April 3, 2004
EAST LANSING, MI – The Iowa baseball team dropped a pair of contests to Michigan State on a cold, windy day at Kobs Field. The Hawkeyes fell 5-4 in extra innings and dropped the second game, 6-3.
In the opener, the Hawkeyes scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning to send the game into extras. First baseman Mike Best led the inning with a swinging single and advanced to third on a Luis Andrulonis double down the right field line. Shortstop Jeff Gremley singled in Best, and Andrulonis crossed the plate on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 4-3.
With Gremley on third base, Michigan State reliever Adam White entered the game with the Spartans clinging to a one run lead. Centerfielder L.J. Mims worked the count and belted an RBI triple into the right center field gap to tie the score. Catcher Kris Welker hit a lazy grounder to White to get Michigan State out of the inning and send the game into extra frames.
In the eighth, left fielder Jesse Brownell led off with a double and Kevin Sunderman reached on an error. However, the Hawkeyes couldn’t capitalize on the scoring opportunity as Andrulonis flew out to left to end the inning.
After setting down Iowa in order in the ninth, Michigan State right fielder Travis Gulick walked to lead-off the inning. The Spartans played small ball and advanced Gulick to second on a sacrifice bunt. Reliever Aaron Reasland struck out Adam Tripp, but Michigan State catcher Erik Morris singled up the middle to drive in the winning run.
Iowa starter Austin Seward struck out five in 5 2/3 innings, while allowing two earned runs. Brownell went 2-for-3 to lead the Hawkeye bats.
In the second game of the double-dip, Michigan State jumped out to a 6-1 lead after four innings. In the third, Alan Cattrysse led off the inning with a double and crossed the plate on second baseman Oliver Wolcott’s homer that barely cleared the right field fence.
Michigan State scored three runs on four hits in the fourth and chased Iowa starter Ryan Dupic from the contest. Ryan Basham connected on the Spartan’s second homerun of the game, a solo shot over the right field fence.
Iowa scored two in the top of the seventh inning. Andrulonis led off the inning being plunked by Spartan starter Jeff Gerbe and catcher Clint Bitting walked. Gerbe forced a groundout and struck out Gremley before Mims hit a two-run single to plate the runs.
Gerbe struck out eight batters in the complete game four hitter. Mims went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Iowa will look to avoid the sweep in the series finale tomorrow afternoon beginning at 1 p.m. at Kobs Field.