Michigan State University Athletics
Photo by: Erin Grady/MSU Athletic Communications
MSU Comeback Comes Up Short In 4-3 Loss To No. 1 UCLA Saturday
5/2/2026 11:13:00 PM | Baseball
Spartans push top-ranked Bruins to limits for second game in as many days.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- For the second-straight game, Michigan State baseball pushed No. 1 UCLA to the limits, Â but came up short in a 4-3 loss Saturday afternoon at Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium.
The top-ranked Bruins are believed to the first No. 1 team to visit East Lansing, and with Saturday's win, UCLA captured the Big Ten Conference weekend series after Friday's 4-1 game in which MSU led 1-0 until the eighth.
On Saturday, UCLA wasted no time taking the lead, plating all four runs in the top of the first frame. MSU plated a run in the second stanza, one if the fifth and one in the eighth to close to 4-3, but were unable to tie the game or take the least.
Michigan State now has a 16-27 overall and 10-16 B1G ledger. UCLA moves to 42-4 overall and remain unbeaten in conference competition at 23-0.
The Spartans scored their three runs on eight hits, while the Bruins scored their four runs on 10 hits.Â
Freshman infielder CJ Deckinga was 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored, driving in the run on one walk, and scoring a run after reaching base on a second walk. Junior outfielder Parker Picot was 1-for-3, matching Deckinga with a run driven in and a run scored. The sophomore duo of outfielder Isaac Sturgess and infielder Dayton Murphy were both 1-for-4, with Sturgess scoring a run, while Murphy drove in one. Senior outfielder Nick Williams was 2-for-3 with a walk.
Spartan sophomore starter Aidan Donovan went 5.0 IP, scattering four runs on eight hits, with two walks and two strikeouts. Junior reliever Logan Pikur tossed 4.0 scoreless innings, ringing up three strikeouts, yielding just two hits and one walk.
The Bruins scored all four of their runs in the top of the first on four hits, with a leadoff double and later followed by three singles.
In the second stanza, Deckinga drew a one-out walk, and McKay moved Deckinga up to second on a groundout. Picot then smacked a double down the left field line to drive in Deckinga and pull MSU within 4-1.
Sturgess sparked the Spartan rally in the fifth with an infield single to third. Graduate senior catcher Noah Bright drew a walk, and after a UCLA pitching changes, Thomas laced a single to fill the bases full of Spartans. Two batters later, Deckinga drew a bases loaded walk to bring Sturgess in to score, closing the home team to 4-2.
Picot got MSU's rally going in the eighth, drawing a one-out hit by pitch. Williams followed with a single through the right side, pushing Picot up to second. Both Picot and Williams moved up on base on a wild pitch, and Murphy followed with an RBI groundout to drive in Picot, pulling the Spartans within, 4-3. The Bruins went to the bullpen and brought on closer Easton Hawk for the second-straight outing, and he induced a foulout to end the MSU rally, and Hawk sent the Spartans down in order in the ninth to earn his second save in as many days and 11th of the season.Â
MSU and UCLA wrap up the three-game B1G weekend series on Sunday, May 3, with a 12:02 p.m. first pitch, which is an hour earlier than the Spartans' usual Sunday start time.
Michigan State then wraps up the nine-game homestand at Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium by hosting Bowling Green and Western Michigan in a pair of non-conference midweek match-ups on Tuesday, May 5 and Wednesday, May 6, respectively, both with 6:02 p.m. start times.
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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.
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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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The top-ranked Bruins are believed to the first No. 1 team to visit East Lansing, and with Saturday's win, UCLA captured the Big Ten Conference weekend series after Friday's 4-1 game in which MSU led 1-0 until the eighth.
On Saturday, UCLA wasted no time taking the lead, plating all four runs in the top of the first frame. MSU plated a run in the second stanza, one if the fifth and one in the eighth to close to 4-3, but were unable to tie the game or take the least.
Michigan State now has a 16-27 overall and 10-16 B1G ledger. UCLA moves to 42-4 overall and remain unbeaten in conference competition at 23-0.
The Spartans scored their three runs on eight hits, while the Bruins scored their four runs on 10 hits.Â
Freshman infielder CJ Deckinga was 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored, driving in the run on one walk, and scoring a run after reaching base on a second walk. Junior outfielder Parker Picot was 1-for-3, matching Deckinga with a run driven in and a run scored. The sophomore duo of outfielder Isaac Sturgess and infielder Dayton Murphy were both 1-for-4, with Sturgess scoring a run, while Murphy drove in one. Senior outfielder Nick Williams was 2-for-3 with a walk.
Spartan sophomore starter Aidan Donovan went 5.0 IP, scattering four runs on eight hits, with two walks and two strikeouts. Junior reliever Logan Pikur tossed 4.0 scoreless innings, ringing up three strikeouts, yielding just two hits and one walk.
The Bruins scored all four of their runs in the top of the first on four hits, with a leadoff double and later followed by three singles.
In the second stanza, Deckinga drew a one-out walk, and McKay moved Deckinga up to second on a groundout. Picot then smacked a double down the left field line to drive in Deckinga and pull MSU within 4-1.
Sturgess sparked the Spartan rally in the fifth with an infield single to third. Graduate senior catcher Noah Bright drew a walk, and after a UCLA pitching changes, Thomas laced a single to fill the bases full of Spartans. Two batters later, Deckinga drew a bases loaded walk to bring Sturgess in to score, closing the home team to 4-2.
Picot got MSU's rally going in the eighth, drawing a one-out hit by pitch. Williams followed with a single through the right side, pushing Picot up to second. Both Picot and Williams moved up on base on a wild pitch, and Murphy followed with an RBI groundout to drive in Picot, pulling the Spartans within, 4-3. The Bruins went to the bullpen and brought on closer Easton Hawk for the second-straight outing, and he induced a foulout to end the MSU rally, and Hawk sent the Spartans down in order in the ninth to earn his second save in as many days and 11th of the season.Â
MSU and UCLA wrap up the three-game B1G weekend series on Sunday, May 3, with a 12:02 p.m. first pitch, which is an hour earlier than the Spartans' usual Sunday start time.
Michigan State then wraps up the nine-game homestand at Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium by hosting Bowling Green and Western Michigan in a pair of non-conference midweek match-ups on Tuesday, May 5 and Wednesday, May 6, respectively, both with 6:02 p.m. start times.
Â
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.
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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