MSU Baseball Downed By UM Wednesday In Non-Conference Contest

Wednesday, March 18

Fisher Stadium | Ann Arbor, Mich.

4 PM

Michigan State University

Michigan

Photo by: Erin Grady/MSU Athletic Communications

MSU Baseball Downed By UM Wednesday In Non-Conference Contest

3/18/2026 9:01:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Spartans out-hit Wolverines, but come up short in lowest scoring game in MSU-UM series since 1989.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan State baseball was downed by Michigan in a tight, 2-0, non-conference contest Wednesday afternoon at a cold and windy UM's Ray Fisher Stadium.

The temperature was in the mid-30s at first pitch, on a cloudy, breezy afternoon, with chilly conditions throughout the ballgame.

The match-up between MSU and UM on Wednesday was a non-conference midweek contest, and the first of four regular-season meetings between the Spartans and Wolverines, who will meet in East Lansing in a three-game Big Ten Conference series, April 10-12. Wednesday's Michigan win snapped a two-game win streak by the visiting team in the non-conference midweek match-up, as MSU on 2024's game in Ann Arbor, while UM won last season in East Lansing on March 12, 2025 in the Spartans' home opener at newly renamed Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium.

The 2-0 final score was the first shutout in the MSU-UM series since 2021 when the Spartans blanked the Wolverines, 3-0, on March 22, 2021 in Ann Arbor. It was also the lowest scoring game in the series since a 2-0 UM win on May 3, 1989.

Wednesday was the 339th all-time meeting on the baseball diamond between Michigan State and Michigan, and there have only been three previous games in the series closer than Wednesday's 2-0 result, on April 23, 1924, and May 31, 1937, with the Wolverines winning, 1-0, in both games, while the Spartans won, 1-0, on April 3, 1959. The 2-0 final score on Wednesday was the ninth time that the teams played to a 2-0 result.

The Spartans out-hit the Wolverines Wednesday, 8-6, but MSU left 10 runners on base, while UM left six on base.

Junior infielder Ryan McKay led the Spartans at the plate with two hits, going 2-for-3 with a walk. Sophomore outfielder Isaac Sturgess was 2-for-4 outing the plate.

Junior outfielder Trent Rice was 1-for-2 with a pair of walks, while senior infielder Randy Seymour, senior catcher Noah Bright and sophomore infielder Dayton Murphy were all 1-for-4.

Graduate starter JD Greeley opened on the mound, going 1.0 IP, with no hits or runs. Freshman reliever Bobby Crane went 2.0 IP with three hits and one run, being dealt the tough-luck loss. Junior reliever Logan Pikur tossed 2.0 IP with one hit, one run, one walk and one strikeout, while junior Gannon Grundman tallied 2.0 IP with two hits and two Ks. Freshman Brady Chambers had a 3-up, 3-down frame in the eighth without a hit nor run.

"We're disappointed in the loss," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "I thought our pitchers did a heck of a job keeping us right there. Offensively, we just couldn't get anything generated until the ninth, when we hit a ball hard in the ninth, and was just a little bit of too little, too late. So we need to be better offensively, and we need to be able to put good swings on pitches when it matters, and so we're not doing a very good job of that right now, so we need to get to work tomorrow and be ready for Iowa this weekend."

After Wednesday's non-conference contest, the Spartans return to Big Ten Conference action this weekend, hosting Iowa at Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium, Friday-Sunday, March 20-22, in MSU's home-opener on Friday.

Wednesday was also the first meeting between MSU and UM with former Spartan assistant coach Andrew Stone in the other dugout, as Stone in his first season as a Wolverine after four years in East Lansing. Stone reunited with several Spartan coaches, players and support staff both before and after the game, including handshakes and hugs with MSU senior first baseman Randy Seymour at first base before the bottom of the first, until the action resumed and they were rivals again.

UM got on the board with a run in the second stanza, with a hit by pitch followed by a double and a single to load the bases without an out. Crane then got out of the jam with minor damage, inducing a 6-4-3 double play, with a run scoring on the play, before Crane fielded his position on a bunt come-backer and tossed to first to end the inning with the Wolverines leading, 1-0.

Michigan doubled its lead in the fourth, taking advantage of a walk, stolen base, an MSU error and wild pitch to open a 2-0 lead.

That stayed the score until the seventh inning, when MSU threatened with a two-out rally, sparked by McKay with a single after a UM pitching change. Rice followed with a single of his own, and the Wolverines changed pitchers again. Freshman infielder CJ Deckinga drew a walk to fill the bases full of Spartans, prompting another UM pitching change, bringing in the fourth pitcher of the inning, and a groundout put an end to the MSU rally and the inning, without a run.

In the ninth, McKay again sparked the Spartan rally, this time with a leadoff walk, for MSU first leadoff runner on base of the day. Rice then followed with his second walk of the day. However, a lineout, groundout and strikeout thwarted the threat by the Spartans, ending the rally and the game.

Wednesday was also MSU's first of 10-straight games in the state of Michigan, as the Spartans will have their home opener this weekend, hosting Iowa Friday-Sunday, March 20-22 in a three-game B1G weekend series at Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium.

MSU will then play at Central Michigan next Tuesday, March 24, before returning home to host Purdue in a three-game B1G weekend series, Friday-Sunday, March 27-29. The Spartans then host Central Michigan on Tuesday, March 31.

Michigan State wraps up the 10-game in-state stretch and open April action with the 2026 Crosstown Showdown, taking on the Lansing Lugnuts, the High-A affiliate of the Oakland A's, on Wednesday, April 1 at Jackson® Field™ in the annual exhibition contest.

MSU's 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.

The Michigan State baseball season ticket package, which includes 24 home games at Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium, and also single game tickets, are available online, at msuspartans.evenue.net, by contacting the Spartan Ticket Office at 517-355-1610 or by email at tickets@msu.edu for questions or more information, or fans can visit the MSU Ticket Office in person, located in 1855 Place.