EAST LANSING- The Michigan State Spartans prepare to take on their instate rival Michigan Wolverines in a pivotal three-game set, with major implications on the Big Ten standings.
MSU enters the series as losers of two straight, including a 4-3 loss at home against Notre Dame this past Tuesday.
The loss came after winning a series two out of three, against OSU last weekend, as the Spartans have won five of their last eight since being swept by Purdue, including four out of six in conference play. MSU comes into the game with a 19-22 record.
Michigan comes into the series playing the best baseball they have all season; having won ten of their last twelve games. The Wolverines swept Long Beach State this past weekend and have five straight overall. UM is 7-8 on the road this season, and sport an overall record of 24-21.
The probable starters in this series are the usual suspects for MSU, with the ace Joseph Dzierwa confirmed to have the start on Friday, as Nick Powers will make the Saturday start, and Nick Ferazzi will round out the weekend on Sunday.
Michigan has only confirmed one probable starter, Kurt Barr who will pitch on Friday. The sophomore has stepped up for the Wolverines all season, leading the team in ERA and Whip among qualified pitchers.
MSU senior Greg Ziegler is coming off a red hot performance, as he provided the only offense for the Spartans in their loss on Tuesday with a three-run home run in the ninth to cut the deficit to one. MSU will look to Ziegler to stay hot offensively for the Spartans to take the series.
Jack Frank will also have to continue his stellar campaign for the Spartans to take the series, as he leads the team in batting average, home runs, OPS, and stolen bases.
Notable stars in Michigan’s lineup include Mack Timbrook, who had a scorching hot April batting an even .500 with a .557 on-base percentage to lead the Wolverines with a .338 season average. He reached base in every game in the month and will look to continue that trend against the Spartans.
Another bat to look out for in the UM lineup is graduate student Stephen Hrustich. Hrustich leads the team in home runs, walks, slugging percentage, and OPS, and has been a force to be reckoned with all season long.
Since the start of 2021, UM has won nine of the last fourteen meetings between these two teams. MSU has won three of the last five matchups including the one at Ray Fisher Stadium earlier this season.
The Spartans took the only game between these two teams this season,16-6 in Ann Arbor. Every MSU starter had a hit, as UM pitching surrendered thirteen walks between the ten pitchers they used.
Michigan State had 2-run innings in the third, fourth, seventh, and eighth, but ran away and poured on seven runs in the ninth. Sam Thompson led the team with 4 RBI on the day. Aaron Mishoulam got the start that day and Noah Matheny got the win. Both MSU pitchers are expected to get some work out of the bullpen this weekend for head coach Jake Boss Jr.
UM currently sits in a tie for third place in the Big Ten standings, with a record of 10-5, tied with Nebraska and Indiana. MSU tied for seventh with Ohio State, 7-8. The Wolverines could put lots of distance between themselves and the Spartans with a series win this weekend, while MSU looks to make up some ground.
All three games are scheduled to be at McLane Stadium in East Lansing, on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The first pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6:05 p.m., with 3:35 p.m. and 2:05 p.m. start times for Saturday and Sunday.