UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (May 16, 2004) - Michigan State scored in each of the first three innings and then put together two late-inning rallies to hand Penn State a disappointing 7-4 setback on Senior Day at Beaver Field. The Spartans won three out of four games in the series to take the Nittany Lions out of contention for a Big Ten regular season title. Penn State (27-24, 16-12), despite losing five of its last six games, clinched a spot in the Big Ten Tournament, which will be held May 26-30 at the home of the regular season champion. Minnesota, Ohio State, Michigan State and Penn State have all clinched playoff spots. Michigan, Purdue and Northwestern are still in contention for the final two spots in the six-team field. The Nittany Lions will close out the regular season with a four-game series May 21-23 at Michigan. James Moreno and Troy Krider delivered RBI singles in the first and second innings, respectively, to give Michigan State a quick 2-0 lead. Travis Gulick led off the third inning with a solo home run to left field that made it 3-0. That homer was the last pitch that Penn State starter Clayton Hamilton (Beaver Falls, Pa.) threw in the game. He left the game with an unspecified injury. Junior Josh Palm (Conneaut Lake, Pa.) entered the game and settled down the Spartans' offensive game. The Nittany Lions got on the board in the fifth inning by manufacturing a run. Senior Matt Harter (Centre Hall, Pa.) led off with a double, moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Travis Laird (Conneaut Lake, Pa.) and Harter then scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Colin Runt (State College, Pa.). Sophomore Lance Thompson (Brisbin, Pa.) led off the sixth inning with a double and came around to score on a single by Scott Gummo (Tyrone, Pa.) to cut Michigan State's lead to 3-2. But a leadoff walk cost Palm in the seventh inning when Moreno hit a two-run homer to left field to make it 5-2. With runners on second and third base and nobody out in the ninth inning. Sean Walker hit a single to left field that scored Gulick and Moreno. Moreno was caught in a rundown between third base and home plate, but Harter dropped a throw, allowing him to score. Penn State scored two more in the ninth inning on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Derrick Barr (So. Willamsport, Pa.) and an RBI single by junior Michael Milliron (DuBois, Pa.) to make it 7-4. Milliron's single extended his hitting streak to 15 games. The Nittay Lions had a rally thwarted in the seventh inning after getting Laird to third base and Runt to second base with one out. Milliron hit a hard grounder that appeared destined for the hole between third base and shortstop, but third baseman Moreno snared it and threw Laird out at the plate. Runt went 3-for-3 and Harter and junior Clint Eury (Butler, Pa.) had two hits each. For more information on Penn State baseball, please visit our official athletic website at www.GoPSUsports.com. Michigan State 111 000 202 - 7 14 1
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