Saturday, May 10
Los Angeles, Calif.
5:02 PM
Michigan State University
27-22, 12-14
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Photo by: MSU Baseball Social Squad
Spartans Scorch No. 25 Trojans Saturday In 15-5 Run-Rule Victory For MSU
5/10/2025 9:13:00 PM | Baseball
MSU wins game and series in first-ever meetings with USC.
IRVINE, Calif. -- Michigan State baseball's offense was as hot as the 95 degree temperature at first pitch Saturday afternoon on the way to scorching No. 25 USC, 15-5 in an 8-inning, run-rule Victory for MSU at Great Park in Irvine, Calif., as USC's home stadium, Dedeaux Field, is undergoing renovations.
The Spartans scored a season-high 15 runs in tying a season-best 18 hits en route to their third win over a Top 25 opponent this season, their most Top 25 wins since 2019. It was also MSU's eighth run-rule win of the season. Eight of the nine Spartans in the line-up had at least one hit, with six of them knocking multiple hits, led by sophomore outfielder Parker Picot and senior designated hitter Noah Bright posting four hits apiece.
"I thought (MSU hitting coach) Coach Stone put a great plan together for our hitters and our hitters did a great job of executing the plan," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "I thought we had a lot of quality at bats today and every guy in that order did their job offensively, so it was a really good day for us."
In the field, MSU's defense overcame a rocky start, with an error and lost the ball in bright sunny, high skies, before recovering with some nice leather-flashing plays.
"Defensively, we made some good plays and some big plays when we needed to, after we were a little shaky there in the first," Boss said.
With the win, MSU won the series with USC, as this weekend is the first-ever meeting between the Spartans and Trojans on the baseball diamond. USC entered the weekend having won its last eight-straight series, its longest series winning streak since 1978. The Spartans will go for the sweep in the series finale on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT.
"They're really good and to come out here and play the way we did last night and today I think is a testament to our guys," Boss said. "We know we're going to get a great effort out of them tomorrow, because they're a very, very good ball club in that other dugout. We're going to need to play well again, and fortunately, we played well on Friday and again today, so it's no easy task tomorrow by any means, because it's a very talented group they've got over there so we need to play clean tomorrow."
With Saturday's result, MSU improved to 27-22 overall and 12-14 in Big Ten play, while USC is 32-18 overall and 16-10 in league action.
Redshirt-sophomore Tate Farquhar battled on the mound all day, recovering from the collective rough start in the first when USC scored three runs on three hits with an error and losing the ball in the sun for an RBI double.
Farquhar finished with a season-long 6.2 innings, scattering eight hits and five runs, only two of them earned, without a walk and one K in an efficient 73 total pitches. He retired 13-straight Trojan batters from the third through the top of the seventh innings.
"Tate Farquhar picked those guys up and made big pitches when they were called for and that's what we need to do, we need to be able to pick each other up, and we did that today," Boss said.
At the plate, Picot spearheaded the Spartans' scoring attack with a career-high six RBI, including pummeling a pitch for a two-run home run to center in the fifth inning for his eighth homer of the season, adding a two-run double in the eighth after RBI singles in the second and third innings.
"Parker Picot was swinging it really well today with the career-high six RBI," Boss said. "He sprayed the ball all over the park, hit a long home run to center field and went the other way for a double. He's a talented kid and we're going to need him to get hot. So the idea is to repeat the approach today and carry that into tomorrow. Noah Bright also had a big day today with four hits, and again, up-and-down the order were on today. JT Sokolove had one hit on the day, but had three RBI and made some productive outs with a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly. We had a bunch of guys with two hits, so it was a good day offensively."
Picot and Bright were both 4-for-4, with Picot scoring two runs to go with driving in the six runs. Bright scored four runs. Sophomore infielder Ryan McKay, senior infielder Sam Busch, junior infielder Randy Seymour and graduate catcher Caleb Berry all had two hits apiece, while senior outfielder JT Sokolove and freshman Dayton Murphy added a hit each. Sokolove finished with three ribbies, while McKay, Busch and Berry had one each. Along with Bright's four runs, Busch, Berry, Sokolove and Picot all touched home twice, while McKay, Seymour and Murphy scored once.
On the mound, Farquhar handed the ball off to senior reliever Dominic Pianto for the final 1.1 IP, allowing just one hit but inducing a game-ending 5-4-3 2-outs, 1-play to end the game, to retire all four batters faced.
