Steve Gerstenberger and the Spartan open the Big Ten season this weekend at Indiana.

March 29, 2007

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MICHIGAN STATE (8-8) AT INDIANA (10-8)

Series Information
When: Friday, March 30 - Sunday, April 1
Where: Sembower Field • Bloomington, Ind.
Media Coverage: Gametracker of all games at www.msuspartans.com

The Lineup
Game 1: Friday, March 30 • 3 p.m.
Games 2-3: Saturday, March 31 • 1 p.m. (DH)
Game 4: Sunday, April 1 • 1 p.m.

Pitching Matchups

Game One:

MSU: Sr. RH Craig Brookes • 6-3 • 200 • Naperville, Ill.

(2-0, 1.01 ERA, 26.2 IP, 26 K, .183 OBA)

vs.

IU: So. RH Tyler Tufts • 6-3 • 195 • Sagamore Hills, Ohio

(3-2, 2.83 ERA, 35.0 IP, 16 K, .265 OBA)

Game Two:

MSU: Jr. LH Jon Kibler • 6-5 • 210 • Freeland, Md.

(1-2, 5.04 ERA, 25.0 IP, 17 K, .258 OBA)

vs.

IU: Fr. LH Matt Bashore • 6-3 • 200 • Tipp City, Ohio

(3-1, 1.63 ERA, 27.2 IP, 22 K, .200 OBA)

Game Three:

MSU: Fr. LH Kyle Corcoran • 6-6 • 200 • LaGrange, Ill.

(0-0, 5.40 ERA, 1.2 IP, 3 K, .250 OBA)

vs.

IU: Fr. RH Eric Arnett • 6-5 • 215 • Pataskala, Ohio

(1-0, 4.66 ERA, 9.2 IP, 8 K, .233 OBA)

Game Four:

MSU: Sr. LH John Dwan • 6-0 • 205 • Libertyville, Ill.

(1-2, 3.52 ERA, 23.0 IP, 13 K, .235 OBA)

vs.

IU: Fr. LH Jason Ferrell • 6-0 • 190 • Columbus, Ohio

(2-1, 3.60 ERA, 15.0 IP, 8 K, .218 OBA)

SPARTANS OPEN BIG TEN SEASON THIS WEEKEND AT INDIANA
The Michigan State baseball team opens up Big Ten play this weekend (March 30-April 1) with a four-game series at Indiana. The Spartans (8-8) are riding a two-game winning streak after topping Bowling Green, 5-3, on Wednesday at Steller Field on the BGSU campus. Indiana (10-8) has a streak of its own, entering the weekend series with six straight wins. MSU took three of four games from Indiana last season at Oldsmobile Park. Live stats of all four games will be available via Gametracker at www.msuspartans.com.

Senior right-hander Craig Brookes, who started Opening Day Feb. 23 and the home opener for the Spartans March 24, will also get the call for the Big Ten opener. Brookes brings a perfect 2-0 record into Friday's contest, and he leads the Big Ten with a 1.01 ERA. He also ranks among the league leaders in earned runs allowed (first with three), opposing batting average (second at .183) and strikeouts (fourth with 26). Brookes took a no decision in last year's meeting with Indiana, as he struck out five and gave up seven runs, four earned, in eight innings of work. He will match up against sophomore righty Tyler Tufts, who is 3-2 with a 2.83 ERA in 35.0 innings pitched.

A pair of southpaws will be going Saturday in the doubleheader. Junior transfer Jon Kibler (1-2, 5.04 ERA) will go in game one, while freshman Kyle Corcoran will make his first collegiate start in game two. Corcoran has struck out three batters in his two appearances this season, pitching one inning at South Florida and 2/3 of an inning against Quinnipiac.

In the final game of the series, senior John Dwan will take to the hill. Dwan started Wednesday at Bowling Green in a tuneup for the weekend, getting two innings of work. Dwan is 1-2 on the season with a 3.52 ERA in 23.0 innings of action.

