Lugnuts snatch 12-3 win over Spartans in 15th Crosstown Showdown
A Lugnuts runner evades a tag from Michigan State’s Bryan Broecker during the Crosstown Showdown on April 4, 2023. Photo Credit: Sarah Smith/WDBM
April 5, 2023
EAST LANSING- Michigan State baseball traveled to Jackson Field Tuesday evening for its 15th Crosstown Showdown exhibition match with the Lansing Lugnuts. The Lugnuts won their 10th straight game against the Spartans, securing a 12-3 win.
“I mean it’s always a fun night, I thought we did some good things, I thought we could take away a lot of things from just paying attention and watching how the Lugnuts did some things,” said MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. “It’s every guy’s dream and goal to play at this level and I think we got a little bit of a taste of what it’s gonna take for some guys to play at this level.”
The Lugnuts came out swinging in the first two innings plating four runs on six hits. Four of those hits for extra bases.
Lugnuts first baseman Jake Winkler had three of the first four RBIs, finishing with five.
Michigan State rebounded in the third with three runs on four hits. The RBIs came from Trent Farquhar’s triple to right and Mitch Jebb’s single.
“I think the most important thing is our guys made adjustments the second time through the order, which was good to see,” said Boss Jr. “The first time you don’t have any scouting reports you don’t really know how you’re going to be attacked by their guy.”
Farquhar spoke about the experience of playing in the Crosstown Showdown.
“I honestly thought it shows tonight that our team is good and we can compete with some pro guys,” said Farquhar. “I use it just like a confidence booster for us and getting to see that we’re not too far off from those guys and how far off our dream is so it’s really fun to see.”
🔟 straight Crosstown Showdown wins!
Jack Winkler: 2-2, 2 2B, 5 RBI, BB
Caeden Trenkle: 2-3, 3B, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB
Euribiel Angeles: 2-4, 2B, 3 R, SB
Daniel Susac: 2-4, R pic.twitter.com/O7avTYJS0v— Lansing Lugnuts (@LansingLugnuts) April 5, 2023
In the bottom of the third Lugnuts came right back scoring another three-run inning opening up the game to 7-3.
After a 20-minute weather delay, the game resumed at the top of the fourth.
The Lugnuts tacked on five more in the fifth, bringing ten men plate to plate, which made the score 12-3.
The Spartans might have lost 12-3, but according to Farquhar, the experience was an enjoyable one.
“(It is) so much fun, especially when the community can come out for baseball in April,” said Farquhar. “Not the best night, but to see everybody out here just really encouraging to us and really glad that we were making it. Even though it didn’t go the way we wanted it to, it is still so much fun playing professional baseball.”
The Spartans (16-9) continue regular season play with a non-conference showdown Wednesday, April 5, hosting Bowling Green. First Pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
