Michigan State University Athletics
Saturday, April 25
3:32 PM
Michigan State University
15-25, 9-14
12
vs
4
Maryland
21-22, 6-14
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 4 |
| Michigan State | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | X | 12 | 12 | 1 |
Photo by: Erin Grady/MSU Athletic Communications
MSU Overpowers Maryland, 12-4, Saturday To Celebrate Alumni Day
4/25/2026 10:54:00 PM | Baseball
Spartans honor 1971 and 2011 B1G Championship teams on Kobs/Litwhiler Alumni Day, then topple Terps.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State baseball celebrated Kobs/Litwhiler Alumni Day in dramatic fashion, toppling the Terrapins of Maryland, 12-4, on Saturday afternoon at Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium.
MSU recognized the 1971 and 2011 Big Ten Championship teams, along with numerous other former Spartan players, for Kobs/Litwhiler Alumni Day in a pre-game ceremony on the field, and John Kobs IV, the great-grandson of Spartan legendary coach John Kobs, threw out Saturday's ceremonial first pitch.
"It's awesome to see these guys coming back," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said, who was in his third season in 2011 in leading the Spartans to the B1G title. "It's a lot of people who are pretty special to our program and have been very supportive. It does some great things. The 2011 team, obviously, is pretty special to me and our coaching staff. It's just great to see those guys back. Not only that, but with their wives, families, and kids. Those kinds of relationships are what the job's all about."
Once the game started, Maryland jumped out to a 3-0 lead in its first at bat, just like the Terps did Friday night on the way to an 18-10 slugfest win.
However, that would be the visitor's last lead of the day, as the Spartans countered with three runs of their own in the home half of the first frame to tie the score. MSU then took its first lead of the weekend with a run in the second for a 4-3 advantage. UMD tied it with a run in the top of the third, before Michigan State tallied three runs in the bottom half for a 7-4 score. The Spartans pulled away with a run in the sixth, then broke the game open by hanging four runs on the board in the eighth for the 12-4 win.
"We got down early and showed a lot of character coming back, and answering the bell in the first inning with three runs to tie it back up. Then, just a really good offensive approach all day long," Boss said. "We were very consistent, and had a lot of base runners, then had a lot of guys that came through with runners on base for some big hits. I thought our guys pitched it really, really well today ."
MSU scored its 12 runs on 12 hits, including home runs from junior outfielder Parker Picot and freshman infielder CJ Deckinga. Picot had two hits and three RBI in his first two at bats, coming in the second and third innings.
"It's just been a lot of preparation and a lot of hard work. I felt comfortable all day and just wanted to get my pitch and take advantage of it," Picot said.
Deckinga's two-run home run came in the first inning to tie the game, while Picot's came in the third inning and gave the Spartans the lead for good.
"A lot," Picot said about how much momentum the Spartans got from his and Deckinga's home runs. "We all kind of feed off each other. CJ's home run was huge, which put us right back into the game. It helps the team feel really good and keeps the momentum in our favor."
Meanwhile, the Spartan pitchers kept the Terps' offense in check, holding the highest scoring offense in the Big Ten to just four runs. Maryland came into Saturday with 356 runs scored, averaging 8.5 runs per game and had scored 10+ runs in the last three games, including 18 on Friday, but were limited to half of its season average Saturday, including zero runs and only five hits after the third inning.
Spartan sophomore starter Aidan Donovan fired a career-high seven strikeouts in 6.0 IP, marking the second time setting a new career-best in his last three outings, bettering his previous top mark of six Ks vs. Michigan on April 11.
Donovan scattered five hits and four runs, three earned, with three walks and the seven strikeouts. Three of those strikeouts were of the inning-ending variety, ending the first, third and sixth stanzas with strikeouts, including three straight-strikeouts in the sixth after yielding a leadoff single.
"It was a little bit of a rough start, giving up three in the first," Donovan said. "I was happy being able to bear down. I think the biggest thing is continuing to work ahead. I'm really happy with the performance."
Donovan's performance was followed by junior reliever Gannon Grundman pitched a scoreless two frames, allowing just three hits, no runs and two punchouts. Senior reliever Tommy Szczepanski put the finishing touches on the Spartans' solid pitcher performance, tallying one K, then yielding a one-out double, before chalking up back-to-back Ks, including a strikeout looking to end the game and spark the Victory for MSU celebration.
Saturday's Spartan win sets up a rubber match in the series finale on Sunday, in a 1:02 p.m. first pitch.
Sunday is Spartan Salute Day, and MSU baseball will be honoring all active military, veterans, first responders, healthcare workers and educators at Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium. A Veteran of the Game will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.
"We all have fun out here. We all enjoy winning. It's going to be a beautiful day tomorrow. We'll wear our Veteran jerseys, and it's going to be really good," Picot said about Sunday's commemorative jerseys.
