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Sports | Baseball

BASEBALL

MSU splits doubleheader

Tom Keller
April 10, 2007

Two runs. That's all that separates the MSU baseball team from a perfect start to conference play. The Spartans dropped the opener of Monday's doubleheader against Purdue, 1-0 — their second one-run loss in the conference — then blanked the Boilermakers, 3-0, in the back end to take the series at Kobs Field and improve to 13-10 overall, 5-2 in the Big Ten. Only once in the last decade have the Spartans gotten off to a better conference start — 2004, when they won their first six games. "The crazy thing is we're that close to being undefeated in the Big Ten," head coach David Grewe said, holding his fingers an inch apart.

BASEBALL

WEB EXTRA: Brookes stays hot on mound to help MSU beat Purdue, cold temperatures

Tom Keller
April 9, 2007

How cold was it on Sunday at Kobs Field? So cold that junior second baseman Steve Gerstenberger wore four layers of Under Armour under his jersey to fight the game-time wind chill of 23 degrees. "I can hardly move," he said, "but at least I'm warm." So cold that despite the grounds crew's attempts to clear the field before the game with leaf blowers, snow was still piled along the fences — something home-plate umpire Bruce Doane said he has never seen in 35 years. So cold that Purdue rented a microwave from the hotel it was staying at and used it to heat chicken soup in its dugout. But not cold enough to cool down senior pitcher Craig Brookes, who threw seven innings and allowed two runs — one earned — to lead the MSU baseball team to a 3-2 win against the Boilermakers. "Good old Brookesy," MSU head coach David Grewe said of his ace, who kept his conference-leading ERA at 1.29 on an afternoon that felt more like Christmas Eve than Easter Sunday. What was supposed to be the finale of a four-game weekend set ended up being the series opener because of the weather.

BASEBALL

MSU's Dwan scores pitching accolade

Tom Keller
April 3, 2007

Senior John Dwan was named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week on Monday for his near-perfect performance in Sunday's win against Indiana. Dwan threw seven scoreless innings in MSU's 6-1 win, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out three.

BASEBALL

With the big boys

Tom Keller
April 3, 2007

That Opening Day loss for the Detroit Tigers leave a bad taste in your mouth? Tonight offers a new opportunity to savor America's pastime. The MSU baseball team will face the Lansing Lugnuts, a Class-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, at 6:05 p.m.

BASEBALL

Baseball wins 3-of-4 against Indiana

Tom Keller
April 2, 2007

Head coach David Grewe and the MSU baseball team took three of four games from Indiana and outscored the Hoosiers, 25-11, in a Big Ten-opening road trip this weekend. The Spartans (11-9 overall, 3-1 Big Ten) dropped only the opener, in which they outhit the Hoosiers, 15-5, but managed only one run in a 2-1 defeat.

BASEBALL

Spartans baseball wins home opener

Tom Keller
March 26, 2007

The MSU baseball team won its home opener against Concordia on Saturday, but was denied the chance for a sweep when Sunday's game was called because of bad weather. Junior center fielder Dennis Jones went 2-for-4 in Saturday's win, including a two-run single in the seventh that put MSU up for good.

BASEBALL

Spartans pick up first win of young season

Zack Colman
February 26, 2007

The MSU baseball team earned its first win of the season with a 4-2 victory over Jacksonville on Sunday at the Coca-Cola Classic in Mobile, Ala. Senior pitcher John Dwan got the win, recording four strikeouts while only allowing three hits and one run. The Spartans broke a 1-1 tie in the fourth inning by scoring three runs.

BASEBALL

Baseball team hosts First Pitch Dinner Sunday

Eric Fish
February 16, 2007

The MSU baseball team will host its second annual First Pitch Dinner at 1 p.m. Sunday in Spartan Stadium's LaSalle Bank Club. Tickets for the event are $25 for children and students, $30 for MSU baseball alumni and $50 for the general public.

BASEBALL

Day named Big Ten's player of the week

Esther Gim
April 4, 2006

Freshman Kyle Day went 11-for-17 with eight RBIs on seven extra-base hits last week and was honored as the Big Ten Player of the Week. Day, who leads the Big Ten in walks with 17, gets time at catcher and left field.

BASEBALL

Walking off with a win

Tom Keller
April 3, 2006

Lansing — Oliver Wolcott pumped his fist, then disappeared into a mob of his teammates. The senior third baseman's 10th-inning walk-off double had just scored junior catcher Sean Walker to give MSU a 9-8 win against Indiana on Sunday afternoon at Oldsmobile Park. "It's been a couple years," Wolcott said of his last walk-off hit.

BASEBALL

Stealing bases becoming a crime for Spartans baseball

Tom Keller
March 31, 2006

It's the top of the first inning of the MSU baseball team's game against Grand Valley State on Wednesday and sophomore rightfielder Tony Clausen is settling into the batter's box. Lakers pitcher Grant Payton steps on the mound, then glances over his shoulder at MSU junior shortstop Troy Krider, who's on first base after leading off the inning with a line-drive single to right. Krider leads a few feet off the base, leaning away from it like he's being pulled by an invisible magnet.

BASEBALL

MSU too much for Grand Valley

Tom Keller
March 30, 2006

The MSU baseball team turned Kobs Field into a manufacturing plant Wednesday afternoon. Only six of MSU's 17 hits went for extra bases, but the Spartans efficiently moved runners around the basepaths all afternoon, pounding Grand Valley State, 14-5. "That's just my coaching style," head coach David Grewe said.

BASEBALL

Teams will keep fans interested during playoffs

The baseball playoffs are finally upon us after a long and grueling season that came down to the final day for four different teams. The Boston Red Sox knew they were going to have a shot at the playoffs; they just didn't know whether it would come after Sunday or after a one-game playoff against the Cleveland Indians today. But after the Chicago White Sox successfully knocked off the Indians early Sunday, the Red Sox knew they were in the playoffs and it didn't matter if they won their game or not. The Indians' loss guaranteed the Red Sox the wild card for the third straight season, the same wild card they won last year before winning the World Series. For the Indians, the season ends in disappointment.

BASEBALL

Tigers back to .500, can win American League Wild Card

Oct. 2, 2005 - The Detroit Tigers defeat the Minnesota Twins and win the American League Wild Card by one game. At the beginning of the season, the Wild Card spot was just a tiny thought in the minds of Tigers fans. The Chicago White Sox took control of the Central Division early and have run away with the title, while the Tigers slipped below .500 and into third or fourth place, out of contention for any playoff consideration. However, as of Sunday, the Tigers were back to the .500-mark at 49-49 and only four games out of the Wild Card lead, held by Minnesota and Oakland.