Spartan Baseball wrapped up the Arizona trip with a 7-1 win over MSU over Grand Canyon

Spartan Baseball wrapped up the Arizona trip with a 7-1 win over MSU over Grand Canyon
Michigan State finished the extended weekend 3-1 in the season opener.

PHOENIX – Michigan State baseball wrapped up its extended weekend trip to Phoenix with a 7-1 win over MSU at Grand Canyon on Monday afternoon at GCU Ballpark.

After playing three games in the 2023 MLB Desert Invitational, the Spartans remained in Phoenix to take on the Antelopes in a non-tournament contest.

Monday’s activities began with a moment of silence and a prayer from the Grand Canyon in honor and remembrance of the mass shooting on the East Lansing campus on Monday, Feb. 13, which left three MSU students dead and five hospitalized. Michigan State University canceled classes this week following the deaths of three students — juniors Arielle Anderson and Alexandria Verner and sophomore Brian Fraser.

Michigan State players again wore “Spartan Strong” decals on their helmets as a tribute, and several players also had personal tributes. Several Grand Canyon fans showed signs of support and expressed their condolences to the players, coaches and support staff, as well as Spartan fans.

Senior pitcher Andrew Carson made the first start of his Spartan career after 26 innings of relief in 2022. Carson went 6.0 IP with just three hits and three strikeouts, yielding one unearned run. Second year student Ryan Szczepaniak pitched 2.0 IP with a pair of Ks with just one hit and no runs as a senior Wyatt Rush went the final 1.0 IP and struck out two on just one hit with no runs. The three Spartan hurlers combined for 9.0 IP, five hits, one unearned run and seven strikeouts.

At the plate, the Spartans again pounded out double-digit hits for the third time in four games, 15 Monday, led by the junior infielder. Brock Vradenburg 3-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Junior infielder Trent Farquhar went 2-for-4 with three runs, while another junior outfielder Mitch Jebb was 2-5 with two RBIs and a run scored. Junior fielder Jack Franksenior fielder Casey Mayes and a sophomore designated hitter Sam Bush all had two hits.

The Spartans got on the board first with a pair of runs in the third when Farquhar started the rally with a double to right, moved to third on a Jebb groundout and scored on an RBI single to right by Vradenburg. Frank followed with a single up the middle and Mayes drove in Vradenburg with a base hit to right center for a 2-0 MSU lead.

GCU came back in the bottom of the fourth, taking advantage of an MSU error to close to 2-1.

The Spartans regained their two-run lead with a run in the top of the fifth, while Farquhar got the rally going, this time getting a groundout to lead off the frame. Jebb, followed by an opposite-field triple down the left-field line to drive in Farquhar and put the visiting Spartans up 3-1.

Michigan State threatened in the top of the sixth, loading the bases with two outs, but GCU right fielder Cade Verdusco denied Jebb a hit and RBI with a diving stop as Jebb fell just down the right field line to end the Spartan threat. .

MSU plated a run in the seventh on a sat fly from Karki, driving in Vradenburg, who led off with a single and moved to third on Frank’s double. The Spartans then hung on the board for three runs in the top of the eighth when Ziegler doubled down the right field line, followed by Farquhar reaching on a fielding error and Ziegler moving to third on a throwing error. Jebb then singled through the right side to Ziegler, and Vradenburg was up next, knocking out an RBI single to Farquhar, and Frank followed with a bunt fly to drive in Jebb and give MSU a 7-1 lead.

Szczepaniak kept Lopes at bay before Rush came on in the ninth to seal the win for MSU.

The Spartans continue their action on the road by heading to South Carolina next weekend to play USC-Upstate, Gardner-Webb and Presbyterian on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Fans can follow the action using the “Watch Live” and “Live Stats” links on MSUSpartans.com when available.