March 5, 2004

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Michigan State baseball evened its record at 2-2 on the season with an 8-7 victory over Western Michigan Friday, March 5 at the Kennel Club Classic in Jacksonville, Fla. A pinch-hit, grand slam home run by freshman E.J. Daws (Bozeman, Mont.) in the bottom of the eighth inning highlighted MSU's comeback and gave the Spartans a 7-6 lead.

"In a lot of ways, we got lucky this afternoon," Spartan head coach Ted Mahan said. "We played bad and still found a way to win, so that says something about our team."

Western Michigan managed to tie the score at 7-7 in the top ninth, but Spartan senior first baseman Scott Koerber (Harper Woods, Mich.) won the game with an RBI double in the bottom of the ninth, scoring freshman left fielder Ryan Basham (Lowell, Ind.). Basham went 3-for-4 on the day, including three doubles and two RBI.

Junior pitcher Jon Kowalski (Sterling Heights, Mich.) earned his second win of the season in relief. Senior Bryan Gale (Decatur, Mich.) started for the Spartans and gave up one unearned run in seven innings of work.

Michigan State returns to action Saturday, March 6 against North Florida. Game time is scheduled for noon at UNF's Harmon Stadium in Jacksonville.