March 8, 2004

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Michigan State designated hitter Sean Walker (Round Lake, Ill.) homered twice and drove in five runs to lead the Spartans to a 14-4 victory over Butler Sunday night, March 7 in the Kennel Club Classic in Jacksonville, Fla. Walker went 3-for-4 to pace a 13-hit attack. Eight different Spartans produced hits.

"We got a great effort from our team tonight," MSU head coach Ted Mahan said. "For the first time this year, we got a complete effort - hitting, pitching and defense. We looked at these three games (vs. Western Michigan, North Florida and Butler) as a three-game series, so we came away with two wins. It's early in the season, but things are beginning to come together."

The Spartans (3-3) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second as catcher Erik Morris (Orchard Lake, Mich.) scored on an RBI groundout by Walker. Morris opened the inning by being hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a fielder's choice and stole third.

Butler (3-4) answered with three runs in the bottom of the fourth as designated hitter Andy Bulla delivered a two-run double and left fielder Matt Martino added an RBI single.

Michigan State regained the lead in the fifth. Walker opened the inning with a single to left field and third baseman James Moreno (Holt, Mich.) followed with a two-run homer to tie the game at 3-3. Second baseman E.J. Daws (Bozeman, Mont.) scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Ryan Basham (Lowell, Ind.). With two outs, right fielder Travis Gulick (East Lansing, Mich.) singled home center fielder Alan Cattrysse (Chatman, Ontario) as the Spartans built a 5-3 advantage.

The Spartans broke the game open with three runs in the sixth. With two away, Walker hit a solo home run. Moreno walked and scored on a RBI single by Daws and two batters later, Cattrysse gave MSU an 8-3 lead with an RBI single, scoring Daws.

Michigan State added to its lead in the seventh as Moreno came through with an RBI double, scoring first baseman Scott Koerber (Harper Woods, Mich.) who reached on a walk.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Bulldogs pulled to within 9-4 on an RBI single from second baseman Jeff Brown, scoring pinch hitter Scott McGuigan who reached on a throwing error.

The Spartans slammed the door in the ninth, adding five insurance runs. Morris and Koerber opened the inning with back-to-back singles before Walker blasted a three-run homer. Moreno walked and later scored on an RBI triple by pinch hitter Oliver Wolcott (Plymouth, Mich.). With one out, Wolcott trotted home with MSU's final run on an RBI groundout by Cattrysse. Spartan Baseball Cruises Past Butler, 14-4 - 2

Moreno finished 2-for-3 with three RBI. The Spartans also got two hits each from Koerber (2-for-5) and Daws (2-for-4).

Right-hander Jeff Gerbe (1-0) picked up the win for the Spartans, allowing three runs on eight hits in six innings. Gerbe (Shelby Township, Mich.) recorded seven strikeouts and issued eight walks.

Butler starter Luke Behning (0-2) took the loss, surrendering five runs (four earned) on four hits in five complete innings.

Michigan State continues its eight-game spring trip Tuesday, March 9 against Mercer at 3:30 p.m. in Jacksonville, Fla.