Six-Run Spartan First Inning Dooms Wolverines

Friday, May 4

East Lansing, Mich.

3:00 PM

Michigan

23-20, 8-9

Michigan State

25-22, 7-12

Michigan

Michigan State

5/4/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State scored six runs on four hits in the first inning off Michigan pitching ace Bobby Korecky (Saline, Mich./Saline HS) and never trailed taking the Big Ten baseball series opener from the Wolverines 9-7 on Friday (May 4) at Kobs Field.

Korecky (5-3) settled down after the first inning, allowing just three runs (one earned) and six hits over the next seven innings as he recorded his seventh complete game of the season, but the Wolverines (23-20, 8-9 Big Ten) could never get him off the hook. Korecky, who entered the game with the top earned run average in the Big Ten, saw his ERA jump from 2.43 to 2.94.

Michigan State RHP Jon Huizinga (5-1) collected the win, allowing 10 hits and five runs in his five innings of work, and RHP Domanick Squires worked the last two innings to record his eighth save of the season.

The first six batters for the Spartans (25-22, 7-12 Big Ten) reached base in the first inning and scored as MSU recorded its fifth straight win. Spartan SS Jared Koutnik, who led the Spartans with three hits, singled in two runs in the first inning.

The Spartans added a pair of unearned runs, the difference in the final score, in the sixth after a two-out error extended the inning. Catcher Brady Burrill doubled in one run and the second run scored on the fourth Wolverine error of the game.

The Wolverines battled back, collecting one run in the third on a single by sophomore CF Blake Rutkowski (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South HS), the first of his three hits, and a run-scoring double by DH Mike Sokol (Sterling Heights, Mich./DeLaSalle HS). The Sokol double was the only extra-base hit in the game for the Wolverines.

Michigan added four runs in the fourth inning as senior SS Scott Tousa (Dallas, Texas/Lake Highlands HS) started the rally with a bunt single, the 198th hit of his Wolverine career. Sokol walked and leading hitter Brock Koman (Pueblo, Colo./South HS) singled off the pitcher to load the bases. Junior/sophomore 1B Nate Wright (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew HS) singled for one run and the second run of the inning came in as sophomore LF Gino Lolillo (Cape Coral, Fla./Mariner HS) grounded out to first.

Freshman catcher Jake Fox (Greenfield, Ind./Indianapolis Cathedral HS) singled in the third run and sophomore 2B Jordan Cantalamessa (Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek HS) hit a sacrifice fly for the fourth run. Fox was 3-for-5 in the game for his first three-hit game as a Wolverine.

The lower half of the lineup featuring Fox (three hits) in the sixth spot, Cantalamessa (four hits) in the seventh spot and Rutkowski (three hits) in the ninth spot accounting for 10 of the 14 Michigan hits. The Wolverine left a season-high total of 15 runners on, leaving the bases loaded in the sixth and seventh innings.

Michigan hosts Michigan State in a doubleheader Saturday (May 5, 1 p.m.) at Ray Fisher Stadium, with sophomore RHP Tim Leveque (Northridge, Calif./Crespi HS) and junior RHP Bobby Wood (Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek HS) slated to start. Leveque is 3-1 (1.69) and Wood is 3-2 (2.89).

N O T E S

Scott Tousa went 1-for-5 with a bunt single in the fifth inning as he moved his career hit total to 198. Tousa, attempting to become the 10th Wolverine to notch 200 career hits, ranks 11th in career hits, and he added five at bats to tie Casey Close (1983-86) for ninth on Michigan's career at bat list at 644. Tousa has played in 191 games and needs nine to become the ninth Wolverine to play 200 games.

Jordan Cantalamessa was 4-for-4 with a sacrifice fly. It was the 20th multiple-hit game of his career and his second four-hit game as a Wolverine.

Michigan's hitting leaders (for players with at least 70 at bats) after 43 games are: sophomore 3B Brock Koman (.389, 61-for-157); junior/sophomore 1B Nate Wright (.326, 44-for-135); sophomore OF Gino Lollio (.317, 32-for-101); senior 2B Scott Tousa (.316, 48-for-152); and sophomore LF Jordan Cantalamessa (.311, 42-for-135).

Big Ten Standings (after Friday's Games)

 1. Ohio State 15-5 .750 2. Purdue 16-6 .727 3. Minnesota 15-8 .652 4. Penn State 11-8 .579 5. MICHIGAN 8-9 .471 6. Illinois 10-13 .435 7. Northwestern 8-13 .381 8. Michigan State 7-12 .368 9. Iowa 7-14 .333 10. Indiana 5-14 .263

Friday Scores
Michigan State 9, Michigan 7
Penn State 14, Northwestern 6

Saturday Schedule
Michigan State at Michigan (DH)
Northwestern at Penn State (DH)
Ohio State at Indiana

Contact: Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423