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Sports | 1117

SOFTBALL

Softball struggles to hang on, falls to Michigan 8-0

Jesse O'Brien
April 14, 2012

For the first four innings, the MSU softball team was step-for-step with No. 20 Michigan at Secchia Stadium at Old College Field. But then came the fifth. Freshman pitcher Carly Nielsen threw four innings of shutout softball before letting up a one-out, two-RBI single to U-M’s Haylie Wagner that sparked an eight-run fifth inning that ended the Spartans’ day early, falling at home 8-0.

FOOTBALL

Dantonio pleased with players adjusting to position changes

Jesse O'Brien
April 13, 2012

Seven practices in, the MSU football team prepared for its first scrimmage of the spring football season, and there has been some movement at several different positions. Head coach Mark Dantonio spoke briefly about his decision to move junior Denzel Drone from defensive end to tight end and indicated the switch could be permanent.

BASEBALL

MSU hopes to get on winning track at Indiana

Dillon Davis
April 12, 2012

After dropping two out of three against Michigan last weekend and a lopsided loss at the hands of Eastern Michigan on Wednesday, the MSU baseball team will look to right the ship in Big Ten play on Friday with the first of three games against Indiana in Bloomington, Ind. With Wednesday’s 13-5 walloping by the Eagles in the past, the Spartans (20-11 overall, 3-3 Big Ten) are challenged to raise the level of fervency in their play against the Hoosiers (15-18, 5-4).

SOFTBALL

Softball loses to Eagles 6-3

Jesse O'Brien
April 11, 2012

Two batters in, it became clear that the MSU softball team was in for an interesting game. With Eastern Michigan’s Jessica Richards perched on third, the Eagles’ Katy Blaharski attempted a steal from first base. However, the throw from MSU senior catcher Brett Williams was mishandled, allowing Richards to go home and Blaharski to return to first base safely. The score was the first in what would be a five-run first inning from which the Spartans (11-27 overall, 0-9 Big Ten) would be unable to recover, as they fell to the visiting Eagles 6-3 Wednesday afternoon.

BASEBALL

Baseball fails to come back, loses to Eastern Michigan

Jeremy Warnemuende
April 11, 2012

For the first four batters of Wednesday’s game against Eastern Michigan, the MSU baseball team appeared to be on the way to a solid day at McLane Baseball Stadium and Old College Field. After senior right-hander Tim Simpson retired the Eagles in order on nine pitches in the top of the first, junior outfielder Jordan Keur led off the Spartans’ half of the inning with a double to left-center field.

BASEBALL

Spartans defeat Notre Dame 8-2

Dillon Davis
April 10, 2012

Even in understanding the nature of the game, Jordan Keur has grown tired of hearing about the faults of the MSU baseball team on offense. At some point, something had to give. After stranding 34 runners on base in the weekend series with Michigan, the junior left fielder and the Spartans’ (20-10 overall, 3-3 Big Ten) bats overcame frigid weather and an offensive slump to beat Notre Dame 8-2 on Tuesday at McLane Baseball Stadium at Old College Field.

SOFTBALL

Softball looks to escape slump against Eagles

Jesse O'Brien
April 10, 2012

After the MSU softball team took a step forward by snapping its seven-game losing streak with a win at Central Michigan last Wednesday, it took three steps backward when the Spartans were swept by Penn State during the weekend. Now, MSU (11-26 overall, 0-9 Big Ten) is looking to right the ship once again as it prepares for a midweek game Wednesday at 4 p.m. in Secchia Stadium at Old College Field against Eastern Michigan, before it gears up to face in-state rival Michigan for a three-game series this weekend.

BASKETBALL

Column: Nix could use arrest to boost leadership role

Pat Evans
April 9, 2012

The recent trouble Derrick Nix got himself into with a traffic stop and drugs in the car could have a lot of people wondering what’s at stake for the MSU men’s basketball team’s future. Although the issue will affect the junior center and his future, I’m not sure his legal troubles will change the outlook of the team too much next season.

BASEBALL

Spartans hope momentum continues throughout week

Jeremy Warnemuende
April 9, 2012

For the MSU baseball team, last weekend was a disappointing one. Not only did the Spartans (19-10 overall, 3-3 Big Ten) drop two of three games, they did so against rival Michigan. MSU’s one win in the series came Sunday in a 10-8 thriller that lasted 13 innings, and junior Tony Wieber, who was the winning pitcher against the Wolverines, said he hopes that springboards the Spartans forward as they prepare for a 3:05 p.m. matchup with Notre Dame on Tuesday at McLane Baseball Stadium at Old College Field.

BASEBALL

Column: Baseball team bound to fail if hits keep lacking

Dillon Davis
April 8, 2012

The MSU baseball team has assembled a pitching core to compete with any team in the nation. But great pitching is useless without offensive support. Jake Boss Jr. acknowledges that this much is true. But as the Spartans found out this weekend, there’s a fine line between the theory of scoring runs and the literal production of them.

SPORTS

Gymnastics’ season ends at Regionals

Jesse O'Brien
April 8, 2012

When the MSU gymnasts headed into the NCAA Auburn Regional with the No. 6 seed this weekend, they were hoping for a similar result to last year’s tournament appearance, when the Spartans placed in third — falling just short of advancing to the next round. However, it was not to be, as the Spartans placed sixth overall with a team score of 194.050 as Georgia and Oregon State placed first and second, respectively, to advance to the NCAA Championships.

SOFTBALL

Softball swept in 3 games at Penn State

Darcie Moran
April 8, 2012

The MSU softball team took three losses this weekend in its three-game series against Penn State in University Park, Penn. The Spartans (11-26 overall, 0-9 Big Ten) just broke a seven-game losing streak with a win against Central Michigan last week before their losses this weekend.

BASEBALL

Spartans have quick turnaround into three-game Michigan series

Jeremy Warnemuende
April 5, 2012

After a break from the usual grind Thursday at the Crosstown Showdown, the MSU baseball team gets back to Big Ten play Friday with the first of three games against arch-rvial Michigan. With Thursday’s 7-0 loss to the Lansing Lugnuts being a fun exhibition, the Spartans (18-8 overall, 2-1 Big Ten) will have to turn up the intensity for the series with the Wolverines (12-16, 0-3). And junior utility player Tony Wieber said that shouldn’t be a problem. “I don’t think you need much motivation,” Wieber said.

FOOTBALL

Sims, receivers eager to step up, improve

Pat Evans
April 5, 2012

With the departure of leading wide receivers B.J. Cunningham, Keshawn Martin and Keith Nichol, along with tight ends Brian Linthicum and Garrett Celek, the receiving corps for the MSU football team is wide open. And with junior tight end Dion Sims as the only player with more than 10 receptions, the chances for the rest of the receivers are even greater.

SOFTBALL

Softball looks to win at Penn State

Darcie Moran
April 5, 2012

After breaking its seven-game losing streak, the MSU softball team is feeling prepared for its three-game series against Penn State — and hoping for its first conference win of the season. The Spartans(11-23 overall, 0-6 Big Ten) beat Central Michigan (14-14) 6-1 on Wednesday in Mount Pleasant, Mich. The team will kick off its weekend at 2 p.m. on Saturday with a doubleheader at University Park, Penn.