Spartans Top Huskies, 6-4, Friday Night In MSU’s First-Ever Game Played In Washington

Friday, April 17

Husky Ballpark | Seattle, Wash.

10:02 PM ET / 7:05 PM PT

Michigan State University

13-22, 0

Washington

16-21, 0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Michigan State	0	0	4	0	1	0	0	0	1	6	6	1
Washington	0	0	0	0	1	0	3	0	0	4	10	2

Photo by: Alexandra Carnochan

Spartans Top Huskies, 6-4, Friday Night In MSU’s First-Ever Game Played In Washington

4/18/2026 3:02:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score MSU 6, WASH 4 Box Score

MSU jumps out to 5-0 lead, behind Bright and Picot’s bats, and bullpen secures victory.

SEATTLE -- Michigan State baseball jumped out to a 5-0 lead and held on for a 6-4 Victory for MSU at Washington on Friday night at UW's Chaffey Field at Husky Stadium, in the Spartans' first-ever game played in the state of Washington.

Graduate designated hitter Noah Bright belted a two-run home run in the third, junior outfielder Parker Picot had three RBI and senior reliever Nolan Higgins stymied the Husky bats for the final 2.1 IP as the Spartans opened the Big Ten Conference three-game weekend series with a win.

MSU and UW had met in four previous games, but all on neutral fields, and the Spartans and Huskies were meeting for not just the first time on campus, but it was also Michigan State's first-ever game played in the state of Washington. The Spartans made the most of it in a memorable first game in the Evergreen State, plating four runs in the third inning and another run in the fifth for a 5-0 lead. The Huskies got on the board with a run in the fifth and three more in the seventh to close to 5-4, but Picot knocked an RBI single in the top of the ninth for an insurance run.

Higgins then struck out the side in the ninth to seal the Victory for MSU.

VICTORY FOR MSU!!!!

Final score from Seattle:
Michigan State 6, Washington 4

High fives & handshakes allllll around after Higgins strikes out the side in the 9th to secure the win and cap the ON night for the Spartans in their 1st-ever game in Seattle!! #VictoryForMSU pic.twitter.com/9qnXZyVQYx
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) April 18, 2026

The senior hurler fired a season-high five Ks in just 2.1 IP, with only one hit, capping a solid night for the Spartan pitching staff.

Graduate starter JD Greeley went 3.1 IP with two Ks and no runs, three hits and two walks. Graduate Andrew Siler (1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K), junior Logan Pikur (1.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 1 K) and junior Gannon Grundman (0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K) kept the Huskies leashed and limiting damage, bending but not breaking in leaving 14 UW runners on base.

MSU's offense only had six hits, but scored six runs, led by Picot going 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored, while Bright finished 1-for-4 with two ribbies and a run scored on his two-run HR. Sophomore outfielder Khamaree Thomas was 1-for-4 with an RBI, while sophomore outfielder Isaac Sturgess was also 1-for-4 with a run scored. Redshirt-sophomore catcher Adam Broski knocked an RBI on a sacrifice fly.

With the win, Michigan State is now 13-22 on the season, moving to 7-12 in Big Ten action. Washington is 16-21 overall and 7-9 in B1G contests. MSU trimmed UW's series lead to 3-2, as Friday night was the first meeting since 2018 in Minneapolis, and was the Spartan's first win since the first-ever match-up with the Huskies, in 1992 in El Paso, Texas.

Bright got the Spartans on the board first Friday night with a two-run home run in the third inning. It was Bright's fourth home run of the season and eighth of his career, but his first with a teammate on base, as his previous three HRs this season and seven of his career were all solo shots.

Noah Bright belts his 4th HR of the season - sending this one into the Spartan bullpen!!

It's Bright's 8th career HR, but the first of his career with runners on base, as the previous 7 homers were all solo shots!!

MSU 3
UW 0
T3rd#GoGreen | #NoahBright pic.twitter.com/0od9ZaHhUH
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) April 18, 2026

After a scoreless first pair of frames of the game, the Spartans smashed their way onto the scoreboard in a big way in the top of the third. Freshman infielder CJ Deckinga led off with a walk, Picot followed with a single and Deckinga darted around to third base. Broski then flew out to left, but it was deep enough to drive Deckinga in on the sacrifice fly. Bright followed with his two-run home run to left field.

MSU's offense wasn't done in the inning, as Sturgess doubled to right. Two batters later, Thomas drove in his fellow sophomore outfielder to put the Spartans ahead 4-0.

Picot led off the fifth with a home run to left field to push MSU's advantage to 5-0.

Pico-de-WOW-yo!!!

Parker Picot pelts his 4th homer of the season and 12th of his career!!!

MSU 5
UW 0
T5th#GoGreen | @ParkerPicot pic.twitter.com/0HvTUmgCY4
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) April 18, 2026

UW got on the board with a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth to close to 5-1.

After the seventh inning stretch, the Huskies rallied with three runs on three hits, with two Spartan pitching changes, before Higgins induced a flyout to Picot in right field caught at the wall to leave the bases loaded and keep the Spartans ahead at 5-4.

MSU added an insurance run in the top of the ninth as Murphy reached on an error, then McKay drew a walk. After a Washington pitching change later, Deckinga reached on a fielder's choice that moved Murphy to third but erased McKay from the basepaths. Picot then laced an RBI single to left center to plate Murphy for the insurance run and the 6-4 score.

This insurance run is brought to you by Picot Insurance Co.!!

Parker Picot w/ RBI single for his 3rd hit and 2nd RBI puts the Spartans up 2 headed to the bottom of the 9th!!

Mid 9th |
MSU 6
UW 4#GoGreen | @ParkerPicot pic.twitter.com/ujALRbxng1
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) April 18, 2026

Higgins then needed just 11 pitches to strike out the side in the bottom of the ninth for the Victory for MSU.

The Spartans and Huskies return to the diamond for game two of the series on Saturday with another 10:02 p.m. ET / 7:02 p.m. PT start time. The series finale is on Sunday at 4:02 p.m. ET / 1:02 p.m. PT.

Michigan State returns home to host Notre Dame on Wednesday, April 22, in MSU's lone game nationally televised on Big Ten Network. First pitch from Jeff Isbhia Field at McLane Stadium is slated for 6:02 p.m.

Wednesday's game vs. Notre Dame is the opening game of a nine-game homestand, as the Spartans then host Maryland, Friday-Sunday, April 24-26. MSU then has the week of April 27 off from games due to Finals Week on campus, before hosting No. 1 UCLA, Friday-Sunday, May 1-3.

The Spartans then wrap up the nine-game homestand hosting Bowling Green and Western Michigan in a pair of non-conference midweek match-ups on Tuesday, May 5 and Wednesday, May 6, respectively.

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.