April 26, 2008

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State junior Mark Sorensen pitched a complete game to start the doubleheader and seniors Steve Gerstenberger and Justin Potes finished the day with four hits each as the Spartan baseball team picked up its first doubleheader sweep of the season against Iowa at Oldsmobile Park on Saturday. MSU won the first game, 6-3, before a nine-run sixth inning paved the way to a 16-7 victory in the nightcap.

Sorensen gave the Spartans a quality outing in the first game, scattering six hits and allowing only one earned run while striking out eight Iowa batters for his second complete game of the season. The offense was able to keep up, with eight different players tallying at least one hit, giving MSU the 6-3 win.

While pitching was the key for the Spartans (16-22, 6-12) in the first game, they benefited from an offensive outburst in the second game, putting together a five-run second inning and a nine-run sixth to put Iowa (16-24, 6-13) away. Sophomore Chris Roberts and juniors Eric Roof and Kyle Day finished with four RBI apiece to pace the Spartans.

Gerstenberger led off the Spartan half of the first inning with a double to right-center, and freshman Jonathan Roof singled to right to bring him home. Iowa responded in the top of the second, scoring two runs on Tyson Blaser's double to right field, putting them ahead, 2-1.

MSU brought the game back to a tie, 2-2, after senior Justin Potes sent an RBI triple bouncing down the left field line, knocking in Day. A Gerstenberger RBI single in the bottom of the fourth gave the Spartans a 3-2 lead.

Iowa tallied another run to tie it up in the top of the fifth, but MSU took the lead for good in their half of the inning. Junior A.J. Shindler tripled to score Day, and three wild pitches from Iowa pitcher Kyle Heim allowed two more runs to score, giving the Spartans a 6-3 lead.

Blaser and Wes Freie collected two hits apiece for the Hawkeyes, and Nick Erdman (2-4) got tagged with the loss.

With the game tied 7-7 in game two, a Jonathan Roof RBI single got the scoring started in the Spartans' nine-run sixth inning, with a Roberts bunt single that scored Gerstenberger. After a double steal by Roberts and Roof and an intentional walk to Day, Eric Roof cleared the bases with his second home run of the season, and MSU's second grand slam of the season.

Jonathan Roof walked to score a run later that inning, and Roberts hit a two-run single to cap off the scoring for the Spartans.

Freshman Kurt Wunderlich (2-2) pitched a solid inning of relief for MSU to pick up his second win of the season. Andrew Porter (1-3) picked up the loss for the Hawkeyes, allowing seven runs without recording an out.

Day got the scoring started in the second game, knocking Gerstenberger in on a sacrifice fly to give the Spartans an early 1-0 lead.

Potes led off the big Spartan second inning with a double, and was moved over to third on a sacrifice bunt by Eckerle. Potes then scored on a Doherty sacrifice fly to left.

Gerstenberger singled, stole second base, and advanced to third on a wild pitch to set up a two-out MSU rally. Jonathan Roof then singled, scoring Gerstenberger, and Roberts drew a walk on four pitches. With two runners on and two outs, Day blasted a 1-1 pitch over the right field fence to give the Spartans a 6-0 lead.

MSU starter Mike Monterey didn't give up a hit until the fourth inning, when the Hawkeyes scored two on a Caleb Curry double to deep center field. Curry scored two batters later, giving Iowa its third run of the inning and cutting the MSU lead 6-3. Roberts helped extend the Spartans' lead to 7-3 in the bottom half of the inning, plating Gerstenberger on a single to center.

Iowa scored three more in the fifth, thanks to a Justin Toole RBI single a two-run homer from Curry. The Hawkeyes scored on a Toole sacrifice fly to tie the game at seven.

MSU will finish the weekend series with Iowa on Sunday at Oldsmobile Park. First pitch is set for 1:05. The contest is Military Appreciation Day, with the Spartans donning camouflage uniforms which will be auctioned off after the game.