March 14, 2008

Box Score

GREENVILLE, S.C. - Quinnipiac scored 13 runs in the final four innings to erase an early Michigan State lead as the Spartan baseball team dropped a 15-10 decision to Quinnipiac Friday night at Fluor Field. Freshman shortstop Jonathan Roof went 3-for-4 with three RBI to lead MSU, which falls to 5-8 on the season. Five different players had two hits apiece for the Bobcats, who move to 2-6.

Senior Mike Monterey started and pitched six innings for the Spartans, striking out a career-high seven and allowing just two earned runs. Quinnipiac's Tyler Brett threw six innings, allowing five earned runs on seven hits. Eric Bretscher (1-0) worked three innings for the win.

"Give all the credit to Quinnipiac, they played harder and better than we did," Michigan State head coach David Grewe said. "We looking to show up and play better tomorrow."

With the Spartans leading 5-2, Quinnipiac scored five runs in the top of the sixth, keyed by two errors and a walk. MSU answered with a pair of runs to tie the game 7-7, but the Bobcats scored three times in the top of the seventh to regain the lead, 10-7.

Senior Steve Gerstenberger drew a leadoff walk and would score on a sac fly by senior Justin Potes cut the Spartans' deficit to 10-8. Senior Evan Friedland doubled and scored and Jonathan Roof singled and scored in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game 10-10.

In the ninth, the Bobcats loaded the bases with three walks (two intentional) before pinch hitter Ryan Ullrich drew a walk to give QU an 11-10 lead. With the infield playing in, the very next batter, Michael Amanti, slapped a single through the left side to score two runs and give the Bobcats a 13-10 advantage. A two-run double by Tyler Turgeon put the game out of reach.

Michigan State looked sharp early, scoring two runs in each of the first two innings to take a 4-0 lead. Junior Kyle Day had an RBI double and scored on a wild pitch in the first inning and Jonathan Roof had a two-run single to left in the second. Quinnipiac scored twice in the top of the third to make it 4-2. Gerstenberger doubled and scored on a sac fly by Day in the fifth to put the Spartans up, 5-2, after five innings.

Gerstenberger scored two runs, walked and had an RBI double, and Day had a pair of RBI. A.J. Dunn (0-1) pitched 1.1 innings and was credited with the loss.

The second game of the series is set for Saturday afternoon at 2:05 p.m.

NOTES
Fluor Field is the home of the Greenville Drive, the Class A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox...The Drive's principal owner/CEO is Craig Brown, a Michigan State alum...Jonathan Roof's 3-for-4 performance raised his batting average 36 points, from .260 to .296...he also leads the team with 16 hits...Day leads the team with 14 RBI.