Just as they did in Friday's series opener, and in 19 previous games this season, the Spartans got the scoring started in their first at bat. Sophomore infielder Ryan McKay led off with a double to right center, moving to third on a groundout and scoring on an RBI groundout by senior infielder Sam Busch for an early 1-0 MSU lead.
The Spartan advantage was short-lived as the Trojans scored three runs in their first at bat on three hits and taking advantage of one MSU error and a flyball lost in the hot sun and USC was on top 3-1 after one inning of play.
In the second, Bright reached on a one-out fielding error, and moved to second on a wild pitch. Picot then slapped a single to center to plate Bright. Murphy followed by lacing an opposite-field double down the right field line to move Picot to third. A balk by USC starting pitcher Caden Aoki brought Picot in to score. McKay followed with an RBI single to center to plate Murphy for a 4-3 MSU lead.
Busch singled to start the third, Berry and Bright followed with singled to load the bases. Senior outfielder JT Sokolove flew out to right, but was deep enough for a sacrifice fly to bring Busch in to score. Next, Picot slapped a single to center to plate Berry and chase Aoki from the game and his shortest outing of the season, after coming into the game with a 5-2 record and a 4.25 ERA, averaging 6.0 IP in his previous 12 starts. MSU's scoring wasn't done in the frame, as Bright scored on a wild pitch by new USC reliever Andrew Johnson for a 7-3 Spartan advantage.
After going scoreless in an inning for the first time in the game in the fourth, the Spartans got back into the three-run frames in the fifth. Bright started the rally with a double down the right field line, and scored on the next batter when Sokolove laid down a bunt and Johnson had a throwing error on the play.
Picot followed by pummeling the pitch for a two-run home run to center to extend the Spartan lead to 10-3.
MSU tacked on two more in the sixth as Seymour sparked the rally with a one-out triple to the left-center gap. Berry knocked a single to left to plate Seymour and Bright followed with a single of his own. Sokolove came to bat and grounded out to third but allowed Berry to score for the 12-3 MSU advantage.
USC tallied two runs in the home half of the seventh to cut the gap to 12-5, and Pianto came on to replace Farquhar, inducing a flyout to put an end to the Trojan rally and their scoring for the day.
Busch started the Spartan rally in the top of the eighth, leading off the inning for the third time in the game. Three batters later, Bright singled, and Sokolove followed with a single down the line in right to plate Busch. Picot then pelted a double to right to plate Bright and Sokolove and cap the Spartans' scoring at 15-5.
In the bottom of the eighth, Pianto got some defensive help as Seymour snagged a smoking line drive that defined the hot corner that was headed down the line.
Pianto then yielded a one-out single, but got the 5-4-3 inning and game-ending double play, sparking the Victory for MSU celebration.
The Spartans and Trojans wrap up their series on Sunday at 4:02 p.m. ET / 1:02 p.m. PT.
Michigan State then wraps up regular-season action against Minnesota in a three-game B1G series, Thursday-Saturday, May 15-17, in which will be MSU Senior Weekend Celebrations, presented by HAP.
The Spartans' schedule is subject to further 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.
The Spartans scored a season-high 15 runs in tying a season-best 18 hits en route to their third win over a Top 25 opponent this season, their most Top 25 wins since 2019. It was also MSU's eighth run-rule win of the season. Eight of the nine Spartans in the line-up had at least one hit, with six of them knocking multiple hits, led by sophomore outfielder Parker Picot and senior designated hitter Noah Bright posting four hits apiece.
"I thought (MSU hitting coach) Coach Stone put a great plan together for our hitters and our hitters did a great job of executing the plan," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "I thought we had a lot of quality at bats today and every guy in that order did their job offensively, so it was a really good day for us."
RUN-RULE VICTORY FOR MSU!!!!!
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) May 10, 2025
High fives & handshakes alllllll around!!
Final:
Michigan State 15, No. 25 USC 5 (8 inn.)
MSU wins @B1Gbaseball series, snapping USC's 8-series win streak, its longest since 1978!
Season-high 15 runs on season-best tying 18 hits!!#VictoryForMSU pic.twitter.com/paXNIKBXWt
In the field, MSU's defense overcame a rocky start, with an error and lost the ball in bright sunny, high skies, before recovering with some nice leather-flashing plays.
"Defensively, we made some good plays and some big plays when we needed to, after we were a little shaky there in the first," Boss said.
