GREENVILLE, S.C. - The CSU baseball team had two hits, but couldn't make it home as they fell to the Big Ten's Michigan State Spartans 3-0 on Friday evening at Flour Field in Greenville, S.C. The game was the first of three in the First Pitch Invitational, hosted by Clemson.

Tom Burkett and Matt Still were two of the bright spots for the Bucs, as each had a hit on the night. Starting pitcher Stew Brase was another, giving up just one run off of four hits to the Spartans.

In the third inning, MSU's Brandon Eckerle singled to right field before stealing second. He then advanced to third on a Buccaneers error and made it home when Jeff Holm was walked with the bases loaded to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead.

Still hit a double down the left field line in the fifth inning, but was left on base. In the sixth, Burkett singled to center field and then stole second, but was also left on base.

The Bucs walked Ryan Jones, who was then able to steal second in the seventh inning. Holm was also walked and advanced to second when Jeff Kinley was walked as well. Holm and Kinley both advanced on a wild pitch before Holm was able to score on a throwing error by CSU. Jones followed him home, giving the Spartans the 3-0 lead. MSU then held the Bucs hitless for the next two innings to take the win.

Burkett went 1-for-4 while Still had one hit in three at bats.

Brase pitched 4.1 innings, striking out four and giving up four hits and taking the loss. Charlie McCready struck out one batter and held the Spartans hitless in 1.2 innings, while Tyler Vick pitched 1.1 innings. Vick gave up just one hit.

Ecklerle led the Spartans with four hits in four at bats, and scored one run. Torsten Boss and John Martinez each had a hit as well. Kurt Wunderlich earned the win, striking out four and holding the Bucs to just one hit and no runs in six innings. Bryce Jenney pitched three innings for the Spartans, striking out five.

The Bucs will head to Clemson tomorrow to take on the Tigers in a 1 p.m. game before heading back to Greenville to face Cincinnati in a 7 p.m. contest.