May 21, 2015

 

Terps end Illini streak

 

By Chris Webb

Special to CollegeBaseballInsider.com

 

MINNEAPOLIS – A pair of second-inning unearned runs gave Maryland all it needed, as the Terrapins received a dominant start from freshman right-hander Brian Shaffer en route to knocking off Illinois 2-1 and sending the Illini to its first loss since March 29, a span of 27 games.

 

“At some point, there was going to be something that beat us,” Illinois coach Dan Hartleb said. “You don't go on these stretches very often in a career. We just had a letdown tonight. There are some things we learned from tonight and will move forward with it.”

 

The Illini struck first, taking the upper-hand with three consecutive one-out singles in the bottom of the first.

 

In the top of the second, Illinois was its toughest opponent.

 

After Maryland catcher Kevin Martir singled to lead off the second, Illinois right-handed starter Drasen Johnson threw wide of first baseman David Kerian on a grounder by Terrapins third baseman Jose Cuas. With Martir at third, Anthony Papio singled him in to tie the game. With DH Nick Cieri up, Johnson fielded a comebacker and threw to third for the first out, but Ryne Roper’s throw to first was off target, allowing Papio to score to stake Maryland to a 2-1 lead.

 

From there it was the Shaffer show.

 

Over his final six innings, the freshman scattered three hits and did not concede a run, finishing a seven-inning start with seven strikeouts and one walk. 

 

“I did have some nerves going into the first there,” Shaffer said. “But I didn’t let it get to me. I just went out there and pitched my heart out.”

 

Relievers Robert Galligan and Kevin Mooney struck out two batters each in pitching a perfect eighth and ninth inning to close the door on a big win.

 

“Tonight was just a really great night for our program,” Maryland coach John Szefc said. “We’ve had a lot of ups and downs this year, and tonight and last night are really special as a coach. Our pitching and defense have been absolutely phenomenal and that showed tonight.”

 

Grand slam caps stunning Spartan comeback

 

Two big blasts helped Michigan State send a statement to the NCAA Tournament committee.

 

In a Big Ten Tournament elimination game against No. 8 seed Nebraska, fifth-seeded Michigan State used a pair of tape-measure home runs to bookend a nine-run scoring effort, including a grand slam in a six-run eighth inning to stun Nebraska 9-7. Improving to 34-22 on the year, Michigan State extends its season another day, if not another week.

 

“I had thought if we had gone 0-2 here, we might still have a chance,” Spartans coach Jake Boss said on what a quick exit would mean to the Michigan State’s NCAA Tournament chances.  “I think now, we deserve to play in the NCAA tournament, and I think we’re good enough.”

 

Michigan State jumped on the Huskers early, with senior DH Blaise Salter sending a two-out, two-run home run off Nebraska left-hander Kyle Kubat into the third deck of right-field seats in the bottom of the first.

 

“I didn’t feel like I had my best stuff today, but I was still going to go out there and give it my all,” Kubat said. “I just had to compete with what I had and make pitches. Defense made some great plays and the offense was there.”

 

Kubat settled in, and after Nebraska used small ball to halve the deficit in the top of the second, he and Michigan State left-hander Jeff Kinley traded zeroes over the next two innings. After a 1-2-3 fourth inning where he struck out the side, the game turned quickly on Kinley.

 

Three singles and a walk in the fifth inning saw the Huskers tie the game and chase Kinley with the bases loaded. Spartans left-hander Anthony Misiewicz couldn’t slow Nebraska’s roll, walking in the Nebraska’s third run, before the Huskers struck right-hander Walter Borkovich for three runs on two hits to their lead to 6-2.

 

Michigan State cut into the deficit in the sixth, but Nebraska answered back in the top of the seventh to regain a four-run margin.

 

“I definitely thought we might go 0-2 and would be heading home,” MSU first baseman Ryan Krill said of the deficit facing the Spartans entering their final six outs. “I didn’t want that to be my last at bat as a Spartan.”

 

Against left-hander Ben Miller, Brandon Hughes walked to begin the inning and Chad Roskelly and Anthony Cheky followed with singles to load the bases. Miller issued a run-scoring walk to Dan Durkin; Nebraska then turned to senior right-handed closer Josh Roeder. Left fielder Cam Gibson worked a full-count walk, cutting the deficit to 7-5.

 

What followed was a hit both hard to measure in distance it traveled, how far it may carry Michigan State’s season.

 

Turning around a belt-high, first-pitch fastball, Krill sent a grand slam over the right-field bleachers and out of Target Field, pushing Michigan State in front 9-7. Entering the game with a .357 average but 0 for 4 in the game, Krill looked for a pitch, got it and delivered a potentially season-saving hit.

 

“I was just going up there just to find a fastball,” the senior said of his 13th home run. “I looked pretty bad at my three previous at-bats on fastballs, so I kind of knew one was coming. I just guessed right, and I got a hold of it.”

 

Like Salter, Krill stepped up when the season and their MSU career on the line.

