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MSU Sweeps Doubleheader, Takes Series
BLOOMINGTON,
Ind. - It was a rough day at the ballpark for Indiana Baseball on
Sunday as the visiting Michigan State Spartans (22-12, 5-4 Big Ten)
swept a doubleheader and took the series. The Hoosiers fall to 16-20
overall and 6-6 in conference play. At the midway point, IU is tied for
fifth in the league standings.
The first game was
controlled by MSU starting pitcher Andrew Waszak, lowering his season
ERA to sub-2.00 with a scoreless seven-inning shift. Reliever Jeff
Kinley worked the final two frames to complete a six-hit shutout and
tally a 6-0 win for the Spartans. Indiana catcher Kyle Schwarber was
responsible for a pair of those hits, totaling five on the day after a
3-for-5 showing in the second contest. The Middletown, Ohio native
blasted a homerun in both games to take the team lead with a half dozen
dingers.
Indiana’s offense came alive in the series
finale, cranking 15 hits and scoring 10 runs. One problem though, the
Hoosiers dug themselves a 13-run hole by allowing MSU to score in each
of the first four innings. It was a slugfest from there as the two
teams combined for 30 runs and 40 hits in Michigan State’s 20-10 winner.
Six
different Hoosiers had multi-hit games, led by Schwarber’s three-hit
outing. Michael Basil, Collin McEnery, J Rhet Montana, Trace Knoblauch
and Dustin DeMuth each tallied two base knocks. Montana, along with
fellow freshman Danny Sader, recorded their first career collegiate
hits. Speaking of career firsts, Knoblauch tucked a ball just inside
the right field foul pole for his first homer.
The
Hoosiers continue their eight-game homestand this week, taking a
six-game break from Big Ten foes. Indiana hosts Louisville on Wednesday
(April 18) before welcoming in Georgia Southern for a three-game slate
next weekend.
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