Pico-de-GLOVE-yo!!
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) May 10, 2025
Parker Picot makes a leaping catch to rob USC of a hit!!#GoGreen | @ParkerPicot pic.twitter.com/7zCHcbCT0N
With the win, MSU won the series with USC, as this weekend is the first-ever meeting between the Spartans and Trojans on the baseball diamond. USC entered the weekend having won its last eight-straight series, its longest series winning streak since 1978. The Spartans will go for the sweep in the series finale on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT.
"They're really good and to come out here and play the way we did last night and today I think is a testament to our guys," Boss said. "We know we're going to get a great effort out of them tomorrow, because they're a very, very good ball club in that other dugout. We're going to need to play well again, and fortunately, we played well on Friday and again today, so it's no easy task tomorrow by any means, because it's a very talented group they've got over there so we need to play clean tomorrow."
With Saturday's result, MSU improved to 27-22 overall and 12-14 in Big Ten play, while USC is 32-18 overall and 16-10 in league action.
Redshirt-sophomore Tate Farquhar battled on the mound all day, recovering from the collective rough start in the first when USC scored three runs on three hits with an error and losing the ball in the sun for an RBI double.
Farquhar finished with a season-long 6.2 innings, scattering eight hits and five runs, only two of them earned, without a walk and one K in an efficient 73 total pitches. He retired 13-straight Trojan batters from the third through the top of the seventh innings.
"Tate Farquhar picked those guys up and made big pitches when they were called for and that's what we need to do, we need to be able to pick each other up, and we did that today," Boss said.
At the plate, Picot spearheaded the Spartans' scoring attack with a career-high six RBI, including pummeling a pitch for a two-run home run to center in the fifth inning for his eighth homer of the season, adding a two-run double in the eighth after RBI singles in the second and third innings.
"Parker Picot was swinging it really well today with the career-high six RBI," Boss said. "He sprayed the ball all over the park, hit a long home run to center field and went the other way for a double. He's a talented kid and we're going to need him to get hot. So the idea is to repeat the approach today and carry that into tomorrow. Noah Bright also had a big day today with four hits, and again, up-and-down the order were on today. JT Sokolove had one hit on the day, but had three RBI and made some productive outs with a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly. We had a bunch of guys with two hits, so it was a good day offensively."
Picot and Bright were both 4-for-4, with Picot scoring two runs to go with driving in the six runs. Bright scored four runs. Sophomore infielder Ryan McKay, senior infielder Sam Busch, junior infielder Randy Seymour and graduate catcher Caleb Berry all had two hits apiece, while senior outfielder JT Sokolove and freshman Dayton Murphy added a hit each. Sokolove finished with three ribbies, while McKay, Busch and Berry had one each. Along with Bright's four runs, Busch, Berry, Sokolove and Picot all touched home twice, while McKay, Seymour and Murphy scored once.
On the mound, Farquhar handed the ball off to senior reliever Dominic Pianto for the final 1.1 IP, allowing just one hit but inducing a game-ending 5-4-3 2-outs, 1-play to end the game, to retire all four batters faced.
Just as they did in Friday's series opener, and in 19 previous games this season, the Spartans got the scoring started in their first at bat. Sophomore infielder Ryan McKay led off with a double to right center, moving to third on a groundout and scoring on an RBI groundout by senior infielder Sam Busch for an early 1-0 MSU lead.
The Spartan advantage was short-lived as the Trojans scored three runs in their first at bat on three hits and taking advantage of one MSU error and a flyball lost in the hot sun and USC was on top 3-1 after one inning of play.
In the second, Bright reached on a one-out fielding error, and moved to second on a wild pitch. Picot then slapped a single to center to plate Bright. Murphy followed by lacing an opposite-field double down the right field line to move Picot to third. A balk by USC starting pitcher Caden Aoki brought Picot in to score. McKay followed with an RBI single to center to plate Murphy for a 4-3 MSU lead.
Busch singled to start the third, Berry and Bright followed with singled to load the bases. Senior outfielder JT Sokolove flew out to right, but was deep enough for a sacrifice fly to bring Busch in to score. Next, Picot slapped a single to center to plate Berry and chase Aoki from the game and his shortest outing of the season, after coming into the game with a 5-2 record and a 4.25 ERA, averaging 6.0 IP in his previous 12 starts. MSU's scoring wasn't done in the frame, as Bright scored on a wild pitch by new USC reliever Andrew Johnson for a 7-3 Spartan advantage.