 

“I called some of these guys out about a month ago, and they’ve answered the call,” Boss said. “I couldn’t be prouder. There was a lot of character in that win. Our seniors have got to be the guys who lead us, and they were today.”

 

Able to hold the Huskers in check and putting the Spartans in a position to rally, sophomore left-hander Joe Mockbee (6-2) pitched the final 3.2 innings, allowing one run on one hit for the victory. Senior third baseman Mark Weist went 3 for 3, and Roskelly added three hits in four at-bats for MSU. Kinley allowed five runs on six hits in 4.1 innings of work.

 

Kubat exited after five-plus innings, allowing three runs on eight hits in a no-decision for Nebraska.

 

“It’s been a good run we’ve had the past couple years in this tournament, but obviously this is the complete opposite,” Nebraska head coach Darin Erstad said. “Unfortunately, this is a cruel game. It was by no lack of effort by our players. They emptied the tank on the field.”

 

Michigan stays in prime position

 

Reaching 35 wins for the first time since 2008, Michigan defeated Iowa 8-5 to move one win away from playing for the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since hosting a Regional that same year.

 

Iowa center fielder Eric Toole drove leadoff home run to right field off Michigan freshman right-hander Ryan Nutoff. If any jitters resided in the Wolverine rookie, they quickly faded: Nutof retired the next 11 Hawkeyes in a row. Before Iowa picked up their second hit, Michigan turned a 1-0 deficit into a 5-1 lead.

 

Responding to Toole’s solo shot, Michigan left fielder Cody Bruder opened the second inning with a home run off Iowa right-hander Blake Hickman. Right fielder Johnny Slater drew a one-out walk in front of senior catcher Kendall Patrick pulling a double down the line to score Slater and give Michigan a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.

 

Michigan’s lead grew in the third on an RBI single by junior third baseman Travis Maezes before Patrick crushed his fifth home run of the year. Its lead expanded to 6-1, Michigan ran into trouble in the sixth.

 

With two outs, Iowa senior second baseman Jake Mangler singled up the middle, and junior first baseman Tyler Peyton drove a double to right-center, putting two Hawkeys in scoring position. Senior left fielder Kris Goodman singled up the middle to score Mangler and Peyton and came around on a double by classmate DH Dan Potempa to bring Iowa within 6-4. The tying run at the plate, Michigan sophomore right-hander Mac Lozer struck out Iowa shortstop Nick Roscetti to end the threat.

 

Maezes reached on a fielding error by Roscetti to start the seventh and eventually scored, and Bruder drove a run-scoring double into the left-field corner.

 

Iowa tried one last rally, scoring a run in the bottom of the ninth and bringing the tying run to the plate with one out, but Michigan closer Jacob Cronenworth closed the door two batters later, keeping the Wolverines in prime position to end its NCAA Tournament drought.

 

Indiana continues dominance over Ohio State

 

Indiana seized its opportunity to live another day, defeating Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament’s first elimination 5-3.

 

The Buckeyes squandered their chances and must now nervously wait until Monday’s field announcement to find out if their season will continue.

 

Indiana junior left-hander Kyle Hart worked around two one-out singles in the first and back-to-back singles in the Buckeyes second, walking away unscathed each time. Ohio State senior left-hander Ryan Riga had little trouble with the Hoosiers, needing 27 pitches to reach the fourth inning.

 

But Riga’s 29th pitch was a home run by Indiana catcher Brad Hartong in the bottom of the fourth, and Indiana used small-ball to double its advantage in the fifth.

 

With Indiana junior Scott Effross relieving Hart to start the seventh, Ohio State put runners at second and third with nobody down. A sacrifice fly by second baseman Nick Sergakis put the Buckeyes on the board before shortstop Craig Nennig hit a run-scoring, two-out single to tie the game.

 

Collecting their fourth win over Ohio State in a week, Indiana sent a fatal blow to Ohio State’s season in the eighth. After Riga record two quick outs, a single followed by a full-count walk and four-pitch walk loaded the bases for IU senior DH Scott Donley. On a 3-2 fastball, Donley found the left-center gap to clear the bases.

 

Ohio State junior first baseman Zach Ratcliff led off the ninth with a home run, but the Buckeyes couldn’t find a rallying call of their own and exited the tournament.

 

Notes

·        After winning the first six games of the tournament, higher seeds lost Friday’s winners’ bracket games.

·        Illini’s 27-game winning streak was the longest ever by a Big Ten team.

·        Indiana’s win over Ohio State was their 16th in the past 17 meetings.

·        Krill’s gland slam was his 13th home run, tying Illinois first baseman and Big Ten Player of the Year David Kerian for the conference lead.

·        Through eight games, 10 home runs have been hit. Michigan’s leading the tournament with three.

Friday’s schedule

No. 2 Iowa (39-15) vs. No. 6 Indiana (33-21) 3:30 p.m. CDT

No. 1 Illinois (46-7-1) vs. No. 5 Michigan State (34-22) 7:30 p.m. CDT