Michigan State University Athletics
Friday, May 8
Huntington Park | Columbus, Ohio
6 PM
Michigan State University
18-29, 10-18
5
vs
15
(RV) Ohio State
25-21, 14-11
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 2 |
| Ohio State | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 15 | 9 | 2 |
Photo by: Jeremy Fleming
MSU Downed By OSU Friday Night In Series Opening Contest
5/8/2026 11:02:00 PM | Baseball
Spartans fall in first game of penultimate weekend series.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Michigan State baseball was downed by Ohio State Friday night at Huntington Park, home of the Columbus Clippers, the Triple-A Affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians, in the opening game of the Big Ten Conference series.
In MSU's penultimate weekend series of the regular-season and final B1G series, the Spartans fell behind early when the Buckeyes plated five runs in the second inning. The Spartans got on the board with a run in the top of the fifth, but the hosts scored three more in the home half of the frame to take an 8-1 advantage.Â
Michigan State didn't go quietly into the dark, damp, Columbus night, rallying with three runs in the sixth to cut the gap to 8-4. However, the four-run gap was short-lived as OSU tacked on two in the sixth for a walkie-talkie friendly, 10-4, score. The Spartans got a run in the top of the seventh before the stretch to again get within half at 10-5, but the Buckeyes scored two after the stretching and singing in the seventh, then three more in the eighth, to get the "walk-off" 15-5, 8-inning, run-rule win.
With the result, Michigan State is now 18-29 overall and 10-18 in B1G action. Ohio State, which was among others receiving votes in this week's NCBWA Top 25 Poll, won its fourth in a row in moving to 25-21 overall and 14-11 in B1G play.
Friday's outcome snapped the Spartans' three game win streak in the series, but MSU still has won eight of the last 12 meetings and 15 of the last 23 meetings, but the Buckeyes now lead the all-time series, 147-106-1. OSU's scoring outcome continued the winning team scoring 10+ runs in the last nine meetings and 11 of the last 13, as the Spartans swept the series with scoring 11, 10 and 14 runs in the three wins.Â
MSU scored its five runs Friday night on six hits, including a three-run home run by sophomore outfielder Isaac Sturgess. Fellow sophomore, infielder Dayton Murphy was 1-for-3 with an RBI, freshman infielder CJ Deckinga was 1-for-4, while senior outfielder Nick Williams and junior outfielder Parker Picot were both 1-for-3 and both scored a run. Both Deckinga and Williams knocked doubles to join Sturgess with extra-base hits. Sophomore outfielder Khamaree Thomas was also 1-for-4 and scored a run. Senior infielder Randy Seymour got hit by pitch twice, and came around to score once.Â
The Spartans got on the board in the top of the fifth when Seymour led off by reaching on an OSU throwing error. He moved to third on a double by Deckinga, for MSU's first hit of the night, and later scored on Murphy's RBI single to left.
In the sixth, Thomas knocked a one-out single to left and Picot followed with a single to center. Sturgess then smacked his three-run homer to right field, for his fourth round-tripper of the season, pulling MSU within, 8-4.
That would be the closest the Spartans would get, as the Buckeyes tacked on two in the bottom of the sixth. MSU got a run in the top of the seventh as Williams knocked a one-out double, then graduate senior catcher Noah Bright walked. Thomas then grounded out to move them up a base, and Picot followed with a walk to fill the bases full of Spartans. The OSU catcher tried to pick Williams off third, but an errant throw allowed Williams to dart home and score, getting the Spartans within, 10-5, but the rally ended without anymore runs.Â
The Buckeyes added two runs in the home half of the seventh, and MSU went scoreless in the top of the eighth. OSU then plated three runs on just one hit, taking advantage of four HBP and an MSU throwing error, before a "walk-off" single by Noah Furcht to end the game via the run-rule.
Graduate senior starting pitcher JD Greeley tallied three strikeouts in 4.1 IP, yielding four hits and eight runs, seven earned. Junior reliever Gannon Grundman went 0.2 IP with one hit and a walk, before the freshman duo of Andrew Everson and Bobby Crane finished off, with Everson going 1.1 IP with two hits, one walk and three runs, while Crane went 1.0 IP with two Ks, two hits, one walk and four runs.
The Spartans' continue their penultimate weekend of the regular-season and final weekend of Michigan State's B1G schedule in game two of the series with the Buckeyes, but back on campus for games on Saturday and Sunday, May 9 and 10, at OSU's Bill Davis Stadium. Saturday's start time is slated for 3 p.m., before Sunday's series finale at 1 p.m.
The Spartans drew their bye in the conference schedule on the final weekend, and will host Illinois State, Thursday-Saturday, May 14-16 in Spartan Senior Celebrations weekend.
MSU first hosts Eastern Michigan on Tuesday, May 12 at 6:02 p.m., before welcoming the Redbirds of ISU in a three-game series. Thursday and Friday's games are also both 6:02 p.m. start times, with Saturday's regular-season finale slated for a 1:02 p.m. first pitch, with pre-game Senior Celebrations recognitions all weekend.
Michigan State'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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In MSU's penultimate weekend series of the regular-season and final B1G series, the Spartans fell behind early when the Buckeyes plated five runs in the second inning. The Spartans got on the board with a run in the top of the fifth, but the hosts scored three more in the home half of the frame to take an 8-1 advantage.Â
Michigan State didn't go quietly into the dark, damp, Columbus night, rallying with three runs in the sixth to cut the gap to 8-4. However, the four-run gap was short-lived as OSU tacked on two in the sixth for a walkie-talkie friendly, 10-4, score. The Spartans got a run in the top of the seventh before the stretch to again get within half at 10-5, but the Buckeyes scored two after the stretching and singing in the seventh, then three more in the eighth, to get the "walk-off" 15-5, 8-inning, run-rule win.
