Sunday, March 20
McLane Stadium at Kobs Field | East Lansing, Mich.
1:05 PM
Michigan State University
9-7
1
vs
0
Houston Baptist
6-14
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Houston Baptist
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
3
Michigan State
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
X
1
5
1
Photo by: Kelly Branigan
Spartans Sweep Sunday Twinbill With HBU In Walk-Off Fashion
3/20/2022 9:17:00 PM | Baseball
MSU beats Houston Baptist in pair of 1-run ballgames, walking off game two, to complete home-opening series sweep.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State baseball used a pair of 1-run Victories for MSU over Houston Baptist to complete the doubleheader and weekend series sweep Sunday afternoon at a sun-bathed McLane Stadium at Kobs Field.
MSU won the opener, 1-0, on sophomore infielder Trent Farquhar's solo home run into the Red Cedar River in the eighth inning.
"It was an amazing feeling, I love hitting baseballs into the Red Cedar and having it right there," Farquhar said. "It was a great feeling, and I'm just glad I could help our team win."
The Spartans got solid pitching from sophomore starter Nick Powers, junior reliever Andrew Carson and graduate senior closer Kyle Bischoff, who picked up the save in the opener and earned the win in the second game.
"It was a great job by our team, and our pitcher, Kyle Bischoff did a great job of coming in and closing the door for us and getting the outs when we needed to," Farquhar said.
In game two, Michigan State took a 4-1 lead after two frames and led 5-3 after seven stanzas, but Houston Baptist scored two runs in the eighth to push the game to its brink. However, the Spartans collected their second walk-off win of the weekend, scoring a run in the bottom of the ninth, as redshirt-freshman catcher Christian Williams scored on a play off the bat of junior outfielder Casey Mayes. MSU won Friday's series opener, 4-3, on sophomore infielder Dillon Kark's walk-off home run in the ninth.
"I think a lot of it happened last weekend in Greenville, South Carolina, with the big walk-off win over Cincinnati, and the come-from-behind win," Boss said about MSU's confidence level with walk-offs in the ninth. "These guys just really do compete until the very last out. Even in a couple of the games we lost, we felt like we were right there, maybe a swing away, or had the tying run or the winning run at the plate. That's just how baseball is sometimes, but one of the staples of our program is we're always going to fight and scratch and claw until that last out is made, and these guys are doing it."
Saturday's game was postponed due to rain and inclement weather, setting up Sunday's doubleheader, in warmer, sunny conditions.
"These guys are young, it is hard playing 18 innings in one day, but we would have rather have played today with the weather and the sun, than yesterday. You play them one inning at a time, and we don't think about game two until game one is over, then we figure it out," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said.
The Spartan defense was solid throughout the day, turning four double plays in the twinbill, highlighted by a season-high three two-outs, one-play in the opener.
"Defensively, I thought we played really well all weekend, which is a big reason in which we were able to win all three games," Boss said.
With the series sweep in their home opening weekend, the Spartans improved to 10-7 on the season, having won five of their last seven. HBU slide to 6-15 with the loss. MSU also improved to 3-1 all-time vs. HBU, as prior to this weekend's series, the Spartans and Huskies had only met once before in 2015, won by HBU. The Spartan wins also spoiled the return of former Michigan State player Clayton VanderLaan, who played at MSU in 2009 and is HBU's pitching coach.
Farquhar finished game one 2-for-3 with the run and RBI, while the outfielder duo of sophomore Jack Frank and junior Zaid Walker were each 1-for-3, with Frank knocking a double. Sophomore infielder Mitch Jebb was 1-for-4, getting back in the hit column a game after his season-long 15-game hitting streak and 21-game streak back to last season was halted.
In the opener on the mound, Powers went 6.1 IP with five strikeouts and scattering six hits. He gave way to Carson, who tallied two strikeouts in 1.2 innings and earned his first win as a Spartan, and Bischoff got the final three outs to pick up his fourth save of the season.
Williams made his Spartan home debut in game two, and had a smashing debut, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored, the second being the winning run. The redshirt-freshman made his fourth start of the season overall, but his first at home.
"I felt very comfortable in the box today. It's all thanks to the coaches, they've coached me up and helped me get to where I am," Williams said. "With it only being my fourth start, a lot of people think I'd be nervous in there, but it's all the practice reps, and all the time in the fall and winter preparing, and it pays off now to feel comfortable in there."
Farquhar was 3-for-5 with an RBI, finishing the day 5-for-8 with two RBI and a run scored.
Jebb, Walker, Kark and junior infielder Peter Ahn also all collected a hit apiece, with Ahn knocking a double, and all three touched the plate for a run each.
In game one, Powers helped himself out of an early jam in the second, fielding his position to start a 1-6-3 double play to end the inning. The Spartan defense ended the third frame as well, as redshirt-freshman catcher Bryan Broecker threw down to second where Farquhar applied the tag to nab the potential Husky base-stealer. MSU registered another double play in the fourth, keeping the score 0-0.
