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Baseball

BASEBALL

Race for Big Ten Baseball Championship comes down to final weekend

With one more weekend left in the Big Ten season, and first and last place separated by just five games, all 10 teams in the conference have a chance to finish in the top six and qualify for the Big Ten tournament. But only Minnesota has clinched a spot. More significantly, every team other than Illinois and Penn State has a chance to be at least co-champions for the regular season.

BASEBALL

Spartans take weekend series

MSU baseball head coach Jake Boss Jr. channeled his anger and expressed himself in two words. “I’m disappointed,” Boss told his team Friday after the MSU baseball team was defeated by Illinois, 4-3, in 10 innings in the weekend series opener at McLane Baseball Stadium at Kobs Field. Sometimes those two words sting more than anything else.

BASEBALL

Spartans remember last season's losses to Illinois

For the MSU baseball team, May 20, 2009, feels a whole lot more recent than 11 months ago. The final game — a crushing 16-5 loss in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament — in a four-game season sweep at the hands of Illinois still lingers for of head coach Jake Boss Jr.

BASEBALL

Spartans ready for rematch against Broncos

Couple the MSU baseball team’s unexpected loss to Western Michigan in last week’s midweek nonconference battle and two losses in three games to Ohio State this weekend, and head coach Jake Boss Jr. expects the Spartans to be chomping at the bit when Western Michigan comes to Cooley Law School Stadium at 5:05 p.m. Tuesday.

BASEBALL

Spartans avoid Ohio State sweep

Senior right fielder Eli Boike and junior first baseman Jeff Holm are responsible both crushed long home runs over the fence and near the banks of the river in right field on Sunday to help propel MSU to a 14-7 victory over Ohio State.

BASEBALL

Program's turnaround impressive

Once upon a time, if you wanted to go to an MSU baseball game, you had to weigh it against a sore back and fiberglass in the seat of your pants from a pathetic excuse for stadium seating. There was no regional Big Ten Network exposure, the media accommodations were akin to Marshall Mathers’ first trailer park home and player introduction music came from what sounded more like an iHome than a PA system. Nobody in the MSU baseball community longs for those days of yore.

BASEBALL

Midweek games crucial in hopes of NCAA at-large bid

For years, the MSU baseball team has been near or below .500 entering Big Ten play, needing a miracle run in the conference to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. But with a 22-6 record for one of the best starts in school history, every win counts toward a possible at-large bid to the tournament in June.

BASEBALL

Gophers win Sunday, MSU takes 2-of-3

Right-handed starter Tony Bucciferro was excellent on the hill for the Spartans through six innings, but racked up five earned runs combined in the seventh and eighth innings as the Spartans lost a late 3-2 lead.

BASEBALL

Spartans travel to Metrodome for 3 games

The MSU baseball team went from a midweek nonconference game to gearing up for the annual Crosstown Showdown exhibition — which was postponed because of weather — to mentally preparing for a long road trip against Big Ten foe Minnesota.

BASEBALL

MSU tries to stay focused vs. Bowling Green

After the MSU baseball team pounded Iowa, 26-11, Sunday, MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. had an important message for his team. In the postgame huddle, Boss stressed not to let the lopsided victory get into his team’s head, especially with a tough game against Bowling Green slated for 3:05 p.m. Tuesday at McLane Baseball Stadium at Old College Field.