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Sports

BASEBALL

Spartans earn share of Big Ten championship following weekend series

Dillon Davis
May 22, 2011

When junior pitcher Tony Bucciferro took the mound for the ninth inning of Friday’s game against Northwestern, he knew a complete game and the Big Ten championship were just three outs away. With a touch of swagger, Bucciferro dialed up his fastball and slider to strike out the side and deliver the first Big Ten title to the MSU baseball program since 1979. Bucciferro and senior pitcher Kurt Wunderlich threw a pair of complete games for the Spartans (34-19 overall, 15-9 Big Ten) over the weekend and capped off a strong pitching year for each of the players and for the program. “I knew it was going to happen, and I was fired-up,” Bucciferro said. “(Boss) has turned this program around.

BASEBALL

MSU falls to Northwestern, still celebrates Big Ten championship

Dillon Davis
May 21, 2011

Unfortunately Northwestern (20-29, 10-13) had other ideas for the Spartans (34-19 overall, 15-9 Big Ten), as they upended Senior Day at McLane Baseball Stadium at Kobs Field, 6-5. The day was not a total loss for MSU as they were presented with the Big Ten championship trophy by Athletics Director Mark Hollis and MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon, along with championship shirts and hats, following the conclusion of the game.

BASEBALL

Wunderlich throws complete game shutout, MSU beats Northwestern

Dillon Davis
May 19, 2011

In his last career start at McLane Baseball Stadium at Kobs Field, senior pitcher Kurt Wunderlich threw a complete game shutout, as the Spartans (33-18 overall, 14-8 Big Ten) downed Big Ten foe Northwestern (19-28, 9-12), 3-0. With the win, the Spartans edged ever closer to winning a Big Ten championship — the program’s first since 1979.

BASEBALL

Lasting Legacy

Dillon Davis
May 18, 2011

The MSU baseball team stands in position to win the Big Ten as its seniors take the field at home for their last weekend series against Northwestern.

BASEBALL

MSU baseball looks to win conference title on final weekend

Michelle Martinelli
May 18, 2011

As the Spartans (32-18 overall, 13-8 Big Ten) head into their final regular season series — hosting Northwestern (19-27, 9-11) with game one at 3:05 p.m. Thursday — they hold a one-game lead over Minnesota (21-20, 12-9) and Illinois (22-25, 12-9) in the Big Ten. To be guaranteed outright champions, MSU will have to sweep the Wildcats at McLane Baseball Stadium at Kobs field.

SOFTBALL

Three MSU softball players earn all-conference honors

Michelle Martinelli
May 18, 2011

After the MSU softball team concluded its season last weekend, the Spartans had three players selected for All-Big Ten honors, the conference announced Wednesday. Junior catcher Brett Williams was named First Team All-Big Ten, and senior shortstop Lindsey Hansen and junior third baseman Ali Grant were second and third team honorees, respectively.

SPORTS

Rohl named Big Ten Field Athlete of the Year

Michelle Martinelli
May 18, 2011

Sophomore thrower Beth Rohl was named Big Ten Field Athlete of the Year and Big Ten Field Athlete of the Championships after her performance at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships, the conference announced Wednesday. She also was given First Team All-Big Ten honors.

BASEBALL

MSU bats come up big in blowout win against Notre Dame

Dillon Davis
May 17, 2011

With a big conference series against Northwestern starting Thursday, the MSU baseball team (32-18 overall, 13-8 Big Ten) took out the frustrations of the past weekend with heavy hitting to deliver a 20-3 win against the Fighting Irish at Frank Eck Baseball Stadium in South Bend, Ind.

SPORTS

Women's track and field places fifth, earns three individual championships

Dillon Davis
May 16, 2011

Although the MSU track and field team concluded its Big Ten action on Sunday with a fifth-place finish at the 2011 Big Ten Outdoor Championships at Iowa, the team came away with three individual conference titles. Senior Emily MacLeod, junior Becca Buchholtz and sophomore Beth Rohl won individual conference championships and led the way for the Spartans, who would finish with a total score of 74.5 points on the day. Rohl was the first to come away with a Big Ten Championship when she won the women’s discus throw with a school record toss of 55.94 meters. Another school record was set as Buchholtz joined Rohl with her second-consecutive title in the women’s high jump.

BASEBALL

Indiana sweeps weekend series, Spartans still Big Ten leaders

Dillon Davis
May 15, 2011

Coming into the weekend, the MSU baseball team held a commanding three-game lead in the Big Ten standings and was edging ever closer to their first Big Ten championship since 1979. After being swept in three games by Indiana (30-21 overall, 11-10 Big Ten), the Spartans’ (31-18, 13-8) lead has been slimmed to one after two weekend losses by Minnesota to Penn State.