Photo by: MSU Baseball Social Squad
Ryan McKay Tabbed Big Ten Co-Player of the Week
3/24/2025 5:01:00 PM | Baseball
Spartan sophomore infielder garners first career B1G weekly accolade.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State baseball's Ryan McKay was named the Big Ten Conference Co-Player of the Week, announced by the conference office on Monday.
McKay, a sophomore infielder from Clarkston, Michigan, earns not only his first B1G accolade of the season but of his career as well. It's his second overall B1G honor, as he was one of the Spartans' Big Ten Players to Watch before this season.Â
He also garnered MSU's first Player of the Week recognition this season. Overall, it is the Spartans' third conference accolade of the season, as junior pitcher Joseph Dzierwa collected back-to-back Pitcher of the Week honors on Feb. 17 and 24.
The Spartan sophomore McKay slashed .722 / .762 / .833 for the week, going 13-for-18 in four games on the week, leading MSU to a 3-1 mark, including helping the Spartans to their first series win over Penn State at University Park since 2016.
McKay reached base in 10-straight at bats and 11 of his last 12 after going 4-for-4 in last Wednesday's win over Oakland, as well as drawing a walk in his last at bat in the series finale at Iowa, in addition to drawing a walk in his second at bat, with only a groundout in between to deny McKay from 12 in a row.
He was 5-for-5 at the plate in Friday's win, becoming the first Spartan to do so this season, and the first since former teammate Jack Frank had a hit in all five at bats on 3/2/24 vs. Western Michigan. The Spartan infielder knocked two doubles in Friday's game, with one RBI and two runs scored.
McKay started the week going 4-for-4 with one RBI and three runs scored, adding two stolen bases and one walk in win over Oakland. He was also 1-for-4 with a walk and run scored in Saturday's loss at PSU.
He then bounced back by going 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored in Sunday's series-clinching Victory for MSU. McKay sparked a Spartan rally in the fifth of the Spartans' big four-run inning, as MSU extended its 2-1 lead to 6-1, and added another RBI single in the ninth as Spartans broke the game open after PSU closed to 7-4, and MSU added three runs to open a 10-4 lead, securing the 10-5 series-clinching win.
McKay and Michigan State's next game is at Notre Dame on Wednesday, March 26, in a first pitch now at 6 p.m. that will be televised on the ACC Network.
The Spartans return home to host Illinois in their B1G home opening weekend series at Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium, Friday-Sunday, March 28-30 at Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium. First pitch in the series opener is slated for 3:32 p.m. on Friday, March 28, followed by game two's start time of 3:32 p.m. on Saturday, March 29. The series finale on Sunday, March 30 has a 1:02 p.m. first pitch.
MSU's schedule is subject to change, fans can stay tuned to MSUSpartans.com and @MSUBaseball on Twitter for schedule updates, along with follow this weekend's action with "Watch Live," "Listen Live" and "Live Stats" links where available.
Michigan State baseball tickets are available online at msuspartans.evenue.net, by contacting the Spartan Ticket Office at 517-355-1610 or by email at tickets@msu.edu for questions or more information.
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McKay, a sophomore infielder from Clarkston, Michigan, earns not only his first B1G accolade of the season but of his career as well. It's his second overall B1G honor, as he was one of the Spartans' Big Ten Players to Watch before this season.Â
He also garnered MSU's first Player of the Week recognition this season. Overall, it is the Spartans' third conference accolade of the season, as junior pitcher Joseph Dzierwa collected back-to-back Pitcher of the Week honors on Feb. 17 and 24.
The Spartan sophomore McKay slashed .722 / .762 / .833 for the week, going 13-for-18 in four games on the week, leading MSU to a 3-1 mark, including helping the Spartans to their first series win over Penn State at University Park since 2016.
McKay reached base in 10-straight at bats and 11 of his last 12 after going 4-for-4 in last Wednesday's win over Oakland, as well as drawing a walk in his last at bat in the series finale at Iowa, in addition to drawing a walk in his second at bat, with only a groundout in between to deny McKay from 12 in a row.
He was 5-for-5 at the plate in Friday's win, becoming the first Spartan to do so this season, and the first since former teammate Jack Frank had a hit in all five at bats on 3/2/24 vs. Western Michigan. The Spartan infielder knocked two doubles in Friday's game, with one RBI and two runs scored.
McKay started the week going 4-for-4 with one RBI and three runs scored, adding two stolen bases and one walk in win over Oakland. He was also 1-for-4 with a walk and run scored in Saturday's loss at PSU.
He then bounced back by going 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored in Sunday's series-clinching Victory for MSU. McKay sparked a Spartan rally in the fifth of the Spartans' big four-run inning, as MSU extended its 2-1 lead to 6-1, and added another RBI single in the ninth as Spartans broke the game open after PSU closed to 7-4, and MSU added three runs to open a 10-4 lead, securing the 10-5 series-clinching win.
McKay and Michigan State's next game is at Notre Dame on Wednesday, March 26, in a first pitch now at 6 p.m. that will be televised on the ACC Network.
The Spartans return home to host Illinois in their B1G home opening weekend series at Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium, Friday-Sunday, March 28-30 at Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium. First pitch in the series opener is slated for 3:32 p.m. on Friday, March 28, followed by game two's start time of 3:32 p.m. on Saturday, March 29. The series finale on Sunday, March 30 has a 1:02 p.m. first pitch.
MSU's schedule is subject to change, fans can stay tuned to MSUSpartans.com and @MSUBaseball on Twitter for schedule updates, along with follow this weekend's action with "Watch Live," "Listen Live" and "Live Stats" links where available.
Michigan State baseball tickets are available online at msuspartans.evenue.net, by contacting the Spartan Ticket Office at 517-355-1610 or by email at tickets@msu.edu for questions or more information.
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