Michigan State University Athletics
Saturday, March 28
3:32 PM
Michigan State University
9-16, 4-7
13
vs
16
Purdue
18-8, 6-5
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
8th innning8
9th innning9
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
Purdue
1
0
2
1
5
1
0
6
0
16
16
3
Michigan State
0
8
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
13
16
4
Photo by: Erin Grady/MSU Athletic Communications
Spartans Clipped By Purdue In Wild, 16-13 See-Saw Slugfest Saturday
3/28/2026 10:13:00 PM | Baseball
Late MSU comeback falls short in highest scoring game in MSU vs. Purdue series since 1955.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State baseball was clipped by Purdue in a wild, see-saw slugfest, 16-13, on Saturday afternoon at a sunny but brisk Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium.
MSU took an 8-1 lead after the second stanza, before Purdue chipped away at the Spartans' lead, scoring two in the third, one in the fourth and five in the fifth for a 9-8 edge, then added a run in the sixth for a 10-8 lead. The Boilermakers then scored six in the eighth to open a 16-8 advantage, only to see the Spartans plate five in the ninth and have the tying run at the plate when the game ended.
With 13 runs Saturday, the Spartans have now scored 10+ runs in three of the last five games after only doing so twice in the previous 18 games.Â
Saturday's 29 combined runs scored in the game came on a combined 32 hits, with 16 apiece, including three grand slams on the day, one from MSU by freshman infielder CJ Deckinga in the second inning for his first collegiate grand slam, while Purdue had the other two. Deckinga also added a three-run home run in the ninth, finishing with a season-high three hits on a 3-for-4 outing at the plate with seven RBI and two runs scored.
Sophomore infielder Dayton Murphy was 4-for-6 with a run scored, while junior infielder Ryan McKay was 2-for-4 with a run scored and senior outfielder Nick Williams was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Sophomore outfielder Isaac Sturgess added a hit, two RBI and a run scored, while senior infielder Randy Seymour had a hit, a ribbie and a run scored, sophomore outfielder Khamaree Thomas collected a hit and run, sophomore catcher Adam Broski had a hit and a run, and freshman pinch hitter Isaiah Domey had a hit.
On the mound, graduate Carter Monke (4.0 IP, 3K) started, before turning the ball over to junior Gannon Grundman (1.1 IP, 0 K), junior Logan Pikur (1.2 IP, 1 K), junior Ben Kochany (0.1 IP, 0 K) and graduate Andrew Siler (1.2 IP, 1 K). Grundman was dealt the loss, while Purdue's Jacob Boland earned the win and Jake Kramer picked up the save.
The Spartans and Boilermakers have split the first two games of the series after MSU's 4-3 win on Friday, setting up Sunday's rubber match in the series finale, with first pitch slated for 1:02 p.m.
Michigan State is now 9-16 overall and 4-7 in B1G play, while Purdue moves to 18-8 overall and 6-5 in conference competition. The Boilermakers have won four of the last five in the series, cutting MSU's all-time lead to 88-81, including 46-32 in East Lansing.
The combined 29 runs scored between the Spartans and Boilermakers is the second-biggest combined run total in the series, and most since 1955, when MSU beat Purdue, 22-8, on April 29, 1955 in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Saturday's 29 combined runs was the most in an MSU game since Feb. 23, 2024, when the Spartans lost to Marshall, 20-10 in Port Charlotte, Fla. It was also MSU's most runs scored in a loss since an identical, 16-13 loss at Bowling Green on March 17, 2009.
In Saturday's game, Purdue got on the board in its first at bat on a solo home run for an early 1-0 advantage.
In the bottom of the second, McKay sparked the Spartan rally by reaching on a Purdue error, one of three on the day for the Boilermakers, while the Spartans had four miscues. Broski and Williams followed with back-to-back singles to fill the bases full of Spartans, bringing Deckinga to the plate and he decked a pitch into the upper deck of the trees beyond the wall in left center for his first collegiate grand slam.
Two batters later, Thomas singled through the left side, and Murphy followed with a single through the right side. Sturgess then continued the single parade by knocking one through to right to drive in Thomas. Not to be left out of the hitting party, Seymour singled to left to plate Murphy. McKay then reached on an infield single, and a Purdue throwing error on the play allowed Sturgess and Seymour to score and put MSU ahead, 8-1, and the Boilermakers made a pitching change, to put an end to the Spartan rally.Â
Purdue countered with two runs in the third, one in the fourth, five in the fifth and one in the sixth to overtake MSU and take a 10-8 lead. The Boilermakers then tacked on six runs in the eighth to extend their lead to 16-8.
