chmielewski and the Spartans led 4-1.
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Northwestern got a run back in the fourth on a one-out single by Ben Dickey, then Michael Trautwein laced an RBI double down the right field foul line to drive in Dickey and close the visitors to 4-2.
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The Spartans added a run in the sixth after Kelley singled to lead off the frame and stole second for his first swipe of the night. Three batters later Ando smacked a double down to left, plating Kelley.
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After the stretch, Michigan State hung three runs on the board in the bottom of the seventh. Chmielewski sparked the rally with a single to center, preceding Walker, who doubled to right. Chmielewski later scored on a wild pitch, before Mayes mashed his two-run home run to left for an 8-2 Spartan lead. The rally tried to continue with Kelley drawing a walk and stealing second, then Antoncic walked and two batters later, Ando walked to load the bases with two outs, bringing Proctor to the plate with the bases loaded for the third time in his five at bats. However, Ando was picked off first to end the inning.
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Despite trying to stay loose by throwing in the Spartan bullpen, Erla yielded a pair of singles to lead off the top of the eighth, and MSU brought Benschoter in to relieve Erla. After a pop up and an MSU error, David Dunn grounded out to drive in Erro to pull the visitors within 8-2, but Benschoter rang up a punchout to end the frame and slam the door on a Wildcat rally.
After MSU went down in order in the bottom of the eighth, Benschoter worked around a leadoff single with three-straight fielder's choice plays at second between Bechina and Ando, to end the game, sparking the celebration and newly established flashing lights victory tradition under the lights at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field. The Spartans are now 5-1 in home games at night, part of going 10-5 on the season in all night games.
Â
Game two of the three-game series is now slated for a Noon start on Saturday at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field.Â
Any schedule updates due to weather will be announced on www.MSUSpartans.com and on twitter @statebaseball.
Fans can also follow Spartan baseball action through "Live Stats," "Listen Live" and "Watch Live" links found at MSUSpartans.com. The games will be video streamed on BTN2Go, and will also be carried on the Spartan Sports Network live audio stream. The broadcast will be available exclusively at SpartanSportsNetwork.com and on the network's 24/7 app for mobile devices (available on iTunes and Google Play). Broadcast veteran Scott Moore calls the action alongside former MSU manager/bullpen catcher David Greenberg in select games.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Erla, Mason (2-7)
L: Quinn Lavelle (3-6)
Batting:
2B: Michael Trautwein 1
RBI: Willie Bourbon 1 ; David Dunn 1 ; Michael Trautwein 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Alex Erro 1 ; Shawn Goosenberg 1 ; Ben Dickey 1
SB: Shawn Goosenberg 1
Batting:
2B: Ando, Royce 1 ; Walker, Zaid 1
HR: Mayes, Casey 1
RBI: Antoncic, Justin 1 ; Ando, Royce 2 ; Proctor, Adam 1 ; Mayes, Casey 2 ; Iverson, Zach 1
SH: Lacayo, Nic 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kelley, Bryce 2 ; Antoncic, Justin 1 ; Chmielewski, Dan 2 ; Walker, Zaid 2 ; Mayes, Casey 1
SB: Kelley, Bryce 2
PO: Ando, Royce 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
2
H
4
RBI
0
AB
5
R
2
H
3
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
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/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF/OF/RHP
/ Baseball
OF/LHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
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/ BaseballOF
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