Spartans Rally to Topple Ohio State in Big Ten Opener, 3-2
Three-run seventh the difference for MSU.
Box score: http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-basebl/stats/2014-2015/osu1.html
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Michigan State rallied from a 2-0 deficit and scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning – all with two outs – to come back and defeat Ohio State, 3-2, in the Big Ten opener for both teams Friday evening at Bill Davis Stadium.
Joe Mockbee (2-1) picked up the win in relief for the Spartans (9-9), throwing 3.2 perfect innings. The sophomore lefty retired all 11 batters in faced, including three strikeouts.
Michigan State out-hit the Buckeyes, 9-4, but errors proved to be the difference in the game.
Trailing 2-0 with two outs and no runners on base in the top of the seventh, the Spartans capitalized on a fielding error by OSU shortstop Craig Nennig, which sparked MSU’s rally. After a walk to Zack McGuire put runners on first and second, Anthony Cheky doubled down the left-field line and advanced to third on another Buckeye error, this time by left fielder Ronnie Dawson, that plated both Brandon Hughes and pinch runner Chase Toth to tie the game at 2. Cheky was credited with one RBI on the play.
Following a walk to pinch hitter Ryan Krill that put runners on first and third, Cam Gibson beat out a slow grounder to first for an infield single, scoring Cheky for what proved to be the game-winning run. Gibson’s RBI single knocked out Buckeye starter Tanner Tully (1-1), who struck out four and gave up five hits in 6.2 innings of work.
MSU nearly extended its newfound lead by loading the bases on an infield single by Ryan Richardson, but Blaise Salter lined out to right field to halt the scoring threat.
“We took advantage of a break,†said MSU head coach Jake Boss. “We had two out, nobody on, and nothing really going. Hughes hit a ball hard up the middle, and fortunately for us, their shortstop made an error, and it kind of took off from there. Cheky then had a great at bat and ended up slicing the ball down the left-field line, and ended up taking third base on the throw, which turned into a huge play.
“Their pitcher made a good pitch against Cam, but he fought it off, and then beat the pitcher to first in footrace, and I’ll take Cam in that one. He gets down the line really well and speed kills sometimes. That’s the kind of pressure he can put on teams. The play of the game turned out to be Cheky taking third, because if he doesn’t move up, he doesn’t score on Gibson’s ground ball.â€
Ohio State (12-6) scored its only two runs in the bottom of the sixth, chasing Spartan starter Mick Van Vossen in the process. Troy Kuhn hit a one out, two-run double that gave the Buckeyes a 2-0 lead, but with the bases loaded and one out, Mockbee relieved Van Vossen and limited the damage. He got Aaron Gretz to strike out swinging, then forced a lineout to right that ended the inning.
From there, Mockbee did the rest, as Ohio State didn’t put another runner on base the rest of the way.
Van Vossen struck out a season-high seven and allowed four hits, four walks and two runs in his 5.1 innings of work.
“Our pitching was very good tonight,†said Boss. “Mick did a nice job bouncing back from kind of a rough start last week, and Joe was dominant. He came in during a big spot in the game and got out of it, and once we got the lead, he just cruised. He just kept throwing strikes and kept getting outs.â€
Cheky led the way at the plate for MSU, collecting a season-high three hits, while Gibson and Richardson each had two hits apiece.
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