Michigan State baseball wins series over Michigan for first time since 2016

Michigan State baseball completed a series win over Michigan this past weekend for the first time since 2016.

For the first time since 2016, Michigan State baseball won a series over Michigan. This isn’t only the first series win over Michigan, it is an important series win. While there is still time left in the Big Ten schedule, Michigan State is currently in seventh place in the Big Ten.

Heading into the series, the Spartans were in eighth place, the last spot that makes the Big Ten Tournament. This was a very competitive series and two of the three games that went into extra innings.

Game 1

Game 1 was the only game out of the three games that ended up being a pitchers duel. Both Michigan and Michigan State each got seven-plus innings from their starters and both only gave up two earned runs. The starting pitcher for Michigan State, Joseph Dzierwa, was fantastic. He gave up three hits, struck out nine, and had just one walk.

This was a 2-1 game late until Michigan tied the game on a balk. Michigan State would not score again until the bottom of the 10th with a sac fly from Nick Williams. Not only did Williams win the game on this sac fly, he also helped save the victory with a diving catch that made Sportscenter’s top 10.

The bottom of the 10th might not have happened if not for Nick Williams'#SCTop10 worthy catch in the top of the 10th!!#GoGreen | @ESPNAssignDesk |@NicklasWilliam1 pic.twitter.com/NwjA1mL5fM

— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) May 4, 2024

This was the last game that would end with the bats struggling.

Game 2

Game 2 was the complete opposite of Game 1 and was very similar to Game 3. This is the only one that did not end up going into extra innings but it almost did if not for the bottom of the eighth.

If you like hitting and home runs, this was the game for you. With a combined seven home runs, this was one where the pitchers could not keep the ball in the park. Two of the biggest home runs came in the bottom of the eighth with a solo homer by Jack Frank to take the lead and then a three-run shot by Greg Ziegler to secure the win and the series. Ziegler and Frank were both fantastic. Frank went 4-for-4 with his only RBI coming from the solo home run and Greg had five RBIs.

This game ended in a 12-8 win over Michigan and gave Michigan State baseball a chance to sweep Michigan.

Game 3

As previously mentioned, Game 3 was similar to Game 2 in that the pitchers were struggling and Michigan State responded almost every time Michigan scored. This would be the second game that would go into extras, which Michigan State would fall short of the sweep by a 10-8 score in 12 innings.

Game 3 pitching hasn’t been the strongest for the Spartans this season but they got a decent start with the help of their hitting. Going into the ninth, they actually had a one-run lead and had the chance to close it out. Unfortunately, Michigan scored and sent the game into extras.

In those extra innings, Michigan would put up the only runs and would win it in the 12th.

This series win was an important one. It helped Michigan State get to 9-9 in the conference and a few games away from falling to the nine slot, which would make this team the first team out of the Big Ten Tournament. Being in seventh place and one game back from Michigan in the sixth spot, that gives them a little bit of breathing room heading into the last two series of the season. These last two series are Minnesota and Nebraska.

If the Spartans want to make the Big Ten Tournament, they need to win that Minnesota series and then hopefully get a game or two against Nebraska. If they do that, they should make the Big Ten Tournament and this series win over Michigan has really helped that become a possibility.