On Saturday, the Spartans' 12 runs on 12 hits were dispersed between seven of the nine players in the line-up with a hit, while eighth of the nine scored a run and seven different players had at least one RBI.
Picot finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, while Deckinga was 1-for-5 with the two ribbies and a run scored.
Sophomore outfielder Khamaree Thomas was 3-for-5 with three runs scored and one run batted in, graduate designated hitter Noah Bright was 2-for-5 with a pair of runs and an RBI, while sophomore outfielder Isaac Sturgess was 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored. Junior infielder Ryan McKay was 1-for-3 with one run, while senior infielder Randy Seymour was 1-for-4 with an RBI, coming in MSU's four-run eighth, with all four runs coming on four hits with two outs.
Redshirt-sophomore catcher Adam Broski had a run and an RBI, coming on a UMD error in the second, while later walking and scoring a run in the eighth. Sophomore infielder Dayton Murphy reached by getting hit-by-pitch in the sixth and scored a run.
Sunday's MSU vs. UMD match-up is a 1:05 p.m. start, in the series finale.
Michigan State then has the week of April 27 off from games due to Finals Week on campus, before hosting No. 1 UCLA, Friday-Sunday, May 1-3.
The Spartans then wrap up the nine-game homestand hosting Bowling Green and Western Michigan in a pair of non-conference midweek match-ups on Tuesday, May 5 and Wednesday, May 6, respectively.
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.
MSU recognized the 1971 and 2011 Big Ten Championship teams, along with numerous other former Spartan players, for Kobs/Litwhiler Alumni Day in a pre-game ceremony on the field, and John Kobs IV, the great-grandson of Spartan legendary coach John Kobs, threw out Saturday's ceremonial first pitch.
"It's awesome to see these guys coming back," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said, who was in his third season in 2011 in leading the Spartans to the B1G title. "It's a lot of people who are pretty special to our program and have been very supportive. It does some great things. The 2011 team, obviously, is pretty special to me and our coaching staff. It's just great to see those guys back. Not only that, but with their wives, families, and kids. Those kinds of relationships are what the job's all about."
Once the game started, Maryland jumped out to a 3-0 lead in its first at bat, just like the Terps did Friday night on the way to an 18-10 slugfest win.
However, that would be the visitor's last lead of the day, as the Spartans countered with three runs of their own in the home half of the first frame to tie the score. MSU then took its first lead of the weekend with a run in the second for a 4-3 advantage. UMD tied it with a run in the top of the third, before Michigan State tallied three runs in the bottom half for a 7-4 score. The Spartans pulled away with a run in the sixth, then broke the game open by hanging four runs on the board in the eighth for the 12-4 win.
VICTORY FOR MSU!!!!
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) April 25, 2026
Final score: Michigan State 12, Maryland 4
High fives & handshakes alllllllll around!!
The Spartans even series, setting up rubber match on Sunday at 1:02 pm!#VictoryForMSU pic.twitter.com/YRImhfuywA
"We got down early and showed a lot of character coming back, and answering the bell in the first inning with three runs to tie it back up. Then, just a really good offensive approach all day long," Boss said. "We were very consistent, and had a lot of base runners, then had a lot of guys that came through with runners on base for some big hits. I thought our guys pitched it really, really well today ."
MSU scored its 12 runs on 12 hits, including home runs from junior outfielder Parker Picot and freshman infielder CJ Deckinga. Picot had two hits and three RBI in his first two at bats, coming in the second and third innings.
"It's just been a lot of preparation and a lot of hard work. I felt comfortable all day and just wanted to get my pitch and take advantage of it," Picot said.
Parker Picot smashes a monster 3-run HR to put the Green & White on top in the bottom of the 3rd!! 🔥🔥#GoGreen | @ParkerPicot pic.twitter.com/6V8O9eGHBj
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) April 25, 2026
Deckinga's two-run home run came in the first inning to tie the game, while Picot's came in the third inning and gave the Spartans the lead for good.
"A lot," Picot said about how much momentum the Spartans got from his and Deckinga's home runs. "We all kind of feed off each other. CJ's home run was huge, which put us right back into the game. It helps the team feel really good and keeps the momentum in our favor."
Going, going, gone!
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) April 25, 2026
CJ Deckinga launches a 2-run HR to tie the game in the bottom of the 1st!! 💪#GoGreen | @cjdecks_10 pic.twitter.com/PHyCK7wKSy
Meanwhile, the Spartan pitchers kept the Terps' offense in check, holding the highest scoring offense in the Big Ten to just four runs. Maryland came into Saturday with 356 runs scored, averaging 8.5 runs per game and had scored 10+ runs in the last three games, including 18 on Friday, but were limited to half of its season average Saturday, including zero runs and only five hits after the third inning.
Spartan sophomore starter Aidan Donovan fired a career-high seven strikeouts in 6.0 IP, marking the second time setting a new career-best in his last three outings, bettering his previous top mark of six Ks vs. Michigan on April 11.