After going scoreless in an inning for the first time in the game in the fourth, the Spartans got back into the three-run frames in the fifth. Bright started the rally with a double down the right field line, and scored on the next batter when Sokolove laid down a bunt and Johnson had a throwing error on the play.
Picot followed by pummeling the pitch for a two-run home run to center to extend the Spartan lead to 10-3.
Parker Picot sends the ball on a 407-foot sunny California adventure!!!
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) May 10, 2025
Picot pelts his 8th homer of the season and gives the Spartans 10 runs on the scoreboard for first time in last 10 games. It's the 13th game this season w/ 10+ runs!
MSU 10
USC 3#GoGreen | @ParkerPicot pic.twitter.com/iSsaW8TPYr
MSU tacked on two more in the sixth as Seymour sparked the rally with a one-out triple to the left-center gap. Berry knocked a single to left to plate Seymour and Bright followed with a single of his own. Sokolove came to bat and grounded out to third but allowed Berry to score for the 12-3 MSU advantage.
USC tallied two runs in the home half of the seventh to cut the gap to 12-5, and Pianto came on to replace Farquhar, inducing a flyout to put an end to the Trojan rally and their scoring for the day.
Busch started the Spartan rally in the top of the eighth, leading off the inning for the third time in the game. Three batters later, Bright singled, and Sokolove followed with a single down the line in right to plate Busch. Picot then pelted a double to right to plate Bright and Sokolove and cap the Spartans' scoring at 15-5.
Make it 6 RBI for Picot for a new career-high!!
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) May 10, 2025
The Spartan sophomore outfielder tacks on 2 more to his total with a 2-run double to give MSU a 15-5 lead!!#GoGreen | @ParkerPicot pic.twitter.com/VHX6tCgSPY
In the bottom of the eighth, Pianto got some defensive help as Seymour snagged a smoking line drive that defined the hot corner that was headed down the line.
Randy Seymour with a CATCH!!!
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) May 10, 2025
Hot day, hot corner, no problem for Randy Seymour snagging a scorching line drive!!
Seymour doin' his best Nolan Arenado impression w/ a #SCTop10 candidate!! #GoGreen | #FlashTheLeather | @RandySeymour14 | @ESPNAssignDesk pic.twitter.com/4NL8fkI2YP
Pianto then yielded a one-out single, but got the 5-4-3 inning and game-ending double play, sparking the Victory for MSU celebration.
The Spartans and Trojans wrap up their series on Sunday at 4:02 p.m. ET / 1:02 p.m. PT.
Michigan State then wraps up regular-season action against Minnesota in a three-game B1G series, Thursday-Saturday, May 15-17, in which will be MSU Senior Weekend Celebrations, presented by HAP.
The Spartans' schedule is subject to further 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.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Farquhar, Tate (3-2)
L: Aoki, Caden (5-3)
Batting:
2B: McKay, Ryan 1 ; Seymour, Randy 1 ; Bright, Noah 1 ; Picot, Parker 1 ; Murphy, Dayton 1
3B: Seymour, Randy 1
HR: Picot, Parker 1
RBI: McKay, Ryan 1 ; Busch, Sam 1 ; Berry, Caleb 1 ; Sokolove, JT 3 ; Picot, Parker 6
SH: Sokolove, JT 1
SF: Sokolove, JT 1
Base Running:
RUNS: McKay, Ryan 1 ; Busch, Sam 2 ; Seymour, Randy 1 ; Berry, Caleb 2 ; Bright, Noah 4 ; Sokolove, JT 2 ; Picot, Parker 2 ; Murphy, Dayton 1
HBP: Williams, Nick 1
Batting:
2B: Dowd, Brayden 1 ; Lamb, Andrew 1
RBI: Dowd, Brayden 1 ; Hedges, Ethan 1 ; Lamb, Andrew 1 ; Basseer, Jack 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dowd, Brayden 2 ; Hedges, Ethan 1 ; Lamb, Andrew 1 ; Covarrubias, Abbrie 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
4
H
4
RBI
0
AB
5
R
2
H
4
RBI
6
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
C
/ BaseballC
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballPursuit to Greatness | Spartans All-Access
Monday, May 19
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Thursday, April 17
Jake Boss | Baseball Press Conference | Mar. 25 2025
Tuesday, March 25
Jake Boss | Baseball Press Conference | Mar. 11 2025
Tuesday, March 11