Michigan State’s baseball squad pulled off a second straight upset in the Big Ten tournament, edging No. 8 seed Iowa 4-3 on Thursday.
The contest appeared to be slipping away as the Hawkeyes clung to a 3-2 lead entering the ninth inning, but the Spartans engineered a comeback that loaded the bases before a decisive play.
Junior second baseman Ryan McKay delivered an infield single that plated the winning run, sparking a roar from the crowd and shifting the momentum firmly in Michigan State’s favor.
A Late-Inning Rally
Senior Nolan Higgins sealed the victory by striking out the final two Iowa batters, preserving the narrow lead and igniting celebration in the dugout.
Starter Carter Monke had set the tone earlier, tossing 5 ⅔ innings and allowing just three runs while navigating a competitive Iowa lineup.
Reliever Gannon Grundman then shut the door with 2 ⅓ scoreless innings, showcasing the depth of the Spartans’ bullpen.
Looking Ahead
Michigan State will next face No. 4 seed Southern California on May 22 at 10 a.m. ET, a matchup that could pit the team against junior Mason Edwards, the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year.
Edwards finished the regular season with an 8-0 record, a 1.49 ERA over 84.1 innings, and leads the nation in strikeouts and hits allowed per nine innings, making him a formidable challenge for the Spartans.
The back-to-back tournament wins not only boost the Spartans’ confidence but also underscore their resilience as they head into the next round of play.