Sluggers lose 3 of 4 games to Wolverines

Despite winning the series-opener, the MSU baseball team still dropped three of four games against archrival Michigan this weekend.

The Spartans (11-24 overall, 4-10 Big Ten) triumphed 12-3 behind a strong pitching effort by junior Bryan Gale on Friday night at Oldsmobile Park, 505 E. Michigan Ave. in Lansing. Gale scattered seven hits and a walk, while striking out seven in his fourth complete game of the season. Junior first baseman Scott Koerber, freshly back from a broken hand, led the way offensively by going 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs.

But MSU's fortunes took a turn for the worse Saturday, as U-M swept a doubleheader 2-1 and 12-0 at Ray Fisher Stadium in Ann Arbor. The Spartans led in game one, but sophomore pitcher Tim Day allowed two runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the loss.

In game two, the Wolverines (19-16, 7-7) smacked 13 hits. They led 5-0 after two innings and added six runs in the fourth to finish MSU. Spartan senior Patrick Gill took the loss.

The action shifted to Kobs Field on Sunday, but the Spartans couldn't earn a series split losing 5-2. U-M scored twice in the first and once in the third to take control of the game. MSU got on the scoreboard in the seventh and scored once in the bottom of the ninth, but it wasn't enough.

On the bright side for manager Ted Mahan's club, Sunday marked the first time in 22 games MSU didn't make an error in the field.
James Jahnke

Spartans earn best Big Ten finish since 1996

The MSU men's tennis team (14-11 overall, 5-5 Big Ten) finished fifth in the league and earned a first-round bye in the conference tournament by beating Northwestern and Wisconsin at home this weekend.

MSU, ranked No. 63 nationally, will face Purdue in the tournament quarterfinals Friday. The team's fifth-place league finish is its best since 1996.

On Friday, the Spartans beat Northwestern 4-3 behind wins by sophomore Andrew Formanczyk at No. 1 singles, senior Goran Topalo at No. 4 and junior Eric Simonton at No. 6. MSU earned the decisive doubles point by winning the No. 2 and No. 3 doubles matches.

The next day, MSU topped the Badgers 5-2. Formanczyk, Topalo and Simonton won again, as did sophomore Cameron Marshall at No. 3 singles. The Spartans also won at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles again to take the doubles point.
James Jahnke

'U' falls to Wildcats for 9th conference loss

The MSU women's tennis team (8-13 overall, 0-9 Big Ten) failed to win a set against No. 23 Northwestern in Evanston, Ill., on Friday.

The Spartans' top three singles players - junior Caroline Lay and sophomores Keri Thompson and Karen Gustafson - turned in the team's best performances, each winning a total of five games in their matches.

Results from the team's Sunday competition at Wisconsin were not available at press time.
James Jahnke

Manz, Sherwood make regionals at road meet

Two Spartans qualified for NCAA Regionals at the non-scoring Bronco Open on Saturday.

Junior Steve Manz earned an NCAA bid with a shot put of 56 feet, 9 3/4 inches, which was good enough to finish first at the Open. He also finished third in the discus.

Freshman Brian Sherwood qualified for regionals and placed first at Saturday's event with a high jump of 6-9 3/4 inches. Redshirt freshman Julien Williams (long jump) and sophomore Chris Hohn (pole vault) also placed first at the Bronco Open. Williams jumped 22 feet, 1/2 inch, while Hohn vaulted 15-4 to tie for the top spot.
James Jahnke

Varsity teams tace to victories at Lake Ovid

In dual meets against Ohio State and Indiana on Friday, the women's crew varsity eight, second varsity eight and first novice eight boats each won both of their races at Lake Ovid in Sleepy Hollow State Park in Laingsburg. The second novice eight split their races, losing to OSU but beating the Hoosiers.

In the varsity four races, Michigan joined the field of MSU, OSU and Indiana. The Spartans' first varsity four had two third-place finishes (behind U-M and OSU), while the second varsity four finished third one race and second in the other.
James Jahnke