SPORTS
Extra-oar-dinary
A typical practice day starts around 3 p.m. as about 50 women pile into vans for the drive to Lansing's Grand River.
SPORTS
Detroit has earned its (Red) Wings
There's no way for me to express my anger and disgust for Music City USA. It's not the city I dislike so much, in fact, quite the contrary - the city and its nightlife are great.
FOOTBALL
Linebacker takes over family business
Thornhill, a name synonymous with MSU football. Throughout the program's history, three Thornhills - all related - have worn the Green and White at the linebacker position.
SPORTS
Track and field team to spend week in Calif.
The MSU men's track and field team heads west to compete in two events this week. The Spartans will compete in the 46th Annual Mt.
SOFTBALL
'U' hosts team on 17-game slide
The MSU softball team hosts an Oakland squad that has less than half the wins the Spartans have.
BASEBALL
Warriors manager ready for 'major league' game with 'U'
Jay Alexander was so excited that his team was playing the Spartans at Oldsmobile Park this season, he thought it was a mistake. The Wayne State manager, whose team is a traditional nonconference opponent for the Spartans (16-12 overall, 6-2 Big Ten), did a double-take when he looked at the Warriors' 2004 schedule when it came out. "I wanted to make sure it was correct before I called (MSU's) coach - I didn't want him to change his mind," Alexander said.
SPORTS
Junior leads 'U' golf to 16th-place finish
The MSU men's golf team took 16th at the Boilermaker Invitational on Sunday at Kampen Course in West Lafayette, Ind. Led by junior Andrew Ruthkoski, who fired a 226 (78-72-76), the Spartans shot a combined three-round score of 915 (307-298-310). Ruthkoski tied for 49th while freshman Matt Harmon was next in line at 56th with a 228 (74-76-78). Seniors Casey Lubahn and Ben Fox tied for 69th and 77th respectively, and freshman Mitch Pierce tied for 80th. Tournament-host Purdue won the event, shooting an 855 (285-277-293), followed by Colorado at 857 (288-284-285). MSU will continue competition at the Kepler Invitational on April 17-18 in Columbus, Ohio.
SPORTS
No. 10 Spartans sweep wins at Crew Classic
MSU's No. 10 women's crew team swept its opponents on Saturday, capturing all races in the Indiana Crew Classic. The event featured host Indiana as well as No.
SOFTBALL
Senior infielder reunited with longtime rivals
A friendly softball rivalry that has survived almost 10 years and more than 2,200 miles is still alive and well. On Sunday, MSU third base Brittney Green faced two longtime rivals, catcher/first base Meghann Reiss and utility player Kaitlin Reiss of Wisconsin.
BASEBALL
Spartans' win streak halted at 12
The red-hot MSU baseball team's (16-12 overall, 6-2 Big Ten) winning streak was extinguished at 12 games after losing their final two contests in a weekend series with Illinois (10-16, 3-5). MSU head baseball coach Ted Mahan said his team is tired and that is a factor that played into the Spartans' streak being snapped this weekend.
SPORTS
Thompson pulls upset, Spartans still lose, 6-1
MSU junior Keri Thompson upset Indiana's No. 38-ranked Dora Vastag, but the MSU women's tennis team failed to record any other points in a loss to the No.
SPORTS
No. 68 Indiana downs No. 55 men's tennis 11 athletes bring home gold at Spartan Open
The No. 55 MSU men's tennis squad suffered a 6-1 upset to No. 68 Indiana. The Spartans (14-10 overall, 1-5 Big Ten) lost each doubles match and five of six singles matches in the defeat.
SOFTBALL
Sloppy split
With a five-run lead and an ace in the hole, MSU softball head coach Jacquie Joseph thought a doubleheader sweep of Wisconsin was a safe bet. After winning the first game, 7-5, the Spartans (21-16 overall, 3-5 Big Ten) took a 6-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth of the second game.
SPORTS
Fan utopia lies in 'D'
Detroit is flat-out the hottest sports town in America right now. It wasn't but a few years ago that the only team Detroit sports fans had to look forward to was the Red Wings, because they were the only team that was going to win. I credit the Detroit Pistons and general manager Joe Dumars with starting the winning attitude the Tigers and Lions have now adopted.
BASEBALL
Kobs Korner
There is the Izzone, Slapshots, Corner Blitz and now a new kid on the block of the MSU cheering sections - Kobs Korner. Kobs Korner is the beloved student section of the MSU baseball team (14-10). An MSU baseball team that is 10-0 at home this season, courtesy of a little help from the Korner. "It's been fantastic," MSU head coach Ted Mahan said.
FOOTBALL
Spartans are deep at receiver
Experience, depth and competition are the main ingredients of the MSU football team's situation at the wide receiver position this spring.
SPORTS
Spartans leave comfort of home
The Spartans couldn't have asked for a better way to finish their nonconference schedule and begin the Big Ten season: 10 games, 10 wins. MSU (14-10 overall, 4-0 Big Ten) knows, however, that each of those games and victories came with the comfort of playing at Kobs Field.
SOFTBALL
Spartans return home to play Big Ten opponents
After spending the majority of the season on the road, including the past six games, the MSU softball team is back in the comforts of its own dugout to open up the Big Ten season at home. The Spartans (19-14, 1-3 Big Ten) hope to put their recent woes behind them - 1-4 in the past five - as Minnesota (22-11, 3-1) and Wisconsin (21-17, 1-3) come to East Lansing.
SPORTS
Grrreat day for a Tigers fan
There are few things in my life I love more than Detroit Tigers baseball - my job, my dog, Long Islands from the Peanut Barrel, uhmm … I'd say that's it.
SPORTS
Defending league champs to open season at Battle Creek
Last season, the Lansing Lugnuts ended their run as champions of the Midwest League. The Lugnuts will look to duplicate their efforts from last season with fresh faces but the same winning attitude. "We have a pretty good nucleus coming back, and our pitching is going to be good again this year," manager Julio Garcia said. Pitching was the story last season, when it carried Lansing to an undefeated postseason run.