Michigan State University Athletics
Wednesday, April 1
Jackson Field | Lansing, Mich.
6 PM
Michigan State University
16
at
10
Lansing Lugnuts
Photo by: Erin Grady/MSU Athletic Communications
Seymour, Spartans Slug Way To Victory Over Lugnuts In 2026 Crosstown Showdown
4/1/2026 9:35:00 PM | Baseball
MSU wins second-straight exhibition contest with amended hitter-friendly format.
LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State baseball slugged its way to a 16-10 win over the Lansing Lugnuts Wednesday night in the 2026 Crosstown Showdown at a chilly Jackson® Field™ in the 18th-annual exhibition game between the Spartans and the High A-Affiliate of the Oakland A's.
The 2026 edition of the Crosstown Showdown was played in an amended hitter-friendly format, as the exhibition was entirely machine-pitched and set for a two-hour time limit/nine-inning limit, which made it in the full nine innings, played in a crisp 1:47. No bunting or stealing bases was allowed; a team had to swing the bat to score runs. There was no penalty for swinging and missing, with each batter receiving six pitches to put the ball in play. Lastly, each inning saw offenses receive a second-chance rally: After the three outs were recorded, the bases will be wiped clean and the outs reset.
"Tonight was a lot of fun, it was just a really different type of atmosphere but something again our guys are never going to forget," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "I think it's always fun. It's a little bit less pressure I guess. It's mostly just go out and have fun playing the game and try to learn from what the pro guys do and try to gain a little bit of a different perspective. My guys all want to play at this level at some point, so it's a good opportunity to feel for that."
One of those Spartan players that had a memorable time was senior infielder Randy Seymour, who belted one of the two MSU home runs on the night.
"It's always good to go talk to those guys too," Seymour said. "We've played with a couple of them, played against some of them. It's just fun to see all the fans and to play a game and have fun with it. That's what it's all about."
Former MSU men's basketball player Steven Izzo threw out the ceremonial first pitch on behalf of the Izzo Legacy Seventh-Annual Izzo Run/Walk/Roll on Sunday, April 26. Izzo's pitch was one of only two pitches thrown by hand, and the only one by a human, as the other ceremonial first pitch was by the tooth mascot for Delta Dental, the Crosstown Showdown sponsor.
A crowd of 2,125 hardy fans braved the cold, windy conditions, with temperatures in the mid-30s by game's end, with the real feel in the upper 20s. Despite the cold, the crowd was spirited, and were entertained by Sparty and the Lugnuts' mascot, Big Lug, along with the Spartan Marching Band, and the MSU Elite Dance Team.
Early fans in attendance received a cream-colored Crosstown Showdown jersey, presented by Delta Dental. The jerseys featured the Crosstown Showdown logo, along with Spartan green lettering and numbering, with number 18 on the back to commemorate the 18th year of the Crosstown Showdown.
"It's good, it's what Michigan State is all about. You see the fans and you see all the 'Go Green' chants and the band is here, the dance team, I mean it's awesome. It brings the school together it feels like."
Seymour's home run in the fourth inning helped the Spartans to their second-straight win over the Lugnuts, after last year's 1-0 win snapped an 11-game losing streak, as Seymour finishes 2-2 after Wednesday's final Crosstown Showdown of his Spartan career.
"I mean it's always fun to get a win," a smiling Seymour said with a laugh.
Seymour's HR was part of a four-run fourth inning, and was one of two Spartans with a home run on the night, joined by sophomore infielder Dayton Murphy with a solo homer in the sixth as the Green & White hung a five spot on the scoreboard in the frame. Murphy added a two-run single in the fifth, part of MSU's three runs in the inning. Junior outfielder Parker Picot added an RBI triple in the second, along with an RBI double in the sixth, driving in senior outfielder Nick Williams who had singled. Picot came around to score on an RBI double by fellow junior outfielder Trent Rice.
The Spartans scored in five of the nine innings, being held scoreless in the first, third, seventh and eighth frames. MSU scored three in the second stanza, four in the fourth frame, three in the fifth, five in the sixth and one in the ninth.
The Lugnuts also plated runs in five of the nine frames, but only had multiple runs in two innings, being held scoreless in the second, fourth, seventh and ninth innings, as the seventh was the only inning that both teams had zeros on the scoreboard.
Lansing scored one in the first and third innings before four in the fifth, one in the sixth and three in the eighth.
Petey Pitching Machine was dealt the hard-knock loss.
"Yeah he had a rough night that's the way it goes. He threw a lot of strikes though so that was good," Boss said.
The 2026 edition was the 14th Crosstown Showdown played in the spring out of the 18. It also served as the Lugnuts' final prep for their 30th Minor League Baseball season that begins with a three-game homestand to open the season Thursday-Saturday, April 2-4 vs. the Dayton Dragons.
Wednesday's exhibition also wrapped up MSU's nine-game in-state stretch.
The Spartans return to regular-season action and Big Ten Conference play when they hit the road and head to Evanston, Ill., for a three-game B1G weekend series at Northwestern, Friday-Sunday, April 3-5 at NU's at Miller Park in Evanston, Ill. Friday's series opener is slated for 4 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. CT, while Saturday and Sunday's games are both 2 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. CT start times. The Spartans are making their first trip to Evanston since 2022. MSU has won six of the last seven meetings with NU.
Michigan State then plays at Notre Dame on Wednesday, April 8 at 5:30 p.m., before returning home to host Michigan in a three-game B1G series, Friday-Sunday, April 10-12 at Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium.
