Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Michigan State *
Spartans Win Game One in Extra Innings, 5-4
5/22/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 22, 2004
Michigan State Box Score in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State scored a run in the bottom of the 12th inning, defeating NU 5-4 in game one of Saturday's doubleheader. NU did not score past the fifth, plating three runs in the top of the first inning and one in the fifth. With the loss, NU extinguished any hopes of postseason play. The Wildcats are 25-27-1 overall, 13-17 in the Big Ten. The Spartans improved to 31-23, 18-12.
The Wildcats jumped all over Michigan State starter John Dawn for three runs on four hits in the top of the first inning. First baseman Mark Ori hit a two-out single to right field and came around to score on Jason Krynski's team-leading 15th double of the season. Krynski wasn't on second for long, as left fielder Anthony Wycklendt hit an opposite field two-run home run. It was Wycklendt's sixth round-tripper of the season. Designated hitter Doug Beatty singled before the inning was over.
In the top of the second inning, center fielder Matt Brimmer hit a one-out triple to the right center field wall, but was cut down at the plate on a safety squeeze. It was Brimmer's third triple of the season.
The Spartans hit two leadoff singles in the bottom of the second inning, but a double play and strikeout quickly ended the MSU threat.
NU added another run in the top of the fifth inning, as a leadoff single by shortstop Jon Mikrut came around to score. After Mikrut's texas leaguer to center field, Ori lined a single to center, moving Mikrut to third. Ori crossed the plate on a double play to the MSU shortstop.
Michigan State crossed the plate for the first time in the series, scoring one run on two hits. A groundball double play was started by Ori at first base and finished by starting pitcher Dan Konecny (covering first). Konecny used a Major League style stretch to get the runner at first.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Michigan State third baseman James Moreno hit an inside-the-park home run to right center field, making the score 4-2 in favor of Northwestern.
MSU tied the game in the bottom of the seventh inning, as a two-out, two-run double tied the score at 4-4. Konecny walked the first two batters of the seventh, before head coach Paul Stevens called on Mikrut to close it out. Mikrut struck out the first batter he faced, and induced a fly out to deep center field for the second. But a two-out walk, which loaded the bases, brought up Spartan right fielder Travis Gulick. Gulick laced a pitch down the left field line, tying the game.
NU had one hit in the top of the eighth, but two groundouts and strikeout ended the inning.
MSU threatened in the bottom half of the eighth, as Spartan catcher Sean Walker lined a double down the left field line to lead things off. Two infield pop-outs and a shallow fly ball to center ended the inning.
Mikrut moved back to his shortstop position in the 10th inning, bringing in freshman Andrew Smith. Smith went two complete innings, giving up no runs and only one hit.
Neither team made a legitimate threat until Northwestern loaded the bases with one out in the top of the 12th inning. Spartan hurler Adam White struck out the final two outs of the inning, but not before Mikrut, Ori and Wycklendt all singled in the inning.
After getting the first two outs in the bottom of the 12th inning, Wildcat reliever Chris Davidson walked and hit a batter, putting runners on first and second. Stevens called on Julio Siberio to close the door. After an infield single to the shortstop, which loaded the bases, Siberio walked in the winning run, dropping NU out of the playoff race.
