MINNEAPOLIS -- Michigan State baseball's Big Ten Conference weekend series at Minnesota was evened up at a game apiece after the Spartans were grounded by the Gophers Saturday afternoon at Minnesota's Siebert Field, on a day that the Gophers celebrated head coach John Anderson.
Coach Anderson announced in December that he is retiring following this season, his 43rd at the helm of the Gophers and Minnesota had a special pre-game ceremony honoring their head coach. Nearly 300 former players, coaches, staff and families were on the field as part of the ceremony, and a sold out crowd in attendance.
The loss evened the series after Michigan State won Friday night's opener, 6-4, heading into Sunday's series rubber match.
Additionally, the loss snapped the Spartans' five-game winning streak over the Gophers, and was their first loss to Minnesota since 2021, as MSU has won six of the last eight and seven of the last 12 in the series.
Michigan State leveled its Big Ten record at 10-10, while sliding to 22-24 overall. MINN moves to 22-22 overall and 8-12 in B1G play.
Freshman
Ryan McKay was 2-for-3 with an RBI, while junior outfielder
Nick Williams was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Senior outfielders
Jack Frank and
Greg Ziegler, along with junior designated hitter
Noah Bright, sophomore infielder
Randy Seymour, junior outfielder
Jayden Terres and freshman outfielder
Landen Lozier all had a hit apiece. N.Williams, Lozier and sophomore outfielder
Jake Dresselhouse scored runs.
On the mound, senior starter
Nick Powers, sophomore
Nolan Higgins, senior
Nick Ferazzi, junior
Dominic Pianto and freshman
Jaxon Huffman saw action.
Powers broke into the MSU Career Strikeout Top 10 list, now at No. 10 with 181 Ks, passing Mick VanVossen (2012-15) & Mickey Sinks (1959-61).
The Gophers bolted out of the gates with a five-run first frame, including a bases-clearing double as part of the three hits. Minnesota added a run in each of the second and third stanzas on solo HRs in each frame for a 7-0 advantage. The home team added two more in the fourth before plating six in the fifth.
The Spartans got on the board in the sixth, loading the bases with no outs after N.Williams led off with a single, moved to second on a Ziegler single and to third on a McKay walk. N.Williams scored on a groundout double play for MSU's first run of the day, to pull within 15-1, but then Minnesota plated a pair in the seventh.
Michigan State added two more in the top of the seventh. Dresselhouse led off with a pinch-hit walk and two batters later, Lozier laced a single through the right side to move Dresselhouse up to third. McKay followed with a single to right to drive Dresselhouse in. Bright reached on a Gopher throwing error and Lozier scored on the play.
Minnesota tallied two runs in the seventh and two in the eighth for the final score of 21-3.
Michigan State and Minnesota wrap up the weekend with the series finale on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. CT in the Spartans' final road regular-season game.
MSU returns home to McLane Stadium at Kobs Field for its final four games of the 2024 regular-season, opening with a non-conference match-up with Eastern Michigan on Tuesday, May 14 in a 6:05 p.m. first pitch at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field.
The Spartans then host Nebraska in a three-game B1G weekend series, Thursday-Saturday, May 16-18 to wrap up the regular-season. Thursday and Friday's game are 6:05 p.m. start times, while Saturday's is slated for a 1:05 p.m. first pitch. Saturday is also MSU's Senior Day as the Spartans will honor their senior players and managers in a pre-game ceremony, so fans are encouraged to arrive early to join in the celebration.
Fans can follow MSU baseball action with "Tickets," "Watch Live," "Listen Live" and "Live Stats" links at MSUSpartans.com.
Michigan State's schedule is subject to change, stay tuned to MSUSpartans.com and @MSUBaseball on Twitter for schedule updates.
Individual game tickets are also on sale through the Spartan Ticket Office.