The Spartans did not go quietly into the sunny, chilly, brisk afternoon, as Domey led off the ninth with a single. He was erased from the basepaths on a fielder's choice by freshman pinch-hitter Cole Van Ameyde, who moved to second on a balk. Freshman catcher Anthony Elezaj reached on an error and Van Vameyde moved to third. Williams then  laced an RBI single to right center to score Cole Van Ameyde. Decking was up next and he smacked a homer to left center, nearly to the same spot as his grand slam in the second.
After a Purdue pitching change, senior designated hitter Noah Bright drew a walk, and junior pinch hitter Trent Rice did the same, prompting another Purdue pitching change. Murphy singled through the right side to re-load the bases, and Sturgess followed with an RBI groundout, pulling MSU within 16-13 and bringing the tying run to the plate, but a strikeout ended the Spartan rally, the inning and the game in one fell swoop.
Saturday's MSU vs. Purdue contest was game number seven out of the Spartans' 10-straight games in the state of Michigan, as Michigan State concludes the three-game B1G weekend series with a rubber match in Sunday's series finale, which is slated for a 1:02 p.m. start time.
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The Spartans then host Central Michigan on Tuesday, March 31 in the return game of the home-and-home with the Chips in a 3:32 p.m. first pitch.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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MSU took an 8-1 lead after the second stanza, before Purdue chipped away at the Spartans' lead, scoring two in the third, one in the fourth and five in the fifth for a 9-8 edge, then added a run in the sixth for a 10-8 lead. The Boilermakers then scored six in the eighth to open a 16-8 advantage, only to see the Spartans plate five in the ninth and have the tying run at the plate when the game ended.
With 13 runs Saturday, the Spartans have now scored 10+ runs in three of the last five games after only doing so twice in the previous 18 games.Â
Saturday's 29 combined runs scored in the game came on a combined 32 hits, with 16 apiece, including three grand slams on the day, one from MSU by freshman infielder CJ Deckinga in the second inning for his first collegiate grand slam, while Purdue had the other two. Deckinga also added a three-run home run in the ninth, finishing with a season-high three hits on a 3-for-4 outing at the plate with seven RBI and two runs scored.
Sophomore infielder Dayton Murphy was 4-for-6 with a run scored, while junior infielder Ryan McKay was 2-for-4 with a run scored and senior outfielder Nick Williams was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Sophomore outfielder Isaac Sturgess added a hit, two RBI and a run scored, while senior infielder Randy Seymour had a hit, a ribbie and a run scored, sophomore outfielder Khamaree Thomas collected a hit and run, sophomore catcher Adam Broski had a hit and a run, and freshman pinch hitter Isaiah Domey had a hit.
On the mound, graduate Carter Monke (4.0 IP, 3K) started, before turning the ball over to junior Gannon Grundman (1.1 IP, 0 K), junior Logan Pikur (1.2 IP, 1 K), junior Ben Kochany (0.1 IP, 0 K) and graduate Andrew Siler (1.2 IP, 1 K). Grundman was dealt the loss, while Purdue's Jacob Boland earned the win and Jake Kramer picked up the save.
The Spartans and Boilermakers have split the first two games of the series after MSU's 4-3 win on Friday, setting up Sunday's rubber match in the series finale, with first pitch slated for 1:02 p.m.
Michigan State is now 9-16 overall and 4-7 in B1G play, while Purdue moves to 18-8 overall and 6-5 in conference competition. The Boilermakers have won four of the last five in the series, cutting MSU's all-time lead to 88-81, including 46-32 in East Lansing.
The combined 29 runs scored between the Spartans and Boilermakers is the second-biggest combined run total in the series, and most since 1955, when MSU beat Purdue, 22-8, on April 29, 1955 in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Saturday's 29 combined runs was the most in an MSU game since Feb. 23, 2024, when the Spartans lost to Marshall, 20-10 in Port Charlotte, Fla. It was also MSU's most runs scored in a loss since an identical, 16-13 loss at Bowling Green on March 17, 2009.
In Saturday's game, Purdue got on the board in its first at bat on a solo home run for an early 1-0 advantage.
