Coming off a four-game winning streak against Indiana, Notre Dame and Eastern Michigan respectively, the Spartans’ next opponent came to McLane Stadium in the Purdue Boilermakers.
The Spartans sent Cam Vieaux (3-5, 3.19 ERA entering the game) to the mound against Matt Frawley (1-8, 4.85 ERA entering the game) for the Boilermakers on a picture perfect day in East Lansing, 75 degrees and not a cloud in the sky.
Vieaux got into some trouble early, walking leadoff man Harry Shipley and allowing Cody Strong to reach on a bunt after he committed an error. But after Kyle Johnson grounded into a 5-4-3 double play, Kyle Wood struck out on a curveball to end the early threat for Purdue.
After a Cam Gibson strikeout, Ryan Krill walked and Mark Weist reached on a fielder’s choice. Blaise Salter walked to load the bases with only one out and Ryan Richardson hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Krill. After Brandon Hughes reached on an error by second baseman Cody Strong and base knocks by Chad Roskelly and Anthony Cheky, MSU was already out to a 3-0 lead. Frawley then hit Kory Young in the head (he was okay), bringing in another run. Frawley got the hook after 0.2 innings of work in favor of Tanner Andrews, who subsequently let in a run after a passed ball. He then walked Gibson, but got Krill to ground out to end the first.
In the top of the second inning, Cam Vieaux walked the first two batters, which created commotion in the Spartan bullpen. Jack Picchiotti doubled home two runs, but the damage was limited as Vieaux got out of the inning, but not before his pitch was already up past 50. Mark Weist led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on an error by right fielder Alec Olund, but retired the next three batters to keep it 5-2.
Vieaux started off the third inning going 1-2-3 for the Spartans. After Cheky singled and stole second, Gibson drove him in, moving his streak of getting on base to 11. After three innings, the Spartans led the Boilermakers 6-2.
Vieaux loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the fourth, but struck out Shipley to end the threat. Weist led-off the inning with a liner that hit off the pitcher. He would have to leave the game, bringing Mike Lutz in to pitch for Purdue. After Weist advanced to second on a wild pitch, Richardson drove him in with a base knock. Richardson was caught stealing and Hughes grounded out to end the inning, but not before the Spartans added another run and extended their lead to 7-2.
Vieaux got through the fifth inning scoreless again. In the bottom half, Cheky got a single to go 3-3, but his back injury acted up and was removed from the game for Chase Toth, who was thrown out trying to steal second base. Cory Young struck out swinging to end the frame. Vieaux’s day came to an end after 5.2 innings of solid work, as Dakota Mekkes came in to relieve and ended the 6th inning for Michigan State. Lutz went 1-2-3 for a quick bottom half of the inning for Purdue as well.
After an uneventful seventh inning, Andrew Gonzalez came onto the mound for the eighth inning. For the bottom half, Mike Lutz was replaced by Tim McElroy. Krill got a base knock to extend his hitting streak to 10 games and load the bases. Brian Ghiselli then came in to replace McElroy, who couldn’t get an out. Weist then hit a three-run double to left center field. After a Salter double (Weist scored) and a Richardson single, the Spartans’ lead was up to 10 (12-2), headed to the top of the ninth inning.
Hughes came in to pitch the ninth inning and did so easily, getting a groundout and double play to end the game, as the Spartans won it 12-2.
When asked about the great past month that the Spartans have had, head coach Jake Boss Jr. said, “It started in April when we were able to get back on our field and start practicing,” as Michigan State notched their fifth straight win.
This was also the sixth time in last four games we had an inning with four or more runs.
“There’s a lot of talent in that dugout,” Boss said.
“We haven’t really talked about it too much, but we know it’s there,” Boss said when asked about these wins compiling to a good RPI for the Spartans.
“If your RPI is in the mid-40’s, I think you have a chance [at an at-large bid],” as Boss Jr. pointed to team chemistry as a focal point and “playing for the guy next to [them].” “It’s huge. The mood in the dugout is dramatically different than a year ago.”
“Our seniors have gotta be the guys that lead you. Ryan Krill is having a really good year,” he added, as the senior class has been stepping up in a big way.
Krill said that the big difference in the past month was everything coming together and confidence.
“The consistency between the whole team has brought us closer. [Chemistry] really makes a difference and has really helped us. We just don’t want to let each other down now,” Krill said.
“We worked our way back [this past week against Notre Dame] and confidence was the main factor in that game.”
The Spartans improved to 28-17 with the win, looking for more this weekend. Michigan State faces off on Saturday afternoon as well as Sunday against the Boilermakers, with Saturday being Military Appreciation day.
Photo: Marissa Siegel
