Can Michigan State's surprising hot start continue against No. 3 Texas? Expect power bats and stellar pitching in this weekend showdown.
WHO: Michigan State Spartans (2-1, 0-0) vs. No. 3 Texas Longhorns (3-0, 0-0)
WHERE: UFCU Disch-Falk Field, Austin, Texas
WHEN:
- Friday, Feb. 20 – 7:30 PM EST
- Saturday, Feb. 21 – 3:00 PM EST
- Sunday, Feb. 22 – 1:00 PM EST
WATCH: SEC+ / ESPN+ Unlimited
Yeah, that’s right—we’re entering the second weekend of college baseball. If you missed last week drowning yourself in sorrows that the NFL season is over, have no fear: college baseball is here to fill the void.
Last week, the Spartans shocked everyone but themselves, walking into No. 8 ranked Louisville’s home and taking the first two games of the three-game set. They won Game 1 with stellar pitching and incredible fielding, anchored by big swings from Randy Seymour and Adam Broski. In Game 2, the Spartans rode the momentum, flourishing at the plate and scoring 12 runs in a rout of the Cardinals. The third game things started to balance out as Louisville got their bats going, and stellar pitching limited the Spartans to little to nothing in the batter’s box.
Now we enter the second week of the season. The Spartans remain unranked, but an understanding that they can beat anyone on any day has swept through the dugout—a much-needed feeling as they head south to Texas to play a strong Longhorns team. Texas comes in hot after laying waste to UC Davis twice and Lamar once, outscoring their opponents 29-9 over the first three games of the season.
Texas enters the weekend showdown with five home runs—the same as Michigan State—and that showcases their ability to hit the ball where the opposing team isn't, instead of just looking for the long ball to win. They find the hole, small-ball it, or go yard their way to victory, coupled with excellent pitching. So the Spartans will need to bring everything they have.
The Spartans boast some impressive hitters themselves, though. The aforementioned Adam Broski and Randy Seymour headline the lineup heading into the weekend. Broski is hitting a rampant .455 (5-for-11) with a double, home run, and nine total bases. Seymour is batting .385 (5-for-13) with a double, two home runs, and 12 total bases. The leadoff hitter, Nick Williams, is hitting .300 with a team-leading four runs scored this season. Parker Picot added two home runs of his own during Saturday’s beatdown—one grand slam and one three-run shot. The Spartans are still waiting for Ryan McKay to get going after starting the season 2-for-11. McKay hit over .300 last season and was expected to be the rock of this team—Texas would be a fine place to get it going.
On the mound, the Spartans aren’t scared either. Led by Aidan Donovan, who shut down the Cardinals through five innings last weekend—he allowed just three hits and one run, boasting a 1.80 ERA heading into the weekend. Nolan Higgins has looked exciting out of the bullpen in two games thus far. He’s pitched four innings with a team-leading six strikeouts on the season, though he has allowed three runs in those four innings and sits with a 6.50 ERA. But the arm talent is there, and the ball is live coming out of his hand. That’s a recipe for a good pitcher.
This will be another true test for Boss’s team. He’s forcing the Spartans to play the best of the best to start this season, and so far they’ve proven their worth. But now they head to Texas, where the ball just sounds different when it’s hit. We’ll see if the Spartans can outlast the Longhorns in the long, hot Texas sun.
There’s not much to go on for predictions other than gut feeling here, but what fun is writing if you don’t get to put your stamp on the games—so that the few times you’re exactly correct, you can showboat and prove it?
Predictions:
Friday - Michigan State – 5 / Texas – 4
Saturday - Michigan State – 3 / Texas – 6
Sunday - Michigan State – 8 / Texas – 6