EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State baseball won its sixth-straight game, beating Minnesota, 9-7, after rallying from an early 3-0 deficit and then holding off a late rally, as the Spartans completed the sweep of the Gophers Sunday afternoon at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field on MSU's Military Appreciation Day.
The Spartans' six-game win streak is not only the longest current active streak in the Big Ten Conference, but it also matches MSU's longest since a six-game win spurt April 18-27, 2018.
Michigan State also registered its second series sweeping of the season, also sweeping Houston Baptist March 18-20. This weekend's sweep of the Gophers was MSU's first Big Ten Conference sweep April 20-22, 2018 at Northwestern and was the Spartans' first home B1G sweep since March 26-27 vs. Rutgers. Sunday's win also leveled Michigan State's record at 21-21, back to .500 for the first time since April 2 when the Spartans were 12-12.
"That's a really big weekend," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "I'm really proud of our guys for playing well first of all, and then kind of a character win for us today, we got down early, got the lead back and then gave it up in almost a heartbreaking way, but they keep coming, they keep fighting and took advantage of some opportunities to get a big win today. "
MSU was down 3-0 after the top of the third, but the Spartans rallied with a four-spot in the fifth to take the lead. However, the Gophers countered with a four-spot of their own in the top of the seventh to take a 7-4 lead. After the stretch, MSU got a run back before erupting for a four-run eighth inning to take a 9-7 advantage. Minnesota threatened in the top of the ninth, loading the bases with two outs, before MSU got a final out on a deep shot to the gap in left center that graduate-senior centerfielder Peter Ahn ran it down and made a sliding catch to spark the Spartans' sweep celebration.
"We were playing deep; I'd misread a couple balls earlier that I thought he could make a catch on, so I wanted to make sure I got there," Ahn said. "It feels great, there's not a better feeling than winning, especially after we went through a bit of a dry spell there and coming back, everybody's doing a great job at the plate, pitchers are making their pitches on the mound, it's been awesome."
Coach Boss was impressed with Ahn's catch as well.
"That was a great catch. Pete's really athletic and he's capable of that type of stuff. And so when the ball got was hit, I thought it was going to be caught and then I didn't," Boss said with a chuckle, "and then Pete ran it down and again, he's a really athletic kid and that's why he's our centerfielder."
Along with Ahn's final catch, the Spartans were boosted by Trent Farquhar. The sophomore infielder was 2-for-4 with four RBI, coming on a three-run home run over the wall and into the Red Cedar River in the fifth that gave the Spartans a 4-3 lead, and an RBI double down the right field line that gave MSU the lead for good.
"Trent is just a really mature kid," Boss said. "The moment's not too big for him. He's a coach's son, he's one of our best leaders that we have, and he doesn't get too up or too down, he's a pretty even-keeled guy and in this sport, that really pays dividends. We've got a couple guys that I think you want up at the plate and those big spots and Trent is certainly one of them."
Farquhar wasn't nervous about his well-timed hits and big at bats.
"It felt good to be in it," Farquhar said of the pressure situation. "I'm just trying to be as comfortable as I can and it's same at bat as any others, thinking going up there 0-0 and regardless of what the spot is."
Farquhar was one of four Spartans with multiple hits, as fellow sophomore infielders Brock Vradenburg and Dillon Kark were both 2-for-3, with Kark scoring a pair of runs. Junior outfielder Casey Mayes was 2-for-5 with an RBI, and joined Ahn in each swiping a base. Sophomore infielder Mitch Jebb was 1-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Redshirt-freshman designated hitter Christian Williams had just one hit in five at bats, but it was a very big one on a solo home run to lead off the fifth for MSU's first run of the day.
Sophomore starter Harrison Cook registered three strikeouts in 2.0 innings, yielding five hits and three runs, two earned, before turning the ball over to junior reliever Andrew Carson.
For the next 4.0 innings, Carson stymied the Gophers' bats, holding them to just two hits without a run and ringing up a Spartan career-high five strikeouts. Carson has now matched or set a new career-high in each of his last three outings, with three Ks vs. Northwestern on April 24, then four punchouts vs. Notre Dame on April 26 and five on Sunday against the Gophers, giving him 12 Ks in 8.2 IP of relief in his last three outings.
