Thursday, March 28, 2024

Gulick, team extend streak in 12-1 victory

MSU sophomore infielder Alan Cattrysse slides home against Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne on Wednesday at Kobs Field. MSU stomped the IPFW Mastodons, 12-1. —

After the MSU baseball team romped Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne at Kobs Field on Wednesday, manager Ted Mahan called baseball a "streaky game."

His observation is especially fitting for the Spartans, considering they just won their 10th straight game and junior outfielder Travis Gulick extended his hitting streak to 20 games.

The Spartans (14-10) annihilated IPFW (11-18) in all phases of the game in their 12-1 win. MSU had 16 hits to the Mastodons' two.

The Spartans' dominance could be sensed in IPFW manager Billy Gernon's tone after the game.

"They just beat the hell out of us," he said. "Why do you think they schedule teams like us and Wayne State? We're just a doormat for Big Ten schools. But we need teams like Michigan State on our schedule to help with recruiting."

Gulick, who was named co-Big Ten Player of the Week, extended his hitting streak on a third-inning single.

He went 3-for-4 on the day with two doubles and an RBI. Gulick's streak is the longest since Steve Johnson hit in 18 consecutive games in 1992.

Gulick said he's been trying not to think about his streak when he steps into the batter's box.

"I just go up there with the same approach every at-bat, try to be aggressive," he said.

"If I see a pitch I'm looking for, then I'm going to try to work with it."

MSU's 10-game winning streak is the longest since 1966. Each of MSU's wins during the streak have come at home.

Though the Spartans have been hot at the plate, Mahan said good pitching, solid defense and confidence have been the keys to MSU's run.

"We lost six in a row, we were playing horrible," Mahan said. "Then all of a sudden, we get one big hit, one big play, we win a game and then it just keeps heading in the right direction because of the confidence.

"At the plate, seven, eight guys just can't wait to hit. Even our pitchers - our relief pitchers today - they can't wait to get back to the mound. We want the ball hit to us on defense. When you got all those things going for you, you're tough to beat."

Mahan used six pitchers to hold IPFW to just two hits. The Mastodons' lone run came in the fifth inning when second baseman Brent Alwine scored off catcher Matt Hagedorn's single.

Spartans sophomore pitcher Jeremy Dow was the pitcher of record; he claimed his first win of the season by holding IPFW scoreless in two innings of work.

The Spartans look to further their winning streak against Big Ten foe Illinois at 6:35 p.m. on Friday in Champaign, Ill. It will be the first of a four-game weekend series for the Spartans.

With a 4-0 conference record, MSU leads the Big Ten. First baseman Scott Koerber said it will be crucial for the team to hold the mindset of a conference leader.

"That's the attitude that everybody's got to have out here or else we're not going to succeed," he said.

Staff writer Christopher M. Mackinder contributed to this report.

Discussion

Share and discuss “Gulick, team extend streak in 12-1 victory” on social media.