Carson came on in the seventh stymied the Husky bats, coming in with one out and one on in the seventh, getting a strikeout and flyout to end seventh, and then a three-up, three-down frame in the top of the eighth.
The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the eighth, when Farquhar came to the plate with two outs and blasted his solo shot over the wall in right and into the Red Cedar River.
Carson yielded his first HBU baserunner with a lead off walk, and MSU went to the bullpen, bringing in Bischoff and he got a double play and then a lineout to seal the Victory for MSU.
In the second game, the Huskies wasted no time in getting on the board after not scoring a run in the opener, as HBU got on the board in their first at bat, on an RBI double.
The Spartans got the run back and more in the bottom of the second, as Walker ignited the rally with a 1-out single and later stole second. Kark drove Walker in with a single of his own. After a double by Ahn moved Kark to third, Williams laced a single to center to plate Kark and Ahn. Jebb followed with a walk, bringing Farquhar to the dish, and he singled up the middle to score Williams and put MSU on top, 4-1.
HBU scored two runs in the fourth off four hits in the frame to close to 4-3.
MSU went up 5-3 in the seventh, as Jebb and Farquhar laid down back-to-back bunts, and Jebb scored on a throwing error.
The Huskies scored two in the top of the eighth, on a single and walk, then taking advantage of an MSU fielding miscue to score a pair of runs and knot the score at 5-5.
In the ninth, Williams knocked a 1-out single up the middle to spark the Spartan rally. Two batters later, Farquhar rapped a 2-out single to right center to move Williams up to third. After an HBU pitching change, Mayes reached on an HBU error and Williams darted home with the winning run, sparking the Spartans' second walk-off celebration of the weekend.
"I was talking on third with Coach Sikes, and we were saying 'hey, we're going to walk this off and we're going to win," Williams said. "Casey hit the ball and I just knew I was going to score, that's just the kind of guy he is, he comes in clutch like that."
Michigan State continues its nine-game homestand on Wednesday, March 23, hosting IPFW in a 4:05 p.m. first pitch at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field.
The Spartans then open Big Ten Conference action hosting Illinois in a three-game series, Friday-Sunday, March 25-27. MSU's B1G opener is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. on Friday, before game two between the Spartans and Illini on Saturday at 1:05 p.m., and the series wraps up on Sunday at 1:05 p.m.
MSU's 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 from Big Ten Network+ at MSUSpartans.com.
MSU won the opener, 1-0, on sophomore infielder Trent Farquhar's solo home run into the Red Cedar River in the eighth inning.
"It was an amazing feeling, I love hitting baseballs into the Red Cedar and having it right there," Farquhar said. "It was a great feeling, and I'm just glad I could help our team win."
The Spartans got solid pitching from sophomore starter Nick Powers, junior reliever Andrew Carson and graduate senior closer Kyle Bischoff, who picked up the save in the opener and earned the win in the second game.
"It was a great job by our team, and our pitcher, Kyle Bischoff did a great job of coming in and closing the door for us and getting the outs when we needed to," Farquhar said.
In game two, Michigan State took a 4-1 lead after two frames and led 5-3 after seven stanzas, but Houston Baptist scored two runs in the eighth to push the game to its brink. However, the Spartans collected their second walk-off win of the weekend, scoring a run in the bottom of the ninth, as redshirt-freshman catcher Christian Williams scored on a play off the bat of junior outfielder Casey Mayes. MSU won Friday's series opener, 4-3, on sophomore infielder Dillon Kark's walk-off home run in the ninth.
"I think a lot of it happened last weekend in Greenville, South Carolina, with the big walk-off win over Cincinnati, and the come-from-behind win," Boss said about MSU's confidence level with walk-offs in the ninth. "These guys just really do compete until the very last out. Even in a couple of the games we lost, we felt like we were right there, maybe a swing away, or had the tying run or the winning run at the plate. That's just how baseball is sometimes, but one of the staples of our program is we're always going to fight and scratch and claw until that last out is made, and these guys are doing it."
Saturday's game was postponed due to rain and inclement weather, setting up Sunday's doubleheader, in warmer, sunny conditions.
"These guys are young, it is hard playing 18 innings in one day, but we would have rather have played today with the weather and the sun, than yesterday. You play them one inning at a time, and we don't think about game two until game one is over, then we figure it out," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said.
The Spartan defense was solid throughout the day, turning four double plays in the twinbill, highlighted by a season-high three two-outs, one-play in the opener.
"Defensively, I thought we played really well all weekend, which is a big reason in which we were able to win all three games," Boss said.
With the series sweep in their home opening weekend, the Spartans improved to 10-7 on the season, having won five of their last seven. HBU slide to 6-15 with the loss. MSU also improved to 3-1 all-time vs. HBU, as prior to this weekend's series, the Spartans and Huskies had only met once before in 2015, won by HBU. The Spartan wins also spoiled the return of former Michigan State player Clayton VanderLaan, who played at MSU in 2009 and is HBU's pitching coach.
