MSU baseball falls to Maryland on senior day
You could smell summer coming as Michigan State (34-17, 13-10) rounded out the baseball season and celebrated senior day on a beautiful Saturday against the visiting Maryland Terrapins (27-17, 13-10).
Although most of the pressure was off for the Spartans since they clinched a ticket to the Big Ten tournament Friday, this game still carried tournament seeding implications.
MSU's bats went cold after scoring four early runs in the first four innings during a 6-4 loss to the Terrapins. After designated hitter Taylor Grace struck out with the bases loaded in the fifth inning the Spartans would only get one more hit and only four total base runners for the rest of the game.
It was MSU’s third losing series in a row, due in part to an inability to hit with runners in scoring position and with two outs. Saturday was no different, with MSU going 2 for 11 with RISP and 0 for 9 when there were two outs.
Catcher Matt Byars, who was one of many to go hitless in Saturday's game, spoke on the slumping Spartans.
“Earlier in the year our hitting was a little more contagious. When one guy got on, then the next guy would be able to drive him in or move him over,” Byars said. “Lately it’s been hit or miss. One guy will run into three hits but the rest of the hitters will have no hits.”
Although the bullpen has been one of the strong suits for MSU, the Terrapins were able to string together three runs with two outs in the seventh, taking advantage of a leadoff walk and single off Keegan Baar, and a hit by pitch from the Spartan ace, Cam Vieaux, taking a relief role. Vieaux, who has struggled in each of his three last outings due to shoulder stiffness, hit another guy with the bases loaded and allowed the single that would give Maryland its first and only lead of the game.
Senior right fielder Kris Simonton had a solid senior day performance going 2 for 4 with a triple and double, but is aware of the struggles at the plate for his team.
“We can’t pinpoint one thing, but we need to come to the ball park every day and have that hunger,” said Simonton. “At practice Wednesday we said play the game as hard as possible. Leave it all out on the field.”
Manager Jake Boss Jr. knows what this team is capable of and is aware that on their best days they can compete with anyone in the country.
“When we play well we're tough to go against. We’ve proven that,” said Boss. “It’d be nice to be going in (to the Big Ten Tournament) with some momentum, but these guys are going to be ready to play Wednesday, no question about it. It’s such a high character group of kids, they’ll be ready to go whether we won 10 in a row or lost 10 in a row.”
The seeding for the Big Ten Tournament, which begins Wednesday, will be released Saturday night.