In the bottom of the second, McKay sparked the Spartan rally by reaching on a Purdue error, one of three on the day for the Boilermakers, while the Spartans had four miscues. Broski and Williams followed with back-to-back singles to fill the bases full of Spartans, bringing Deckinga to the plate and he decked a pitch into the upper deck of the trees beyond the wall in left center for his first collegiate grand slam.
Two batters later, Thomas singled through the left side, and Murphy followed with a single through the right side. Sturgess then continued the single parade by knocking one through to right to drive in Thomas. Not to be left out of the hitting party, Seymour singled to left to plate Murphy. McKay then reached on an infield single, and a Purdue throwing error on the play allowed Sturgess and Seymour to score and put MSU ahead, 8-1, and the Boilermakers made a pitching change, to put an end to the Spartan rally.Â
Purdue countered with two runs in the third, one in the fourth, five in the fifth and one in the sixth to overtake MSU and take a 10-8 lead. The Boilermakers then tacked on six runs in the eighth to extend their lead to 16-8.
The Spartans did not go quietly into the sunny, chilly, brisk afternoon, as Domey led off the ninth with a single. He was erased from the basepaths on a fielder's choice by freshman pinch-hitter Cole Van Ameyde, who moved to second on a balk. Freshman catcher Anthony Elezaj reached on an error and Van Vameyde moved to third. Williams then  laced an RBI single to right center to score Cole Van Ameyde. Decking was up next and he smacked a homer to left center, nearly to the same spot as his grand slam in the second.
After a Purdue pitching change, senior designated hitter Noah Bright drew a walk, and junior pinch hitter Trent Rice did the same, prompting another Purdue pitching change. Murphy singled through the right side to re-load the bases, and Sturgess followed with an RBI groundout, pulling MSU within 16-13 and bringing the tying run to the plate, but a strikeout ended the Spartan rally, the inning and the game in one fell swoop.
Saturday's MSU vs. Purdue contest was game number seven out of the Spartans' 10-straight games in the state of Michigan, as Michigan State concludes the three-game B1G weekend series with a rubber match in Sunday's series finale, which is slated for a 1:02 p.m. start time.
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The Spartans then host Central Michigan on Tuesday, March 31 in the return game of the home-and-home with the Chips in a 3:32 p.m. first pitch.
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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.
Â
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.
Â
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.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: BOLAND, Jacob (1-0)
L: Grundman, Gannon (0-3)
S: KRAMER, Jake (5)
Batting:
2B: DRAKE, Dylan 1 ; FLORES, Sam 1 ; ROGERS, Brandon 1 ; RICHMOND, CJ 1
HR: DRAKE, Dylan 1 ; RICHMOND, CJ 1 ; MOORE, Avery 1
RBI: ANDERSON, Eli 1 ; DRAKE, Dylan 1 ; FLORES, Sam 3 ; MANIAS, Aaron 1 ; ROGERS, Brandon 1 ; RICHMOND, CJ 4 ; MOORE, Avery 5
SH: ROGERS, Brandon 1
SF: MANIAS, Aaron 1
Base Running:
RUNS: ANDERSON, Eli 1 ; DRAKE, Dylan 3 ; FLORES, Sam 3 ; MANIAS, Aaron 2 ; ROGERS, Brandon 1 ; RICHMOND, CJ 3 ; MOORE, Avery 1 ; SWIDERSKI, Trey 1 ; BOYLE, Westin 1
SB: SWIDERSKI, Trey 1
HBP: MANIAS, Aaron 1 ; RICHMOND, CJ 1
Batting:
2B: McKay, Ryan 1
HR: Deckinga, CJ 2
RBI: Sturgess, Isaac 2 ; Seymour, Randy 1 ; Williams, Nick 1 ; Deckinga, CJ 7
Base Running:
RUNS: Thomas, Khamaree 1 ; Murphy, Dayton 1 ; Sturgess, Isaac 1 ; Seymour, Randy 1 ; McKay, Ryan 1 ; Van Ameyde, Cole 1 ; Broski, Adam 1 ; Elezaj, Anthony 1 ; Williams, Nick 2 ; Deckinga, CJ 2 ; Bright, Noah 1
CS: Sturgess, Isaac 1
PO: Deckinga, CJ 1
Game Leaders
AB
6
R
1
H
4
RBI
0
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
7
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
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