Michigan State Comeback Falls Short Sunday In Loss At Rutgers

Sunday, March 15

Bainton Field | Piscataway, N.J.

1 PM

Michigan State University

5-13, 1-5

Rutgers

11-8, 2-1

Michigan State

Rutgers

Photo by: Jeremy Fleming

Michigan State Comeback Falls Short Sunday In Loss At Rutgers

3/15/2026 6:54:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score RU 8, MSU 6 Box Score

Spartans scored three in the ninth and had tying run at plate before falling in series finale.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Michigan State entered the ninth inning trailing Rutgers by five and the Spartans rallied with three runs in the frame and had the tying run at the plate, but the comeback fell short in an 8-6 loss to the Scarlet Knights Sunday afternoon at RU's Bainton Field in the series finale of the three-game Big Ten Conference weekend series.

The Spartans scored one run in the second, before the Scarlet Knights charged back with two in the fourth and two more in the fifth to take a 4-1 lead. MSU closed to 4-2 with a run in the sixth stanza, but RU countered with three runs in the home half of the sixth to open a 7-2 advantage. Michigan State and Rutgers traded runs in the seventh with a run apiece, but then neither team scored in the eighth, leaving the score 8-3 going into the ninth. MSU plated three runs and had a runner on second and the tying run at the plate, but a groundout ended the Spartan rally and the game.

"Today was very similar outcome as Friday, we just didn't play well enough to win," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "I'm proud of the guys for showing good fight in the ninth, as that is the expectation here at Michigan State, but we need to make winning plays when the game calls for it."

With the loss, MSU is now 5-13 overall and 1-5 in Big Ten play. RU moved to 11-8 overall and 2-1 in conference competition. Despite Friday's loss snapping Michigan State's two-game win streak over Rutgers, the Spartans have still won six of the last 10 and eight of the last 13 meetings with the Scarlet Knights. MSU still leads the all-time series, 22-12, including 8-7 in games played in Piscataway.

MSU knocked 11 hits on the day, including three Spartans posting multiple hits, led by sophomore infielder Dayton Murphy going 3-for-5 with a double, one run scored and one RBI. Senior infielder Randy Seymour continued his hot stretch with a home run for the second game in a row and his fourth HR in the last five games, finishing 2-for-4. Sophomore outfielder Khamaree Thomas was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored.

Junior infielder Ryan McKay went 1-for-4 with an RBI, while senior outfielder Nick Williams, sophomore outfielder Isaac Sturgess and redshirt-sophomore catcher Adam Broski were all 1-for-5. Sturgess had an RBI, while Broski had a run scored. Junior outfielder Trent Rice drew two walks and scored one run.

Freshman starting pitcher Kyle Rudolph went 3.2 IP, scattering five hits, yielding two runs, and one walk. Junior Logan Pikur (1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K), senior Nolan Higgins (1.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K) and senior Tommy Szczepanski (1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K) finished out the action on the mound.

Sunday was Michigan State's last game played outside the state of Michigan until early April, as the Spartans next 10 contests are either played at home, or at an in-state opponent.

Next week, MSU makes the short trip to Ann Arbor on Wednesday, March 18 to play at Michigan in a non-conference midweek contest. First pitch from UM's Fisher Stadium is slated for 4 p.m.

The Spartans' home opener at Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium is also their Big Ten Conference home opener, hosting Iowa on Friday, March 20 at 3:35 p.m., in the first of the three-game weekend series. Game two is on Saturday, March 21, with the series finale slated for Sunday, March 22, both with 3:35 p.m. start times.

Michigan State then plated at Central Michigan on Tuesday, March 24, before hosting Purdue in a three-game B1G series, Friday-Sunday, March 27-29. MSU then wraps up the March portion of the schedule hosting Central Michigan on Tuesday, March 31.

The Spartans open April action with the 2026 Crosstown Showdown, meeting the Lansing Lugnuts, the High-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, on Wednesday, April 1 at 6 p.m. at Jackson® Field™ in the annual exhibition contest.

MSU's schedule is subject to change, fans can stay tuned to MSUSpartans.com and @MSUBaseball on Twitter for schedule updates, along with follow action with "Watch Live," "Listen Live" and "Live Stats" links where available.

The Michigan State baseball season ticket package, which includes 24 home games at Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium, and also single game 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, or fans can visit the MSU Ticket Office in person, located in 1855 Place.