Lugnuts Top Spartans in Annual Crosstown Showdown
April 9, 2015 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Lansing Lugnuts News Release
Lansing Lugnuts Face Michigan State Spartans
(Lansing Lugnuts)
LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State Spartans and Lansing Lugnuts waited through a 30-minute rain delay but eventually squared off in the ninth annual Crosstown Showdown on Thursday night. The Lugnuts won the exhibition, 9-4, in front of a crowd of 4,883 at Cooley Law School Stadium.
"This game is a lot of fun for everybody," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "I think it's a good opportunity for our guys to relax and play and not really worry about winning or losing. We played a lot of guys. Tonight is more about playing against a professional, first-class organization in a beautiful facility."
The Spartans opened the game with a bang as the first four hitters combined to hit for the cycle. Cam Gibson led off with a triple off the right field wall and Ryan Krill followed with a two-run homer to right field. Mark Weist doubled down the right field line and Blaise Salter followed with a single. A run-scoring fielder's choice later, and the Spartans led 3-0.
"We've seen a lot of good pitching all year long and we certainly saw some very good arms tonight," Boss said. "We've faced some very good pitching to this point and so our guys were ready."
Ryan McBroom (2-for-2, 3 runs scored, double, home run, walk) put the Lugnuts on the board with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the second inning.
Lansing took the lead, 5-3, with four runs in bottom of the third, including back-to-back RBI singles from Danny Jansen and Boomer Collins.
Krill delivered a two-out double to right-center field in the top of the fifth, scoring Johnny Nate, to pull the Spartans within a run, 5-4.
Lansing responded in the bottom of the inning, scoring twice to up its lead to 7-4.
The Lugnuts capped the scoring with two more runs in the bottom of the sixth, including a solo home run by Richard Urena.
The Lugs used five pitchers in the game: Justin Shafer allowed three runs in the first before striking out the side in the second inning; Conner Greene worked a scoreless third and fourth; Chase Wellbrock struck out two and allowed a run in the fifth; and Jesus Tinoco and Sean Reid-Foley each notched a pair of strikeouts in blank sixth and seventh innings respectively.
Next up: Opening Night 2015, at 7:05 p.m. on Friday, April 10th, as the Lugnuts open their 20th Midwest League season by welcoming the Lake County Captains! In honor of the anniversary, tickets cost just $5.50, a throwback to 1996 inaugural season prices. Right-hander Chase De Jong starts for Lansing against Captains northpaw Dace Kime. For more information, call (517) 485-4500 or visit lansinglugnuts.com .
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 Lansing Lugnuts Face Michigan State Spartans |
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