Have a Day Aidan Donovan!!
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) April 25, 2026
Donovan's final #'s:
Career-high 7 Ks 🔥🔥🔥
6.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB
The 7 Ks tops his previous career-best of 6 vs Michigan on April 11. 👏👏#GoGreen | @donovanaidan22 pic.twitter.com/R7mlGVX5hn
Donovan scattered five hits and four runs, three earned, with three walks and the seven strikeouts. Three of those strikeouts were of the inning-ending variety, ending the first, third and sixth stanzas with strikeouts, including three straight-strikeouts in the sixth after yielding a leadoff single.
"It was a little bit of a rough start, giving up three in the first," Donovan said. "I was happy being able to bear down. I think the biggest thing is continuing to work ahead. I'm really happy with the performance."
Donovan's performance was followed by junior reliever Gannon Grundman pitched a scoreless two frames, allowing just three hits, no runs and two punchouts. Senior reliever Tommy Szczepanski put the finishing touches on the Spartans' solid pitcher performance, tallying one K, then yielding a one-out double, before chalking up back-to-back Ks, including a strikeout looking to end the game and spark the Victory for MSU celebration.
Saturday's Spartan win sets up a rubber match in the series finale on Sunday, in a 1:02 p.m. first pitch.
Sunday is Spartan Salute Day, and MSU baseball will be honoring all active military, veterans, first responders, healthcare workers and educators at Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium. A Veteran of the Game will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.
"We all have fun out here. We all enjoy winning. It's going to be a beautiful day tomorrow. We'll wear our Veteran jerseys, and it's going to be really good," Picot said about Sunday's commemorative jerseys.
On Saturday, the Spartans' 12 runs on 12 hits were dispersed between seven of the nine players in the line-up with a hit, while eighth of the nine scored a run and seven different players had at least one RBI.
Picot finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, while Deckinga was 1-for-5 with the two ribbies and a run scored.
Sophomore outfielder Khamaree Thomas was 3-for-5 with three runs scored and one run batted in, graduate designated hitter Noah Bright was 2-for-5 with a pair of runs and an RBI, while sophomore outfielder Isaac Sturgess was 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored. Junior infielder Ryan McKay was 1-for-3 with one run, while senior infielder Randy Seymour was 1-for-4 with an RBI, coming in MSU's four-run eighth, with all four runs coming on four hits with two outs.
The Spartans can't stop hitting!
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) April 25, 2026
Randy Seymour stretches the lead for the Green & White with an RBI double!!💪
Four runs come in with 2 outs in the bottom of the 8th.#GoGreen | @RandySeymour14 pic.twitter.com/8H3Dg0aQyL
Redshirt-sophomore catcher Adam Broski had a run and an RBI, coming on a UMD error in the second, while later walking and scoring a run in the eighth. Sophomore infielder Dayton Murphy reached by getting hit-by-pitch in the sixth and scored a run.
Homers, highlights and squirrel watch from today's 12-4 Victory for MSU over Maryland!!#VictoryForMSU pic.twitter.com/SF4xBt6O0y
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) April 25, 2026
Sunday's MSU vs. UMD match-up is a 1:05 p.m. start, in the series finale.
Michigan State then has the week of April 27 off from games due to Finals Week on campus, before hosting No. 1 UCLA, Friday-Sunday, May 1-3.
The Spartans then wrap up the nine-game homestand hosting Bowling Green and Western Michigan in a pair of non-conference midweek match-ups on Tuesday, May 5 and Wednesday, May 6, respectively.
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.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Donovan, Aidan (4-2)
L: Brayden Ryan (6-1)
Batting:
2B: Brayden Martin 1 ; Ryan Costello 1
RBI: Ryan Costello 1 ; Bud Coombs 2 ; David Mendez 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jordan Crosland 1 ; Brayden Martin 1 ; Ryan Costello 2
Batting:
2B: Bright, Noah 1 ; Thomas, Khamaree 1 ; Seymour, Randy 1 ; Picot, Parker 1
HR: Deckinga, CJ 1 ; Picot, Parker 1
RBI: Sturgess, Isaac 1 ; Bright, Noah 1 ; Thomas, Khamaree 1 ; Seymour, Randy 1 ; Deckinga, CJ 2 ; Picot, Parker 3 ; Broski, Adam 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sturgess, Isaac 1 ; Bright, Noah 2 ; Thomas, Khamaree 3 ; Deckinga, CJ 1 ; McKay, Ryan 1 ; Picot, Parker 2 ; Murphy, Dayton 1 ; Broski, Adam 1
CS: McKay, Ryan 1
HBP: McKay, Ryan 1 ; Murphy, Dayton 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
3
H
3
RBI
1
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
5
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
3
Players Mentioned
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C
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INF/OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballOF/LHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballOF
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