Farquhar finished game one 2-for-3 with the run and RBI, while the outfielder duo of sophomore Jack Frank and junior Zaid Walker were each 1-for-3, with Frank knocking a double. Sophomore infielder Mitch Jebb was 1-for-4, getting back in the hit column a game after his season-long 15-game hitting streak and 21-game streak back to last season was halted.
In the opener on the mound, Powers went 6.1 IP with five strikeouts and scattering six hits. He gave way to Carson, who tallied two strikeouts in 1.2 innings and earned his first win as a Spartan, and Bischoff got the final three outs to pick up his fourth save of the season.
Williams made his Spartan home debut in game two, and had a smashing debut, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored, the second being the winning run. The redshirt-freshman made his fourth start of the season overall, but his first at home.
"I felt very comfortable in the box today. It's all thanks to the coaches, they've coached me up and helped me get to where I am," Williams said. "With it only being my fourth start, a lot of people think I'd be nervous in there, but it's all the practice reps, and all the time in the fall and winter preparing, and it pays off now to feel comfortable in there."
Farquhar was 3-for-5 with an RBI, finishing the day 5-for-8 with two RBI and a run scored.
Jebb, Walker, Kark and junior infielder Peter Ahn also all collected a hit apiece, with Ahn knocking a double, and all three touched the plate for a run each.
In game one, Powers helped himself out of an early jam in the second, fielding his position to start a 1-6-3 double play to end the inning. The Spartan defense ended the third frame as well, as redshirt-freshman catcher Bryan Broecker threw down to second where Farquhar applied the tag to nab the potential Husky base-stealer. MSU registered another double play in the fourth, keeping the score 0-0.
Carson came on in the seventh stymied the Husky bats, coming in with one out and one on in the seventh, getting a strikeout and flyout to end seventh, and then a three-up, three-down frame in the top of the eighth.
The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the eighth, when Farquhar came to the plate with two outs and blasted his solo shot over the wall in right and into the Red Cedar River.
Carson yielded his first HBU baserunner with a lead off walk, and MSU went to the bullpen, bringing in Bischoff and he got a double play and then a lineout to seal the Victory for MSU.
In the second game, the Huskies wasted no time in getting on the board after not scoring a run in the opener, as HBU got on the board in their first at bat, on an RBI double.
The Spartans got the run back and more in the bottom of the second, as Walker ignited the rally with a 1-out single and later stole second. Kark drove Walker in with a single of his own. After a double by Ahn moved Kark to third, Williams laced a single to center to plate Kark and Ahn. Jebb followed with a walk, bringing Farquhar to the dish, and he singled up the middle to score Williams and put MSU on top, 4-1.
HBU scored two runs in the fourth off four hits in the frame to close to 4-3.
MSU went up 5-3 in the seventh, as Jebb and Farquhar laid down back-to-back bunts, and Jebb scored on a throwing error.
The Huskies scored two in the top of the eighth, on a single and walk, then taking advantage of an MSU fielding miscue to score a pair of runs and knot the score at 5-5.
In the ninth, Williams knocked a 1-out single up the middle to spark the Spartan rally. Two batters later, Farquhar rapped a 2-out single to right center to move Williams up to third. After an HBU pitching change, Mayes reached on an HBU error and Williams darted home with the winning run, sparking the Spartans' second walk-off celebration of the weekend.
"I was talking on third with Coach Sikes, and we were saying 'hey, we're going to walk this off and we're going to win," Williams said. "Casey hit the ball and I just knew I was going to score, that's just the kind of guy he is, he comes in clutch like that."
Michigan State continues its nine-game homestand on Wednesday, March 23, hosting IPFW in a 4:05 p.m. first pitch at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field.
The Spartans then open Big Ten Conference action hosting Illinois in a three-game series, Friday-Sunday, March 25-27. MSU's B1G opener is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. on Friday, before game two between the Spartans and Illini on Saturday at 1:05 p.m., and the series wraps up on Sunday at 1:05 p.m.
MSU's 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 from Big Ten Network+ at MSUSpartans.com.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Carson, Andrew (1-0)
L: Spinney, Austin (0-2)
S: Bischoff, Kyle (1)
Batting:
2B: Ortiz, Kevin 1
SH: Sanford, Braden 1
Base Running:
SB: Roccaforte, Austin 1
CS: Davila, Diego 1 ; Trinidad, Sebastian 1
Batting:
2B: Frank, Jack 1
HR: Farquhar, Trent 1
RBI: Farquhar, Trent 1
SH: Mayes, Casey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Farquhar, Trent 1
SB: Kark, Dillon 1
CS: Jebb, Mitch 1
HBP: Kark, Dillon 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballINF
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
C
/ BaseballPursuit to Greatness | Spartans All-Access
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