Spartans unleash offensive fireworks, including two grand slams, to dismantle Louisville and clinch an dominant series victory.
The Spartans and Cardinals were back at it for game two after Friday’s 4-3 classic that saw Michigan State edge out the win behind a three-RBI night from Randy Seymour, including the go-ahead blast in the eighth.
And in game two? No drama required.
It started immediately. Nick Williams roped a leadoff single in the first and set the tone. After struggling to barrel balls early on opening day, the Spartans looked determined to prove that was a fluke. Williams advanced to second on a wild pitch and then to third on a Ryan McKay double. Seymour grounded out to short, but it was productive — Williams crossed the plate and McKay moved to third. Parker Picot followed with a sacrifice that brought McKay home. Just like that, 2-0 Spartans.
But Louisville didn’t earn a top-10 ranking by folding early. The Cardinals loaded the bases after a strikeout, and Ben Slanker — their standout from Friday — floated a blooper over second that plated two and tied it at 2-2.
Carter Monke, Michigan State’s starter, flirted with disaster to end the inning. Two Louisville hitters launched balls that echoed through the ballpark, rising fans to their feet, only to die at the warning track and settle into Spartan gloves. In June those are souvenirs. In February, they sit down in the cold air. The game stayed tied after one.
The Spartans threatened again in the second. Adam Broski continued his scorching start to the season with a double down the left field line. He moved to third on a deep flyout but was stranded there.
After a quiet stretch, Louisville threatened in the bottom of the third with runners on first and second and two outs. Monke dug deep and struck out Jimmy Nugent to escape and keep it tied.
Then came the fourth — the inning that broke the game wide open.
With two outs, Broski extended the frame with a single. The man is seeing beach balls right now. That brought Isaac Sturgess to the plate with two strikes. Sturgess went low and golfed a double to the pull side, scoring Jason Oliver. Broski was thrown out at the plate trying to score, but the damage had begun. Michigan State led 3-2.
Williams and McKay both walked to load the bases. Seymour delivered again with a clutch single to score Sturgess and make it 4-2. Then Parker Picot stepped in.
Picot launched a grand slam.
Nine batters came to the plate. Six runs scored. The Spartans blew it open to 8-2 in one monstrous inning.
Louisville scratched one back in the fifth to cut it to 8-3, but any thought of a comeback was short-lived. The Spartans responded immediately. After putting runners on, Picot went deep again — this time a three-run bomb in the sixth. Grand slam earlier. Three-run shot now. Seven RBIs on the day.
Have yourself a Saturday, Parker Picot.
Louisville added a solo homer from Slanker in the seventh, and Randy Seymour answered in the eighth with his second home run of the season, putting an exclamation point on it.
Final: 13-4.
Friday was a tense, opening-day chess match. Saturday was a statement. The Spartans didn’t just beat the No. 8 Cardinals — they controlled them.
Bring out the brooms. Michigan State goes for the series sweep tomorrow.