Donovan, Spartans Shutout Hawkeyes, 2-0, Friday In Home Opener

Friday, March 20

3:32 PM

Michigan State University

6-14, 2-5

Iowa

13-7, 2-2

Iowa

Michigan State

Donovan, Spartans Shutout Hawkeyes, 2-0, Friday In Home Opener

3/20/2026 11:28:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score MSU 2, Iowa 0 Box Score

MSU sophomore hurler goes career-long 7.0 IP as Spartans post first shutout of season.

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Boosted by Aidan Donovan and Nolan Higgins' arms, some timely hitting and solid defensive play, Michigan State baseball blanked Iowa, 2-0, Friday in the Spartans' home opener at Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium.

The sophomore hurler Donovan registered a career-long 7.0 IP, scattering five hits, while ringing up four strikeouts and one walk, which came against the first Iowa batter of the game. Donovan posted a shutout in an outing going more than 4.0 IP for the first time in his two seasons as a Spartan, and did so going 100 pitches, with 67 strikes.

Senior reliever Nolan Higgins pitched the final 2.0 IP of no-hit, no-run baseball, tallying two strikeouts to earn his first save of the season and his third career save.

It was MSU's first shutout of the season and the Spartans' first shutout since May 9, 2025 when MSU blanked No. 25 USC, 5-0, in a combined shutout by pitchers Joseph Dzierwa and Garrett Brewer, with the similar breakdown of 7.0 and 2.0 IP, respectively, as Friday's gem by Donovan and Higgins.

"It feels great. Obviously Joe (Dzierwa) was a great talent. We obviously miss him. I was just glad I could do my part and do my job today no problem," Donovan said afterwards. "It's a huge win today, it gets us back in the race and that's what we're trying to do. Now we're looking forward to tomorrow, win another, and take a series."

Donovan earned his first win of the season with his outing vs. Iowa, as the Spartan won the opening game of the series for only the second time this season, and it was MSU's first Friday win since the season-opener on Friday, Feb. 13, when the Spartans upset No. 8 Louisville on 2026 Opening Day, 4-3 at Louisville.

"I feel great about the win. I thought we played really, really well today. Obviously, outstanding pitching performance out of Aidan Donovan and Nolan Higgins," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "We defended really well today. Probably as well as we have all year. We're getting there offensively. We got a couple of big hits when we needed it. The pitching picked us up today. It was a really good day all the way around and a great way to start the weekend.

"I think you always want to win game one," Boss said. "I think it certainly helps set the tone for the weekend, every single weekend. The goal is to win on Friday night and put yourself in a good position to win the series. We've done that, but we've got two big games to go."

MSU and Iowa return to the diamond on Saturday, and the schedule has been altered as the Spartans and Hawkeyes will now play a doubleheader on Saturday and no action on Sunday due to inclement weather in the forecast for Sunday.

With Friday's win, MSU not only improved to 6-14 overall and 2-5 in B1G play, but the Spartans have won 12 of their last 14 home openers. Michigan State is now 15-3 in its first game of the year played at Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium under Coach Boss.

Iowa is now 13-7 overall and 2-2 in B1G action. With Friday's result, the Spartans and Hawkeyes have split their last four match-ups, as MSU won last year's series opener as well, only to have Iowa win games two and three to take the series. Michigan State now leads the all-time series with Iowa, 85-77-1, including 57-28 in East Lansing.

Friday's game-time temperature of 64 degrees was also the warmest home-openers in the last 15 years, topping the previous top thermometer mark of 54 degrees two seasons ago on March 15, 2024.

While Donovan and Higgins' arms were hotter than the temperature, the Spartan bats clicked when they needed to, tallying seven hits on the afternoon, but coming in key spots.

Sophomore outfielder Isaac Sturgess was 2-for-4 with an RBI coming on a double in the first inning to the longest part of Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium, off the wall near the 403-foot sign, driving in fellow sophomore, designated hitter Khamaree Thomas, who drew a one-out walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch.

Junior outfielder Trent Rice sparked the Spartan rally in the third inning with a one-out double down the right-field line, and scored two batters later on sophomore infielder Dayton Murphy's RBI single to the gap in left center.

Junior infielder Ryan McKay and freshman infielder CJ Deckinga each had singles to round out MSU's seven hits on the day.

Donovan also made one of the many impressive defensive plays on the day, getting his glove knocked off on a line drive come-backer by the leadoff hitter, gathering the ball and firing to first for the out.

MSU's defense also turned one double play on the day, and had many other glove-flashing plays.

Senior outfielder Nick Williams made several nice plays in left field, including a diving stop in the sixth and another one in the ninth for the final out to secure the win and ignite the Victory for MSU celebration.

Friday was game two of MSU's 10-straight games in the state of Michigan, as the Spartans wrap up the weekend series with the Hawkeyes on Saturday with the adjusted doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.

Michigan State 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.

MSU 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.

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.

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.