SPORTS
Women's tennis falls to Indiana, Purdue this weekend
In just two days the MSU women’s tennis team (8-8 overall, 0-5 Big Ten) suffered two similar losses to Indiana and Purdue, both 6-1.
SPORTS
Men's tennis takes down Indiana, Purdue in weekend matches
The MSU men’s tennis team continued its winning ways this weekend, as it defeated Indiana 5-2 on Saturday and Purdue 6-1 on Sunday at MSU Indoor Tennis Facility. Despite Purdue picking up the doubles point on Sunday, the Spartans (14-8 overall, 3-3 Big Ten) rallied with a sweep in singles action.
SOFTBALL
Softball falls to Ohio State in double-header; 9-4, 14-1
It just wasn’t the MSU softball team’s day. In the Spartans’ (10-22 overall, 0-5 Big Ten) first conference series of the seaon against Ohio State (20-11, 4-1) at Secchia Stadium at Old College Field, they lost the first two games in Saturday’s double-header. Despite attempting to make a comeback, MSU fell 9-4 in the first game before being mercied, 14-1, in the second game as the Buckeyes made contact at nearly every at-bat.
BASEBALL
Baseball drops Big Ten opener against Ohio State, 1-0
Tony Bucciferro hasn’t always had the best luck against Ohio State. Coming into Saturday’s matchup, the senior pitcher had surrendered 22 hits and 13 earned runs in 10.2 innings of work in his last two outings against the Buckeyes. Even as Bucciferro reversed his fortune Saturday with a nine strikeout performance with just two hits surrendered in eight innings, the MSU baseball team (15-8 overall, 0-1 Big Ten) couldn’t overcome the two walks by his replacement sophomore David Garner in the ninth and were out-dueled by the Buckeyes, 1-0, at McLane Baseball Stadium at Old College Field.
FOOTBALL
Position battles heat up as players put on pads
Although it’s early in the spring season — with the spring game not until April 28 — the coaching staff said it’s been impressed with the first week of practice, seeing potential for development in several areas.
BASEBALL
Spartans host Ohio State in three-game weekend series
Tony Bucciferro knows he’s expected to have a good outing when he takes the mound for the MSU baseball team (15-7) at 1:05 p.m. on Saturday at McLane Baseball Stadium at Kobs Field in the Big Ten opener against Ohio State (13-10 overall, 1-2 Big Ten).
BASKETBALL
2012 basketball recruits add depth to team
Following an over-achieving year, the MSU men’s basketball will return eight of 12 scholarship players and welcome a recruiting class of four top-100 high school players. Losing the leadership and All-American qualities of Draymond Green, the skills of Brandon Wood and Austin Thornton and scout team talent of Anthony Ianni will hurt.
SOFTBALL
Softball falls to Butler 8-1 in home opener
After playing 29 straight games on the road to begin the season, the MSU softball team opened its home season at Secchia Stadium with an 8-1 loss against Butler.
FOOTBALL
Maxwell determined to find identity; defense bench sees reps
There are a number of fresh faces among MSU football’s first-team offense, but none is more jarring than the one lining up behind sophomore center Travis Jackson. For the first time in about three years, Kirk Cousins won’t be leading the Spartans on offense — his graduation allowing for junior Andrew Maxwell to step in at quarterback. Just don’t call him “Kirk’s replacement.”
BASKETBALL
Column: Summer play critical in team development
At some point during the 2012-13 MSU men’s basketball season, we’ll look back at the summer of 2012. It might be at the beginning, middle or end of the season, but we will look back, and we’ll likely say one of two things.
SOFTBALL
Softball rests, prepares for home opener against Butler
Over an hour before practice began, members of the MSU softball team were on the field joking, practicing, but mainly preparing. Coming off a loss to Purdue last weekend, the Spartans (10-19 overall, 0-3 Big Ten) have been preparing for a busy weekend home. Their home opener will take place Thursday when MSU goes up against Butler at 4 p.m. at Secchia Stadium. Continuing into the weekend, MSU will host Ohio State in a three-game series, starting Saturday at 1 p.m.
BASEBALL
Baseball dominates Bowling Green, 13-3
Before the MSU baseball team started the 2012 season, the Spartans came together and made it a goal to not take any plays off. After losing in the Big Ten Tournament last season, MSU was denied an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, and head coach Jake Boss Jr.
BASKETBALL
Izzo offers explanations for loss, anticipates summer workouts
At his year-end press conference Tuesday, Tom Izzo spoke more about how special the year his men’s basketball team was. The head coach talked about how the team was playing at a high level it needed to be successful, but that Thursday’s Sweet 16 loss to Louisville was understandable.
FOOTBALL
Dantonio: Players, coaches ‘need to earn our jerseys,’ move forward
After back-to-back 11-win seasons, an appearance in the inaugural Big Ten championship game and MSU’s first bowl win since 2001, head coach Mark Dantonio doesn’t want anyone involved with the MSU football program to get complacent.
BASEBALL
MSU looks for 2 midweek victories against Bowling Green, Central Michigan
In the midst of an eight-game home stand, the MSU baseball team hosts its first midweek game of the season at 3:05 p.m. Tuesday at Kobs Field at McLane Baseball Stadium.
SOFTBALL
Tired Spartans await Thursday’s home opener
After seven consecutive weekends of traveling around the country from Florida to California and finishing in West Lafayette, Ind., this weekend, the MSU softball team is exhausted, and it showed when the team was swept by Purdue in a three-game series.
SPORTS
Gymnastics earns bid for NCAA Regionals
The MSU gymnastics team’s season has been extended by another couple of weeks as the Spartans earned a berth to NCAA Regionals. MSU will travel to Auburn and compete on April 7 as the No. 6 seed, along with in-state rival No. 4-seed Michigan.
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ICE HOCKEY
Krug leaves for NHL, signs with Bruins
With his teammates looking on and head coach Tom Anastos by his side at the podium Sunday at Munn Ice Arena, junior defenseman Torey Krug announced he is forgoing his senior year and signed a professional contract with the Boston Bruins. “To have the opportunity I’ve been presented with by the Boston Bruins organization is tremendous, and I never thought this day would come,” Krug said.
BASEBALL
Spartans’ offense, pitching leads to 3-game series sweep against Oakland
For MSU pitcher Mike Theodore, Sunday was a welcomed change-up. After starting the first four games of his Spartan career on the road, the sophomore right-hander — who transferred from Tennessee — made his first appearance at Kobs Field at McLane Baseball Stadium on Sunday against Oakland.
SPORTS
Gymnastics finishes last at Big Ten Championships
For the second time this season, the MSU gymnastics team left Iowa City, Iowa, empty-handed. After falling to the Hawkeyes 193.225-190.175 on Jan. 13, the Spartans returned to Carver-Hawkeye Arena to compete in the Big Ten Championships on Saturday.