Using late-game heroics at the plate and a pitching gem by junior Kurt Wunderlich, the MSU baseball team won game two of its three-game series with Northwestern, 2-1, Friday at Rocky Miller Park in Evanston, Ill.
Friday’s game was the second in a row between the Spartans and Wildcats decided by a 2-1 score. After losing to Northwestern on Thursday, the Green and White came out on top Friday thanks to a game-winning RBI double by senior outfielder Eli Boike in the top of the ninth inning.
Boike’s double scored senior designated hitter Chris Roberts all the way from first after Roberts walked in the previous at-bat.
MSU (34-18 overall, 11-12 Big Ten) started slowly, mustering two hits in the first inning, but failing to pose any scoring threat until late in the game.
On the other hand, Northwestern (24-30, 12-11) advanced a runner to third in the second inning with just one out for the first scoring chance of the day.
However, junior pitcher Kurt Wunderlich pitched himself out of a jam to escape the inning without any damage done.
The Wildcats scored the first run of the game in the third inning when third baseman Chris Lashmet singled to center field, scoring catcher Chad Noble, who had singled and advanced to second on a fielder’s choice earlier in the inning.
Northwestern again had a runner at third base in the fourth inning, but Wunderlich battled out of it again, forcing a groundout and a fly out by Wildcat batters.
After getting out of the fourth inning, Wunderlich pitched through the eighth without giving up another hit or walking any batters.
It took until the eighth inning for Wunderlich to receive any form of run support. Junior outfielder Brandon Eckerle started the inning with a base hit up the middle and was moved to third when freshman outfielder Jordan Keur hit a pinch-hit single of his own. Freshman second baseman Ryan Jones then hit a bunt single, scoring Eckerle and tying the game at one.
Following another 1-2-3 inning for Wunderlich, Boike hit the double that would prove to be the game-winner.
Senior pitcher Kurtis Frymier came in and finished off the game for Wunderlich, who pitched eight innings and gave up just four hits and one run on his way to the win.
Jones and junior shortstop Jonathon Roof led MSU with three hits a piece, but Jones and Boike were the heros with the game-tying and winning RBIs.
The Spartans came into the game sitting in seventh place in the Big Ten standings. The top six teams will make the Big Ten Tournament, which is next week in Columbus, Ohio.
The final of the game the series is at 2:00 p.m. Saturday at Rocky Miller Park with the Spartans likely needing a victory to make the Big Ten Tournament.
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