With the result, Michigan State is now 18-29 overall and 10-18 in B1G action. Ohio State, which was among others receiving votes in this week's NCBWA Top 25 Poll, won its fourth in a row in moving to 25-21 overall and 14-11 in B1G play.
Friday's outcome snapped the Spartans' three game win streak in the series, but MSU still has won eight of the last 12 meetings and 15 of the last 23 meetings, but the Buckeyes now lead the all-time series, 147-106-1. OSU's scoring outcome continued the winning team scoring 10+ runs in the last nine meetings and 11 of the last 13, as the Spartans swept the series with scoring 11, 10 and 14 runs in the three wins.Â
MSU scored its five runs Friday night on six hits, including a three-run home run by sophomore outfielder Isaac Sturgess. Fellow sophomore, infielder Dayton Murphy was 1-for-3 with an RBI, freshman infielder CJ Deckinga was 1-for-4, while senior outfielder Nick Williams and junior outfielder Parker Picot were both 1-for-3 and both scored a run. Both Deckinga and Williams knocked doubles to join Sturgess with extra-base hits. Sophomore outfielder Khamaree Thomas was also 1-for-4 and scored a run. Senior infielder Randy Seymour got hit by pitch twice, and came around to score once.Â
The Spartans got on the board in the top of the fifth when Seymour led off by reaching on an OSU throwing error. He moved to third on a double by Deckinga, for MSU's first hit of the night, and later scored on Murphy's RBI single to left.
In the sixth, Thomas knocked a one-out single to left and Picot followed with a single to center. Sturgess then smacked his three-run homer to right field, for his fourth round-tripper of the season, pulling MSU within, 8-4.
That would be the closest the Spartans would get, as the Buckeyes tacked on two in the bottom of the sixth. MSU got a run in the top of the seventh as Williams knocked a one-out double, then graduate senior catcher Noah Bright walked. Thomas then grounded out to move them up a base, and Picot followed with a walk to fill the bases full of Spartans. The OSU catcher tried to pick Williams off third, but an errant throw allowed Williams to dart home and score, getting the Spartans within, 10-5, but the rally ended without anymore runs.Â
The Buckeyes added two runs in the home half of the seventh, and MSU went scoreless in the top of the eighth. OSU then plated three runs on just one hit, taking advantage of four HBP and an MSU throwing error, before a "walk-off" single by Noah Furcht to end the game via the run-rule.
Graduate senior starting pitcher JD Greeley tallied three strikeouts in 4.1 IP, yielding four hits and eight runs, seven earned. Junior reliever Gannon Grundman went 0.2 IP with one hit and a walk, before the freshman duo of Andrew Everson and Bobby Crane finished off, with Everson going 1.1 IP with two hits, one walk and three runs, while Crane went 1.0 IP with two Ks, two hits, one walk and four runs.
The Spartans' continue their penultimate weekend of the regular-season and final weekend of Michigan State's B1G schedule in game two of the series with the Buckeyes, but back on campus for games on Saturday and Sunday, May 9 and 10, at OSU's Bill Davis Stadium. Saturday's start time is slated for 3 p.m., before Sunday's series finale at 1 p.m.
The Spartans drew their bye in the conference schedule on the final weekend, and will host Illinois State, Thursday-Saturday, May 14-16 in Spartan Senior Celebrations weekend.
MSU first hosts Eastern Michigan on Tuesday, May 12 at 6:02 p.m., before welcoming the Redbirds of ISU in a three-game series. Thursday and Friday's games are also both 6:02 p.m. start times, with Saturday's regular-season finale slated for a 1:02 p.m. first pitch, with pre-game Senior Celebrations recognitions all weekend.
Michigan State'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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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gavin Kuzniewski (5-2)
L: Greeley, JD (0-3)
Batting:
2B: Williams, Nick 1 ; Deckinga, CJ 1
HR: Sturgess, Isaac 1
RBI: Sturgess, Isaac 3 ; Murphy, Dayton 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Williams, Nick 1 ; Thomas, Khamaree 1 ; Picot, Parker 1 ; Sturgess, Isaac 1 ; Seymour, Randy 1
HBP: Seymour, Randy 2
Batting:
2B: Henry Kaczmar 2 ; Noah Furcht 1 ; Maddix Simpson 1
HR: Dane Harvey 1
RBI: Alex Bemis 1 ; Henry Kaczmar 4 ; Noah Furcht 3 ; Dane Harvey 2 ; Maddix Simpson 1 ; Mason Eckelman 1 ; Lee Ellis 2
SH: Lee Ellis 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Alex Bemis 1 ; Henry Kaczmar 2 ; Noah Furcht 1 ; Dane Harvey 3 ; Maddix Simpson 2 ; Mason Eckelman 1 ; Lee Ellis 1 ; Grant Mangrum 1 ; Miles Vandenheuvel 3
SB: Henry Kaczmar 1 ; Miles Vandenheuvel 1
HBP: Alex Bemis 2 ; Henry Kaczmar 1 ; Maddix Simpson 2 ; Mason Eckelman 2 ; Miles Vandenheuvel 2
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
3
Players Mentioned
C
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
INF/OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballOF/LHP
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballOF
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