After the Indiana series, Michigan State matches up against the Lansing Lugnuts (Class A affiliate - Toronto Blue Jays) for the Crosstown Showdown Tuesday, April 3 at Oldmobile Park. The exhibition will be the first-ever meeting between the two teams. All tickets for the event, which begins at 6:05 p.m., are just $5.

QUICK LOOK AT THE SPARTANS (8-8, 0-0 BIG TEN)
• The Spartans have won their last two games (Concordia and Bowling Green).
• MSU has two wins over top 50 teams (Oklahoma, South Florida).
• According to Boyd's World, MSU has played the third-toughest schedule thus far among Big Ten teams.
• MSU returns 18 players, including 11 pitchers, from last season's team that finished 26-30 overall, 13-19 in the Big Ten.
• The Spartans have 12 newcomers this season (three freshmen, three sophomores, six juniors).

QUICK LOOK AT THE HOOSIERS (10-8, 0-0 BIG TEN)
• Indiana has won six straight games (North Florida, three over Florida A&M, two over IPFW).
• In its only games against a ranked opponent, IU was swept in a three-game series at Florida State.
• IU's roster is dominated by freshmen, featuring 19 rookies on this year's team.
• Freshman Evan Crawford leads the team with a .391 batting average.

NOTABLES
• Steve Gerstenberger is 10th in the Big Ten and leads the team with a .397 batting average.
• Kyle Day is fifth in the conference with 13 walks.
• Dennis Jones leads the team with nine stolen bases and has swiped five the past two games...he also leads the team with 15 RBI.
• The Spartans have played six teams ranked in the top 100 and four in the top 50 of the latest RPI rankings by Boyd's World (Oklahoma - 13th; Stetson - 18th; Auburn - 38th; South Florida - 46th; Central Florida - 73rd; South Alabama - 97th). In addition, the Spartans beat Jacksonville, and the Dolphins recently beat second-ranked and previously undefeated Florida State.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
• Junior second baseman Steve Gerstenberger has made the unique transition from first base to second base this season. He started 45 games at first in 2006, and has started all of MSU's games this season at second. He leads the team in batting (.397), slugging (.492) and on-base percentage (.459). Last season, he led the Big Ten and ranked 14th in the nation with eight triples, tying for 10th most in an MSU single-season.

• Junior leadoff batter Dennis Jones, a transfer from Macomb (Mich.) Community College, has started every game in center field this season. He leads the team with 15 RBI and nine stolen bases. He stole four bases in the home opener against Concordia.

• Senior right-handed pitcher Craig Brookes leads the Big Ten with a 1.01 ERA. He has wins this season over Saint Joseph's and Quinnipiac, and posted solid starts in no decisions at South Alabama (6 IP, 7 K, 2 H, 1 R) and Oklahoma (6 IP, 6 K, 5 H, 0 ER).

CROSSTOWN SHOWDOWN TICKETS ON SALE
Tickets for the Crosstown Showdown, featuring the first-ever meeting between the Michigan State baseball team and the Lansing Lugnuts, are currently on sale at the Oldsmobile Park box office (517-485-4500) and www.lansinglugnuts.com. The much anticipated match up has been a hot topic among baseball lovers in Mid-Michigan since its announcement last September. It will be the Lugnuts' first action of the 2007 season, while the Spartans will take a break from their regular season schedule to take part in the contest. The game is set for 6:05 p.m. on Tuesday, April 3 at Oldsmobile Park. All tickets for the event are just $5.

"We are very excited about the game and are happy that we could help put this event together for the Greater Lansing community," said Lugnuts co-owner Tom Dickson. "It promises to be a unique event that baseball fans of all ages can enjoy while rooting on their two favorite teams."

The Crosstown Showdown presented by Auto-Owners Insurance will afford fans the unique chance to see current college students take on a professional team. It will be the first time in history that the Lugnuts have squared off against an amateur team.

"Our club is thrilled to have the opportunity to play against the Lugnuts at Oldsmobile Park," said head coach David Grewe. "My guys have been looking forward to it all year, and I believe this to be a great event for the fans and supporters of baseball in the greater Lansing area."