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Sports | 1117

BASKETBALL

Denzel Valentine will take Spartans to new heights next year, according to Tom Izzo

Omari Sankofa II
April 14, 2015

After losing to Duke in the Final Four round of the NCAA Tournament, junior guard Denzel Valentine vowed that MSU would return next season. Head coach Tom Izzo placed his faith in his captain during his end-of-season press conference on Thursday, saying he believes Valentine will help the Spartans live up to expectations next season. "He, I think, will take this team to new heights next year," Izzo said.

BASEBALL

MSU baseball tops Michigan 4-2 at Comerica Park

Matthew Argillander
April 14, 2015

On a beautiful Tuesday night in Detroit at Comerica Park, home of the Tigers, the baseball team the Michigan Wolverines by a score of. U-M was better early as the Wolverines starting pitcher junior Evan Hill retired the first seven MSU batters before a single from freshman outfielder Brandon Hughes with one out in the bottom of the third. Despite the strong start by Hill the Spartans were able to strike first.

FOOTBALL

Son of former Spartan wide receiver Andre Rison receives offer from MSU

Zach Libby
April 13, 2015

Former Super Bowl champion and MSU wide receiver Andre Rison may get the opportunity to capture his son donning the green and white on Saturday's, as Ann Arbor Skyline incomer Hunter Rison picked up an offer from the Spartans on Thursday.  Andre Rison played at MSU from 1985-1988 before being drafted in the NFL, he has said in the past that he doesn't want to have an influence on his son picking a school. "We've discuss things but I'm not going to push him towards a school," Rison told mLive.com.  Rison took a visit to the campus and left with his first offer as a sophomore.

BASEBALL

MSU baseball gains many lessons from Crosstown Showdown

Matthew Argillander
April 12, 2015

Despite not getting the desired result in the ninth annual Crosstown Showdown, the men's baseball team gained plenty from their exhibition game against the Lansing Lugnuts, the Toronto Blue Jays Class A minor league affiliate. The Spartans were able to get 19 different players involved in the showdown, many players who were getting some experience at a time in the year when they wouldn't be seeing much playing time. Junior infielder Justin Hovis got his first experience as a pitcher since coming to MSU.

BASKETBALL

Five-star recruit Caleb Swanigan commits to MSU

Zach Libby
April 11, 2015

Reaching his seventh Final Four as head coach of the Spartans this past weekend, Tom Izzo could very well be on this way to a second consecutive appearance in the national semifinals after landing his second McDonald's All-American on Friday.  Caleb Swanigan, who held offers from Kentucky, Duke, Arizona and Cal, who were rumored to be the clear cut favorite to pick up the No.

BASEBALL

Baseball drops Crosstown Showdown to the Lansing Lugnuts 9-4

Matthew Argillander
April 9, 2015

After a 30 minute rain delay a night of fun began in downtown Lansing. At the Cooley Law School Stadium the MSU baseball team took on the Lansing Lugnuts, the Toronto Blue Jays Class A minor league affiliate in the ninth annual Crosstown Showdown. The game marks one of the first times of the year for students and members of the community to get out of the house as the weather begins to break. The night featured plenty of fun and antics, including both East Lansing mayor Nathan Triplett and Lansing mayor Virgil Bernero throwing out the first pitch, fans of all ages, other Spartan athletes coming out to enjoy the night and much more. The Spartans started the game on fire as the first four MSU batters hit through the cycle en route to a 3-0 lead after one inning of play.  The Lugnuts answered with one in the bottom of the second, and four in the third to take a 5-3 lead over MSU through three innings of play.

SPORTS

Michigan upsets MSU in men's tennis

Zach Libby
April 9, 2015

MSU men's tennis head coach Gene Orlando said on Tuesday that his team has to prepare for Michigan's A-game when the two Big Ten programs squared off in East Lansing Wednesday.  Despite struggling to keep their heads after battling with a magnitude of injuries and a 4-14 regular season record, there was still a little fight left in the Wolverines, as they took down the Spartans, 4-3.  Gijs Linders began the single competition strong for MSU by knocking off Michael Zhu in the first match 6-2, 7-6 (7-2). U-M responded by taking the next three matches, before Mac Roy ended the streak by defeating Davis Crocker in the fifth match.  The No.