March 26, 2008

Box Score

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Eastern Michigan scored five runs in the top of the first inning and Michigan State could never catch up as the Spartan baseball team dropped a 10-3 decision to Eastern Michigan Wednesday afternoon at Kobs Field. The game, which was scheduled with just one day's notice, served as MSU's home opener. Senior first baseman Evan Friedland led the Spartans with two hits, including a solo home run in the bottom of the second.

The first five batters of the game reached base for Eastern Michigan, setting the table for a Todd Graves RBI single. After a bases-loaded walk made it 2-0, a pair of sac flies and an RBI single by Josh Ivan put the Eagles up 5-0 before Michigan State came to bat.

The Spartans answered with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the first to pull within 5-2. Senior Justin Potes ripped an RBI single through the left side to score senior third baseman Steve Gerstenberger, who led off the inning with a base hit. The very next batter, sophomore Chris Roberts, singled to drive in junior Kyle Day for MSU's second run.

Friedland made it a two-run game when he pulled the first pitch of the bottom of the second inning into the trees in right field.

Michigan State would not score again.

EMU got a run in the top of the third before putting up four runs in the fifth. Zack Leonard hit a three-run double to spark the inning, and he later scored on a single by Steve Bradshaw.

Michigan State, preparing for its first Big Ten series of the season and needing to get multiple pitchers some work, used eight different pitchers. A quartet of relievers - Peter Wolff,Kurt Wunderlich, Kyle Corcoran and Nolan Moody - combined to throw 4.2 scoreless innings to finish the game. Eastern Michigan's Robert Wendzicki pitched four shutout innings for his first win of the season.

"We did not play well today. We were out-hustled, out-hit and out-played," head coach David Grewe said. "Give Eastern Michigan credit. They came to play."

Michigan State hosts a four-game series versus Illinois Friday, March 28 at Oldsmobile Park in the Big Ten opener for both teams. First pitch is set for 3:05 p.m.