Evan Friedland led the charge for the seniors with a three-run home run in his last collegiate at bat, while fellow seniors Dennis Jones and Justin Potes each added two hits.

After losing all four games to Indiana (28-28 overall, 15-17 Big Ten) in this weekend’s home series, the Spartans just missed out on the Big Ten Tournament for the third year in a row.

With a tournament bid within reach, Indiana jumped all over MSU early.

The Hoosiers scored five runs in the first inning, two in the second and one more in the third to build a commanding 8-1 lead.

Every Spartan in the lineup recorded at least one hit, but most were stranded as the team hit into six costly double plays.

“It was definitely double-play balls and two big innings that cost us the game,” MSU head coach David Grewe said. “You can’t win ball games when you give up big innings.”

The game looked all but over in the bottom of the ninth when MSU came up to bat trailing 14-1. But the Spartans weren’t ready to call it a season.

Junior Eric Roof, freshman Seth Williams and Potes opened the inning with consecutive singles, before Friedland hit a three-run homer to right field — his second of the season — to cut the deficit to 14-5.

However, the rally ended there, as three of the next four batters failed to reach base.

The Spartans ended the 2008 season with an overall record of 24-29 and 12-18 in Big Ten play.

Grewe said he’s disappointed with the inconsistency his team exhibited this year but believes there’s hope on the horizon next season.

“We’ve got to get better in all aspects of our game and keep moving forward,” Grewe said. “We’ve got to get better as a ball club and a program. If we don’t, we are going to have another tough year.”

Despite the discouraging finish to the season, Potes said he has fond memories of his playing days.

“We had a lot of ups and downs, but it’s been the best experience of my life,” he said.

“I wouldn’t trade my time here for anything.”