Spartans Downed By Illini In Extras Friday To Open First Pitch Invite Action

Friday, February 27

Fluor Field | Greenville, S.C.

2 PM

Michigan State University

2-5

Illinois

5-4

Illinois

Michigan State

Photo by: Jeremy Fleming

Spartans Downed By Illini In Extras Friday To Open First Pitch Invite Action

2/27/2026 11:59:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score ILL 5, MSU 4 (10 inn.) Box Score

MSU falls despite home runs by Broski and Sturgess.

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Michigan State baseball was downed by Illinois, 5-4 in 10 innings, Friday in the opening game of the 2026 First Pitch Invitational at Flour Field, as the Spartans opened their residency at the home of the Greenville Drive.

Friday's game paired two Big Ten Conference teams in a non-conference contest, as the Spartans and Illini aren't scheduled to face each other during the league schedule, and despite it being non-conference, it was a Big Ten type battle from start to finish.

"I was happy with the way we competed today, but disappointed in the outcome," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "We addressed some things in the locker room after the game that need to improve in order for us to have success. So the challenge tomorrow is to come out and execute, and make the necessary adjustments to win the game."

MSU slides to 2-5 on the young season with the loss, while Illinois improves to 5-4. Friday marked the third different season that the Spartans and Illini have faced off in Greenville, joining 2018 and 2024

In the 2026 edition, Illinois took a 1-0 lead in the third, before the Spartans stormed back with a three-run fourth frame on home runs by redshirt-sophomore catcher Adam Broski and sophomore outfielder Isaac Sturgess, for a 3-1 advantage.

The hand-operated, manual scoreboard on the Green Monster of Fluor Field stayed at 3-1 until the eighth, when Illinois scored three runs in the top half and MSU scored one in the bottom to knot the score at 4-all. Neither team scored in the ninth to send the game to the first extra-inning game of the season for the Spartans and the second for the Illini.

Illinois plated a run in the top of the 10th, and the Spartans went down in order to end the game.

MSU had six hits on the day, led by two from sophomore outfielder Khamaree Thomas. Broski and Sturgess had one hit apiece and were joined by junior infielder Ryan McKay and freshman infielder CJ Deckinga, with the first-year Spartan knocking the first extra-base hit of his collegiate career with a double in the third.

On the mound, sophomore starting pitcher Aidan Donovan went 4.2 IP, striking out five while walking four, scattering seven hits and one run. Senior reliever Nolan Higgins threw 2.1 IP with five hits, three runs with two earned, one K and no walks. Fellow senior reliever Tommy Szczepanski also went 2.1 IP, tallying two punchouts with one hit, one run and two walks. Junior Gannon Grundman got the final two outs of the 10th, yielding one hit while striking out one and walking one.

Illinois took a 1-0 lead in the third on a one-out double, and two batters later, an RBI single gave the Illini the early advantage.

Senior infielder Randy Seymour sparked the Spartan rally in the fourth by getting hit-by-pitch, and then stole second. Broski followed with a blast and a souvenir to the fans sitting on top of the Green Monster. Three batters later, Sturgess smacked a deep shot to left center and MSU had a 3-1 lead.

The Illini rallied in the eighth, with back-to-back home runs, and later took advantage of an MSU error for their third run of the frame to take a 4-3 lead.

Michigan State quickly countered in its next at bat, as Thomas got the rally going with a leadoff single. Senior outfielder Nick Williams drew a walk, then McKay laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Thomas and Williams to third and second, respectively. Seymour then grounded out to third to drive Thomas in to score and tie the game at 4-apiece.

Illinois drew a one-out walk, then another walk after a Spartan pitching change, before an RBI double made the score 4-3, and MSU went down in order in the bottom of the 10th to end the game.

Michigan State continues First Pitch Invite action taking on Albany on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 6 p.m., before wrapping up the weekend against James Madison on Sunday, March 1 at 2 p.m.

The Spartans then stay in Greenville and square off with Winthrop on Tuesday, March 3, at 6 p.m. before concluding the Greenville trip by tangling with the Tigers of Clemson on Wednesday, March 4, also at 6 p.m.

The Spartans' schedule is subject to change, fans can stay tuned to MSUSpartans.com and @MSUBaseball on Twitter for schedule updates, along with follow action with "Watch Live," "Listen Live" and "Live Stats" links where available.