EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The Minnesota Golden Gophers fell 2-1 to the Michigan State Spartans on Saturday afternoon at McLane Field.
Gophers (12-29, 2-12 Big Ten) senior starter J.P. Massey (2-6) registered his second quality start in a row, going 6.0 innings, striking out four while giving up two runs and seven hits. Michigan State (20-21, 5-9 Big Ten) used multiple pitchers, with Nick Powers (3-5) going the longest (4.1 innings) and getting credit with the win.
Offensively, Minnesota had six hits, led by Noah Berghammer (2-for-3) and Kyle Bork (2-for-4), who had a pair of singles each. MSU had four players combine for seven hits.
The Spartans scored their first run in the bottom of the first when shortstop Mitch Jebb hit a leadoff home run.
Minnesota answered back quickly in the top of the second inning with a run to tie the game. Kyle Bork singled to left to start the inning and Chase Stanke doubled, advancing Bork to third. After a groundout from Riley Swenson, Brady Counsell looped an RBI single into short left field, plating Bork. Counsell then stole second, putting runners on second and third with one out. The 'U' couldn't get Stanke or Counsell home, however, and the inning ended with an Andrew Wilhite strikeout and a Noah Berghammer groundout to second.
MSU manufactured its second run in the bottom of the third. After a one-out single by Mitch Jebb, Trent Farquhar walked. A perfectly executed double steal put the runners at second and third with one down. Massey struck out the next hitter swinging before an infield single by Casey Mayes plated Jebb to put the Spartans ahead.
That run would turn out to be the final tally of the game as the two teams were held scoreless from the fourth inning-on.
The Gophers had their best chance to tie the game in the top of the eighth. Berghammer singled to start the inning before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Brett Bateman. Boston Merila then hit a soft ground ball to first, allowing Berghammer to move to third with two outs. Jack Kelly struck out swinging to end the threat.
The Spartans threatened in the bottom of the eighth, getting two men on with two outs before Minnesota left-hander Tom Skoro got his team out of the inning.
Minnesota went down 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth to end the game as MSU closer Kyle Bischoff collected his league-leading tenth save of the season.
UP NEXT
Minnesota and Michigan State will play the series finale tomorrow at 12:05 p.m. CT on B1G+.
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Minnesota Falls Short in Pitcher's Duel - GopherSports.com
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