Spartans head to Florida

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State baseball team (0-3) will travel to
Florida, March 4-11, playing seven games in eight days. The Spartans will
face five different opponents, while making stops in Clearwater, Miami and
Boca Raton. Kicking off the trip will be the Winning Inning Classic at Jack
Russell Stadium in Clearwater, former spring training home of the
Philadelphia Phillies.

At the Winning Inning Classic, the Green and White will face Lehigh on March
4 and 6 and Sacred Heart on March 5. Lehigh (3-1) enters play on a
three-game winning streak, having swept a doubleheader against
Maryland-Eastern Shore last week. Sacred Heart has yet to play a game this
year, but will face Lehigh and Penn State at the classic, before facing
State.

At the conclusion of the Winning Inning Classic, the Spartans then head
cross-state to Miami, facing Florida International on March 7 and Miami,
which concluded the 2005 season ranked 15th, on March 8. The last stop for
State will be in Boca Raton, as MSU takes on Seton Hall and Rhode Island on
March 9 and 11, respectively.

Getting the nod on the hill in the opening game against Lehigh will be
senior right-hander Jeff Gerbe (0-1, 6.00 ERA). Gerbe has made one
appearance this year, taking a 9-2 loss to Kentucky. Southpaw John Dwan
(0-1, 5.40) and right-handers Mark Sorensen (0-0, 0.00) and Craig Brookes
(0-0, 3.86) are also expected to be in the rotation.

After three games, Adam Tripp leads the Spartan sluggers with a .455 (5-11)
batting average, with one home run and three RBI. Jamey Embree (.400 BA) has
also produced one home run, while Alan Cattrysse (.364 BA) leads the team
with two doubles.

Courtesy of MSU!