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Sports | Basketball Men's 1000

BASEBALL

Prior to resume with Cubs on Friday

Chicago - Mark Prior will return back to the major league, making his first start with the Chicago Cubs on Friday after spending the first two months of the season on the disabled list. Prior, who has been sidelined with an inflamed right Achilles' tendon and sore right elbow, was impressive in his third rehab start Sunday when he allowed three hits and two runs while striking out 10 in 5 1-3 innings for Triple-A Iowa. Prior pitched the first two games of his rehab tour with the Lansing Lugnuts and defied conservative estimates - pitching an extra inning in his second game to help the 'Nuts turn the tables on the West Michigan Whitecaps to win 7-6. During both games with the 'Nuts, Prior allowed just one hit and one walk, and threw 13 strikeouts in a combined 7 1/3 innings. Now, he's ready to return to the Cubs and will face the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday at Wrigley Field.

BASEBALL

Lansing awake in time to win, 3-1

Lansing- A 10:35 a.m. start time is difficult for any baseball player, but an early game following a 3 1/2 hour, 11-inning game the night before would cause any team to get off to a sluggish start. That's exactly what happened Wednesday morning as the Lansing Lugnuts struggled to find any hits for the first four innings, before the Lugnuts rediscovered their bats to pull out a 3-1 win over the West Michigan Whitecaps. "It's a little hard to get up in the morning and it took a few innings for us to wake up," Lansing left fielder Kevin Collins said. Neither team came close to scoring early.

SPORTS

'Nuts get pro support from Prior, Dempster

Lansing- To have a major- league pitcher make an appearance for a Class A ball club is a rare occurrence, but it is almost unheard of to have two in the same week. Despite the impossible odds, it happened this week at Oldsmobile Park when Mark Prior and Ryan Dempster made their rehab starts for the Lansing Lugnuts.

BASEBALL

'U' ready to face Boilermakers

As MSU junior pitcher Jon Kowalski tagged first base for the final out to secure the Spartans' 8-7 victory over Northwestern, his teammates erupted into celebration. The victory over Northwestern Sunday ensured the Spartans the No.

SPORTS

Prior to go for 'Nuts again

Less than a week after creating a stir by pitching for the Lansing Lugnuts, Mark Prior is again stepping to the mound for the Chicago Cubs Class A affiliate at 7:05 p.m.

SOFTBALL

'U' ends season in regionals with loss to Georgia

The MSU softball team ended its season at the NCAA Regional in Athens, Ga., with a 9-1 loss to host school, Georgia. The Spartans managed only one run and six hits for the entire game and were unable to muster up any offense. "I think it's putting together hits and we didn't do that," senior third baseman Brittney Green said.

SPORTS

Women's golf team ends season in 24th

The MSU women's golf team took 24th place at the NCAA National Championships. The Spartans posted a 305 on their final round Friday to finish with a score of 1,215 (302-310-298-305). Senior Allison Fouch tied for 16th place with a round score of 291 (70-72-73-76). Fouch's score is the second best in history for MSU at the national championships.

SPORTS

Prior begins rehab with Lansing Lugnuts

Forget about all of your prior engagements, Mark Prior is pitching for the Lansing Lugnuts. The Chicago Cubs pitcher will pitch tonight, at 7:05 p.m., as part of his rehabilitation tour. Prior has been suffering from an inflamed right Achilles tendon, and will make his first appearance at the Class A level. In his first full season with the Cubs, Prior was 18-6 with a 2.43 ERA and finished 3rd in the National League Cy Young Award voting. Prior has been on the disabled list since the beginning of the season and is expected to make around 50 pitches.

BASEBALL

'U' needs to win and get a little help to share title

For the first time in 25 years, the MSU baseball team has a chance at a Big Ten title. The Spartans (30-22, 17-11 Big Ten) face Northwestern this weekend at Kobs field in the final four-game series of the Big Ten season. MSU is third in the Big Ten race, two games behind conference-leading Minnesota and one game behind Ohio State.

SPORTS

Pitcher of the Week is nothing new for Gale

MSU senior right-hander Bryan Gale was awarded the title of Big Ten Pitcher for the Week of May 9-16. It is the second time this season that Gale has been named Pitcher of the Week, he was previously awarded the title March 29.

SOFTBALL

MSU to face Texas A&M at Regionals

A broad smile formed on Jessica Beech's face as she couldn't contain her excitement after learning her team's destination for the NCAA Tournament. The senior pitcher clapped loudly with her teammates as cheers erupted throughout the Berkowitz Basketball Complex.

SPORTS

Women's track places fifth at the Big Ten

MSU women's track team took fifth place with 75 points in the Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championship at Purdue University this past weekend. The tournament, which concluded Sunday, consisted of 21 events with Michigan taking first place.

SOFTBALL

Beech works through delays, sets records

The frustration was building as the rain delay continued and Jessica Beech began walking around the Oosterbaan Fieldhouse, at the University of Michigan, to kill time before game one of the Big Ten tournament. For Beech, a senior pitcher, this was to be her last Big Ten tournament and maybe her last game if the Spartans couldn't beat the top seed U-M on its home field.