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Sports | 1000

BASEBALL

Column: Getting hot at the right time not overrated

Dillon Davis
May 20, 2012

Behind the conference’s top pitching staff led by senior Tony Bucciferro and the consistent bats of juniors second baseman Ryan Jones and outfielder Jordan Keur, the Spartans find themselves just days away from the opening of the Big Ten Tournament. Despite missing out on a top seed and a first-round bye in the conference tournament, the No. 5-seeded Spartans (35-19 overall, 13-11 Big Ten) are set for a 12:05 p.m. matchup with No. 4-seed Nebraska on Wednesday at Huntington Park in Columbus, Ohio.

BASEBALL

Spartans cap series with 9-2 victory against Penn State

Stephen Brooks
May 19, 2012

After late game homers cost the MSU baseball team a pair of games Thursday and Friday, the Spartans reversed their fortunes on Senior Day at McLane Baseball Stadium at Old College Field on Saturday against Penn State. MSU (35-19 overall, 13-11 Big Ten) rode a nine strikeout performance by sophomore pitcher David Garner to a 9-2 victory in game three of the series with the Nittany Lions.

BASEBALL

Baseball falls to Penn State on late home run

Stephen Brooks
May 18, 2012

Another day, another late home run spells doom for the MSU baseball team. One day after losing a 3-2 decision to Penn State (29-24 overall, 15-8 Big Ten) after a jack in the eighth inning by Jordan Steranka, MSU (34-19, 12-11) saw its hopes crushed by a late homer in a 6-5 loss. Penn State third baseman Joey DeBernardis’ ninth inning homer was the difference Saturday, taking with it the hopes of a No.

BASEBALL

Late homer dooms Spartans against Penn State

Dillon Davis
May 17, 2012

Even after a career filled with memories and records etched in MSU baseball lore, Tony Bucciferro wanted to provide the fans and his teammates with something to remember him by in his final start at McLane Baseball Stadium at Old College Field. Unfortunately, Jordan Steranka and Penn State had other ideas.

ICE HOCKEY

Face time with Tom Anastos

Dillon Davis
May 16, 2012

In the realm of the MSU hockey program, Tom Anastos is making moves. Despite completing just his first season as head coach of the program in March following a 3-1 loss to Union in the NCAA Tournament, Anastos is generating buzz around one of college hockey’s most sacred programs.

SOFTBALL

Column: Big changes needed after tough season

Stephen Brooks
May 14, 2012

It should go without saying that the MSU softball team is in need of a dramatic turnaround next season if it wants to avoid repeating a tragic season that saw the Spartans go without a single conference win in Big Ten play. MSU ended its season with 19 straight losses and finished with a 11-42 overall record. Near the end of the season, head coach Jacquie Joseph said her team needed to reverse its math — allow fewer runs and produce more of its own.

BASEBALL

Pitching carries MSU over Iowa

Dillon Davis
May 13, 2012

Led by a strong seven-inning effort by sophomore starter David Garner and a pair of home runs by freshman designated hitter Blaise Salter and junior catcher John Martinez, the Spartans (33-17 overall, 12-9 Big Ten) overpowered the Hawkeyes (20-26, 8-13) and took the game, 7-3, Sunday at McLane Baseball Stadium at Old College Field.

SOFTBALL

Spartans end disappointing season without Big Ten win

Stephen Brooks
May 13, 2012

A forgettable season for the MSU softball team ended Saturday with more blunder than bang as the Spartans dropped their 19th consecutive game in a weekend-series sweep by Indiana. MSU ended its 2012 campaign losing 26 of its last 27 contests and finished the season winless in Big Ten competition. The team finished 11-42 on the season with its last victory coming on a 6-1 decision at Central Michigan on April 4.

SOFTBALL

Softball ends season with sweep by Indiana

Stephen Brooks
May 12, 2012

The MSU softball team was swept by Indiana this weekend to conclude a disappointing season in which the Spartans finished winless in Big Ten play. After losing 4-2 on Friday, MSU (11-42 overall, 0-23 Big Ten) dropped a pair of one-run decisions, losing each game in Saturday’s doubleheader by a score of 6-5. Despite failing to earn a Big Ten victory in Saturday’s heartbreaking losses, freshman pitcher Carly Nielsen called Saturday’s games the best MSU has played all season.

BASEBALL

Baseball loses lead late, falls to Hawkeyes

Dillon Davis
May 12, 2012

Despite another strong pitching performance — this time by junior pitcher Andrew Waszak — the Spartans (32-17 overall, 11-9 Big Ten) let a lead evaporate late in the game and fell 2-1 to the Hawkeyes (20-25, 8-12) Saturday at McLane Baseball Stadium at Old College Field.

BASEBALL

Bucciferro tosses complete game gem as Spartans top Iowa

Dillon Davis
May 11, 2012

Despite hitting four batters in the game — including three in one inning — senior pitcher Tony Bucciferro scattered five hits and struck out nine batters in a complete game shutout effort to lead the Spartans (32-16 overall, 11-8 Big Ten) over Iowa (19-25, 7-12), 6-0, Friday at McLane Baseball Stadium at Old College Field.

BASEBALL

Spartans defeat Toledo 7-2 in midweek matchup

Stephen Brooks
May 9, 2012

The MSU baseball team continued to honor a season-long commitment made to itself of approaching midweek contests with the same intensity and focus of critical weekend games with Wednesday’s 7-2 victory against Toledo at McLane Baseball Stadium at Old College Field.   The win came on the heels of another midweek matchup with a Mid-American Conference foe the day before when the Spartans (31-16 overall, 10-8 Big Ten) defeated Western Michigan on the road, 15-7.   “We put a priority on that in the beginning of the year,“ head coach Jake Boss Jr.

BASEBALL

Garner salvages weekend with complete game shutout for Spartans

Dillon Davis
April 29, 2012

David Garner would not let the MSU baseball team go down without a fight. After dropping the first two of the weekend series to No. 13 Purdue, the sophomore pitcher from Niles, Mich. rose to the occasion by striking out seven in a complete game shutout on Sunday to give the Spartans a 5-0 victory against the Boilermakers.

FOOTBALL

Defense picks up where it left off in annual Spring Game

Michelle Martinelli
April 28, 2012

The score might have been 14-2 in favor of the White team, but the real winner of the MSU football team’s Spring Game was the defense. With a young offense and an even more inexperienced quarterback substituting in, there was no question that the team with the stronger defense would be victorious, and with such a low scoring game, defense was dominant on both teams. “We stepped up; we (rose) to the challenge,” said junior linebacker Denicos Allen, who played for the White team.