Sophomore Dominic Hann, graduate senior Kyle Bischoff and freshman Ryan Sczcepaniak pitched the next 2.2 IP, with Hann and Bischoff yielding two runs apiece, and Szczepaniak allowing three walks, but kept the Gopher bats in check to earn the win, before junior Wyatt Rush closed down the Minnesota rally in the ninth to earn the save.
The Gophers jumped out to a 3-0 lead with an unearned run in the top of the first, adding two more runs in the second on a pair of RBI singles to the outfield.
MSU's bats were quiet in the early going, as Minnesota starter Aidan Maldonado no-hit the Spartans through 3.1 innings and rang up 10 Ks in 5.0 IP. Mayes got Michigan State's first hit of the day with a one-out single in the fourth.
Williams' solo HR into the trees beyond the left field wall in the home half of the fifth got the Spartans on the board, and ignited an MSU rally. Kark drew a walk and two batters later, Jebb also walked, bringing up Farquhar and he sent the ball for a swim into the Red Cedar River, his third blast into the campus river flowing beyond the wall in right of the season, and his fourth overall home run of the season, giving MSU a 4-3 lead.
The Gophers re-took the lead in the seventh, with four runs on three hits, including a two-run double and another RBI double and took advantage of an MSU error, for a 7-4 advantage.
After the stretch, Farquhar led off with a walk, and Vradenburg followed with a walk. The Spartan threat appeared to be thwarted after the Gophers made a pitching change, bringing in Richie Holtz, and he rang up back-to-back strikeouts and induced a grounder off the bat by redshirt-freshman catcher Bryan Broecker, but a throwing error allowed Broecker to reach and Farquhar to score from second, pulling the Spartans within 7-5.
After Szczepaniak rang up the Gophers in 1-2-3 fashion in the top of the eighth, the Spartans put together their go-ahead winning rally in the bottom of the frame.
Kark sparked the rally with a single up the middle. Junior outfielder Zaid Walker reached on a fielder's choice and Kark was safe on a Minnesota throwing error, then both Kark and Walker moved up on a wild pitch. Jebb then knocked a single to right to drive in both Kark and Walker to tie it up at 7-7.
After a Gopher pitching change, Farquhar rudely greeted new reliever Tom Skoro's first offering with a double down the right field line and into the corder and Jebb darted around to score the go-ahead run. Vradenburg followed with an infielder single, and Minnesota made another pitching change. Mayes came to bat and singled through the right side, driving in Farquhar to put MSU on top, 9-7, before the Spartan rally came to a close.
Szczepaniak got the first two Minnesota batters out, before the next three reached on walks to make the bases full of Gophers, and MSU went to the pen. Rush took the mound to face Riley Swenson, who laced a line drive to left center that Ahn ran down to make the sliding catch to end the visitors' rally and the game, and spark the Spartan celebration.
MSU does not have any midweek action this week due to Finals Week at Michigan State, and the Spartans will return to action Friday-Sunday at Penn State, the first three of their next five games on the road. MSU opens the road stretch by heading to Penn State for a weekend series at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park in University Park, Pa., Friday-Sunday April 6-8. The Spartans and Nittany Lions open the three-game set on Friday at 6 p.m., followed by 1 p.m. start times on Saturday and Sunday.
MSU then plays at Notre Dame on May 10 and at Western Michigan on May 11, before hosting Iowa, May 13-15 in the final home games and Sunday, May 15 will be MSU's Senior Day.
The Spartans' schedule is subject to change based on weather.
Along with any further schedule updates, fans can follow the games with links for live stats, live audio (when available) and live streaming of home games from Big Ten Network+ at MSUSpartans.com.
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May 02, 2022 at 07:19AM
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Spartans Complete Sweep Of Gophers With Wild 9-7 Win Sunday For Sixth-Straight Victory For MSU - Michigan State Athletics
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