Week 5 -- SEMo, then Michigan St.

Aces are off to the Tundra to face Mitch E. Ganstate. Three games against a B1G program that's not horrible.

In 2023, the Spartans finished 33-22 and 12-12 in the Big Ten, as they placed seventh in the Big Ten, right behind the University of Michigan. MSU’s win total last season was the highest since winning 36 games in 2016.

No idea how this series impacts the Aces, who seem to be struggling with consistency in the rotation. That likely will level off as the season progresses. 

Sparties are 5-9 this year and spent more time in the South than Sherman did. It's too freeking cold in East Lansing to play before April. Some healthy batting averages, but everybody has that at this point in the season. The Spittoons did lose to our pals at Terre Haute Tech, but that was in February in Port Charlotte. 7-6 in 10 innings on that thriller.

MSU plays in a somewhat historic ballpark called McLane Stadium at Kobs Field, which underwent some major rehab over the last 15 years and finally added lights in 2019. Drayton McLane was one of the owners of the Houston Astros when they were still in the National League. He made his money selling groceries. 

This photo shows a fairly normal crowd for a game of some importance. (They only take pictures of crowds when they are large.)



UE is now 8-8 after knocking off the S'Mores 6-5 in a walkoff. Nick Smith (UE) and Joe Dzierwa probably will pitch Friday. 

Friday's game at 2:30 (on account of it being cold at night in Michigan) is on Big Ten Network Plus, or on radio with Jevin Redman on WJPS. ESPN+ will not have the game. 

Aces still have 5 regulars or semi-regulars with OPS over 1.000, and three others in the high .900s. They will score a lot of runs.  No word that I can find to suggest Chase Hug will play. He's worth a run himself. If the Aces have a flaw, it's pitcher command. 70 walks in 154 innings, according to their stats. That's maybe typical for mid-majors pitchers, but it's too many free runners. It also inflates ERAs.

Stats

msuspartans.com/documents/2024/2/17/MSU_BSB_Season_Stats_-_3-11-24.pdf

Game 1 has turned somewhat ugly for the Purples. We now return you the Twilight Zone.

Schultz is better than he has pitched, but these guys are amateurs and if they develop a mechanical flaw, they are often asked to fix it themselves or just find out a way of pitching around it. I think the offense is still there and it will be more than adequate in the Valley, which is going to be real tough this year. Sicky and Misery State are up there 1-2-3 with the Aces. Not too much longer before we can take a look at the Valley.
In any case, these are not must-win games for UE, although winning improves morale better than a beating does.

I think Ethan Bell may end up being the closer.

Great day to be an Aces fan. Nice work by Hansmann and Meyer in relief.
Deverman, the frosh, looks legit. He's shoved Schultz down the rotation, for sure.

Kinda had the other eye on the UNI women and their overtime collapse in the QC tournament. Cheesh, 2 time outs and the best they can get is an airball pass.

Aces softball is one shaky building, but another win is another win.

Need some magic in the 9th.
Hord and Foug with dingers today, so ... we are born capable.