Big Ten baseball: Michigan State's season ends in B1G semis, 7-3

OMAHA, Neb. — Less than 13 hours after the final out was recorded in Ohio State’s 3-2, 10-inning win over Michigan State, the two met again with a spot in the Big Ten Tournament on the line. After playing a clean game on Saturday, errors and miscues befell MSU in a 7-3 defeat to OSU, knocking the Spartans out of the tournament.

“It’s been clean a week, we pride ourselves on execution and that’s probably what’s most disappointing about it,” said MSU head coach Jake Boss who saw his team surrender runs on two throwing errors and a wild pitch, and issue seven walks.

It was a leadoff walk that opened the game, aiding OSU’s efforts. After Craig Nennig walk, two singles provided a continuation of Saturday’s small ball approach for OSU, producing runs on a fielder’s choice and sacrifice bunt. With a run in the third, Ohio State appeared on its way to a comfortable victory, leading 3-0.

But a team Boss referred to as one with the highest character, the Spartans fought back.

MSU shortstop Kory Young opened the home-half of the third with a walk, moving to second on a single to left field by center fielder Brandon Hughes. On a failed pickoff attempt, Young advanced to third base, before second baseman Dan Durkin scored he and Hughes on a lined double to right field. A two-out, two-strike single up the middle by DH Dan Chmielewski knotted the game 3-3.

“Guys competed. Give them credit, we kept fighting and fighting and tied it up,” Boss said.

Unfolding like Saturday’s tight contest, where neither team scored between the fifth and ninth innings, each team’s bullpen put zeros on the scoreboard in the fourth and fifth innings. The tide turned with a self-induced blow.

Spartan reliever Dakota Mekkes surrendered a one-out single, then issued a walk to put two on base. On an attempted a double-steal, MSU catcher Matt Byars made an errant throw to third base, allowing Gantt to score.

In the seventh inning, after a single and a walk, Ohio State looked to extend the lead with more small ball. Fielding a sacrifice bunt down the third base line, Mekkes attempted to throw out the leader runner, but his throw was low and wide of Justin Hovis at third base, allowing a run to score and putting two in scoring position. OSU tacked on a run, two batters later on a wild pitch, a sacrifice fly scored Ohio State’s third run of the inning, putting the game away at 7-3.

“We’ve struggled with pitcher’s fielding all year, but Dakota is our best guy. Credit them for putting pressure on us and making us make a play,” Boss said.

Durkin led MSU with three hits and a double, and left fielder Bechina added a single and a double in MSU’s nine-hit attack. But Michigan State was retired in order over the final three innings to close the game. Falling short of the championship game and a playing for the Big Ten’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, Michigan State ends the season at 36-20.