The Spartans' 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.
The 2026 edition of the Crosstown Showdown was played in an amended hitter-friendly format, as the exhibition was entirely machine-pitched and set for a two-hour time limit/nine-inning limit, which made it in the full nine innings, played in a crisp 1:47. No bunting or stealing bases was allowed; a team had to swing the bat to score runs. There was no penalty for swinging and missing, with each batter receiving six pitches to put the ball in play. Lastly, each inning saw offenses receive a second-chance rally: After the three outs were recorded, the bases will be wiped clean and the outs reset.
"Tonight was a lot of fun, it was just a really different type of atmosphere but something again our guys are never going to forget," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "I think it's always fun. It's a little bit less pressure I guess. It's mostly just go out and have fun playing the game and try to learn from what the pro guys do and try to gain a little bit of a different perspective. My guys all want to play at this level at some point, so it's a good opportunity to feel for that."
One of those Spartan players that had a memorable time was senior infielder Randy Seymour, who belted one of the two MSU home runs on the night.
"It's always good to go talk to those guys too," Seymour said. "We've played with a couple of them, played against some of them. It's just fun to see all the fans and to play a game and have fun with it. That's what it's all about."
Former MSU men's basketball player Steven Izzo threw out the ceremonial first pitch on behalf of the Izzo Legacy Seventh-Annual Izzo Run/Walk/Roll on Sunday, April 26. Izzo's pitch was one of only two pitches thrown by hand, and the only one by a human, as the other ceremonial first pitch was by the tooth mascot for Delta Dental, the Crosstown Showdown sponsor.
A crowd of 2,125 hardy fans braved the cold, windy conditions, with temperatures in the mid-30s by game's end, with the real feel in the upper 20s. Despite the cold, the crowd was spirited, and were entertained by Sparty and the Lugnuts' mascot, Big Lug, along with the Spartan Marching Band, and the MSU Elite Dance Team.
Early fans in attendance received a cream-colored Crosstown Showdown jersey, presented by Delta Dental. The jerseys featured the Crosstown Showdown logo, along with Spartan green lettering and numbering, with number 18 on the back to commemorate the 18th year of the Crosstown Showdown.
"It's good, it's what Michigan State is all about. You see the fans and you see all the 'Go Green' chants and the band is here, the dance team, I mean it's awesome. It brings the school together it feels like."
Seymour's home run in the fourth inning helped the Spartans to their second-straight win over the Lugnuts, after last year's 1-0 win snapped an 11-game losing streak, as Seymour finishes 2-2 after Wednesday's final Crosstown Showdown of his Spartan career.
"I mean it's always fun to get a win," a smiling Seymour said with a laugh.
SPARTAN HHHOOOMMMEEEE RRRRRRUNNNNN!!!!
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) April 1, 2026
Randy Seymour with a 2-run blast to left!!
MSU 5
LL 2
T4th#GoGreen | #CTSD | @RandySeymour14 pic.twitter.com/WoD94lDkae
Seymour's HR was part of a four-run fourth inning, and was one of two Spartans with a home run on the night, joined by sophomore infielder Dayton Murphy with a solo homer in the sixth as the Green & White hung a five spot on the scoreboard in the frame. Murphy added a two-run single in the fifth, part of MSU's three runs in the inning. Junior outfielder Parker Picot added an RBI triple in the second, along with an RBI double in the sixth, driving in senior outfielder Nick Williams who had singled. Picot came around to score on an RBI double by fellow junior outfielder Trent Rice.
SPARTAN HHHOOOMMMEEE RRRUUUNNN!!!!
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) April 1, 2026
Dayton Murphy with a solo homer to left!!
MSU 15
LL 6
T6th#GoGreen | #CTSD | @daytonmurph pic.twitter.com/hhu7xXcR4O
The Spartans scored in five of the nine innings, being held scoreless in the first, third, seventh and eighth frames. MSU scored three in the second stanza, four in the fourth frame, three in the fifth, five in the sixth and one in the ninth.
The Lugnuts also plated runs in five of the nine frames, but only had multiple runs in two innings, being held scoreless in the second, fourth, seventh and ninth innings, as the seventh was the only inning that both teams had zeros on the scoreboard.
Lansing scored one in the first and third innings before four in the fifth, one in the sixth and three in the eighth.
Petey Pitching Machine was dealt the hard-knock loss.
"Yeah he had a rough night that's the way it goes. He threw a lot of strikes though so that was good," Boss said.
The 2026 edition was the 14th Crosstown Showdown played in the spring out of the 18. It also served as the Lugnuts' final prep for their 30th Minor League Baseball season that begins with a three-game homestand to open the season Thursday-Saturday, April 2-4 vs. the Dayton Dragons.
Wednesday's exhibition also wrapped up MSU's nine-game in-state stretch.
The Spartans return to regular-season action and Big Ten Conference play when they hit the road and head to Evanston, Ill., for a three-game B1G weekend series at Northwestern, Friday-Sunday, April 3-5 at NU's at Miller Park in Evanston, Ill. Friday's series opener is slated for 4 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. CT, while Saturday and Sunday's games are both 2 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. CT start times. The Spartans are making their first trip to Evanston since 2022. MSU has won six of the last seven meetings with NU.
Michigan State then plays at Notre Dame on Wednesday, April 8 at 5:30 p.m., before returning home to host Michigan in a three-game B1G series, Friday-Sunday, April 10-12 at Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium.
The Spartans' 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.
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