Spartans Shut Out No. 25 Baylor, 4-0
David Garner fires six scoreless innings to lead MSU to its second win over a ranked opponent this season.
WACO, Texas – Sophomore right-hander David Garner threw six scoreless innings to earn his first win of the season as the Michigan State baseball team shut out No. 25 Baylor, 4-0, Wednesday night at Baylor Ballpark. It marks the second victory over a ranked opponent for the Spartans in 2012, as MSU defeated No. 11 St. John’s on Opening Day.
Garner (1-1) scattered three hits in his six innings and also recorded five strikeouts.
The Spartans out-hit the Bears, 8-6, led by two hits apiece from Jordan Keur and Jimmy Pickens.
Michigan State knocked out Baylor (9-6) starter Austin Stone, who was making his collegiate debut, in the top of the second. With two outs, Stone walked two straight and hit a batter to load the bases, and was lifted from the game; however, the Spartans couldn’t take advantage as a strikeout ended the inning.
Meanwhile, in the bottom half of the second, Garner escape out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam with a strikeout and a pop out to keep the game scoreless.
The Spartans (5-6) struck first with a run in the third, as Torsten Boss led off with a bunt single and advanced to second on a throwing error. Boss came around to score on a Ryan Jones RBI double, but Jones was thrown out at third on the play trying to get a triple.
MSU added two runs in the top of the sixth to extend its lead to 3-0. Making his first career start, freshman center fielder Anthony Cheky delivered a one-out single and eventually scored on a Boss RBI groundout. Pickens drove in the second run on a two-out infield single.
Cheky scored for the second time of the game in the seventh, as Michigan State collected an insurance run on a Keur RBI single to right field.
The four runs were more than enough for the Spartan bullpen to work with, as Jeff Kinley, Trey Popp and Tony Wieber each tossed a scoreless inning for MSU.
Brad Kuntz (1-2) took the loss for Baylor, allowing three hits and one run in his 3.1 innings of relief. The Bears used six pitchers in the game and walked 10 batters. Â
Michigan State returns to action for three games this weekend (Friday-Sunday) at Snowbird Classic in Port Charlotte, Fla. The Spartans will play Xavier Friday at 3:30 p.m., Seton Hall Saturday at 6 p.m. and Pittsburgh Sunday at 11 a.m.
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