Down early, Michigan State's bats roared to life, fueling a dominant offensive clinic and a commanding victory over Maryland.
It was Alumni Day at the ballpark, and the Spartans came ready to play. Michigan State once again found itself down early, but unlike game one, they were able to settle in, control their heart rates, and completely stifle Maryland the rest of the way while putting on an offensive clinic of their own.
Michigan State pulled ahead in the second inning and never looked back, capping off game two with a convincing 12-4 victory.
The Spartans sent ace Aidan Donovan to the bump for game two, continuing the recent trend of using him in the second game of the series rather than the opener, where he had been slotted for much of the season. With the inconsistency of the pitching staff in games Donovan doesn’t start, it appears head coach Jake Boss Jr. prefers to slot his ace in game two as a stabilizer—a sort of peacekeeper between the other matchups.
So far, that strategy has worked as intended. The Spartans took last weekend’s series over Washington out west, and they’re now in position to do the same against Maryland.
Donovan didn’t have the cleanest start. The first batter reached base due to an error by the third baseman—no fault of Donovan’s—and Maryland quickly capitalized. The Terps strung together three straight hits (two singles and a double), scoring three runs before Michigan State could record an out.
However, once Donovan settled in and got that first out, things began to shift. He found his rhythm, and from that point forward, he looked much more like the ace the Spartans have relied on all season.
Donovan allowed just one more run, though it came at a pivotal moment. After Michigan State stormed back to take a 4-3 lead, Donovan issued back-to-back walks in the third inning and then gave up a game-tying single, evening things at four apiece. Fortunately for him, the Spartans’ offense had his back.
Donovan finished with six innings pitched, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits, with three walks and seven strikeouts. He picked up his fourth win of the season and continues to be the shining star for Michigan State’s pitching staff.
As mentioned, the Spartans’ bats came alive once again, scoring double-digit runs for the second straight game. Michigan State finished with 12 runs on 12 hits, drew three walks, and struck out just five times as a team—an efficient and balanced offensive performance.
Khamaree Thomas led the charge with a standout day at the plate, tallying three hits. He scored all three times he reached base and added an RBI to cap off his performance.
Three other Spartans recorded multi-hit games. Leadoff hitter Isaac Sturgess collected two hits, scored once, and drove in a run. Noah Bright also added two hits, contributing an RBI while crossing the plate twice. Parker Picot rounded out the group, delivering one of the biggest swings of the day.
Picot’s moment came in the third inning when he launched a three-run home run—one of his two hits on the day—to give Michigan State a 7-4 lead. That blast ultimately stood as the game-winning hit and shifted momentum firmly in the Spartans’ favor.
Speaking of home runs, freshman CJ Deckinga got things started early. In the first inning, he powered a two-run shot to tie the game at 3-3, immediately answering Maryland’s early surge and setting the tone for the offensive explosion that followed.
With the win, Michigan State takes game two, evening the series. Through two games, both teams have combined for an impressive 44 runs—but in drastically different ways. The Spartans have scored 10 and 12 runs in their two outings, while Maryland put up 18 in game one before being held to just four in game two.
Now, it all comes down to Sunday.
Michigan State currently sits 12th in the Big Ten with a 9-14 conference record, while Maryland falls to 6-14, holding the 14th spot. Both teams will meet again on Sunday, April 26 at 1 PM EST, with the series on the line.
With just two Big Ten series remaining for Michigan State, every game carries added weight. The home stretch is here, and the urgency is only growing.