Spartans Down Boilermakers In Big Ten Tournament Opener Behind Donovan’s Gem And Early Offensive Barrage

Tuesday, May 19

Charles Schwab Field | Omaha, Neb.

10 AM ET / 9 AM CT

Michigan State University

23-31

(5) Purdue

35-19

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Michigan State	4	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	8	11	1
Purdue	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	4	7	2

Aidan Donovan is congratulated by teammates during the Big Ten Tournament game vs. Purdue at Charles Schwab Field Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska on May 19, 2026

Photo by: Steve Branscombe

Spartans Down Boilermakers In Big Ten Tournament Opener Behind Donovan’s Gem And Early Offensive Barrage

5/19/2026 6:28:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score MSU 8, PUR 4 - BTT G1 Box Score

12th-seeded MSU upsets No. 5 seed Purdue in opening action of conference tourney.

OMAHA, Neb. -- No. 12 seed Michigan State baseball doubled up No. 5 seed Purdue, 8-4, Tuesday morning in the Big Ten Tournament opener, behind starting pitcher Aidan Donovan's gem backed with an early hits and runs barrage from the Spartans at Charles Schwab Field Omaha.

Despite the game starting at 10 a.m. ET / 9 a.m. CT and game time temperature of 47 degrees making it to the coldest Big Ten Tournament game on record played at Charles Schwab Field Omaha, the Spartans started out red hot and bolted out of the gates. MSU jumped out to a 7-0 lead after two innings with a four-run fourth and three-run second inning.

Meanwhile, Donovan silenced the Boilermakers' bats without a hit for 5.1 IP.

After being named to the Second Team All-Big Ten list during the game, as the Big Ten Conference announced the postseason awards at Noon ET, Donovan backed up his selection by finishing with six strikeouts in 7.2 IP. The six Ks tied his second-most of the season, and was his fourth outing in the last appearances with five or more strikeouts. Overall, it was Donovan's seventh outing with five or more strikeouts in his 15 appearances.

Donovan earned the win to improve to 6-4 on the season.

Junior reliever Logan Pikur went 0.2 IP with two hits and two runs allowed, before turning it over to senior reliever Nolan Higgins, who got the final two outs, chalking up a strikeout to end it and seal the win and spark the Victory for MSU celebrations.

While Donovan, Pikur and Higgins were quieting the Boilermaker bats, the Spartans' sticks were anything but quiet. MSU scored four runs in the first frame on four hits, then three more hits in the second inning on four more hits, before a solo run in the fourth on a home run by junior outfielder Parker Picot, continuing his scorching hot streak. Picot now has nine homers in the last 11 games.

Eight of the nine Spartans in the line-up had at least one hit, with three players rapping a pair of hits, led by senior infielder Randy Seymour going 2-for-5 with three RBI, coming on a two-run single in the first and a one-run single in the second.

Sophomore outfielder Khamaree Thomas was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored, knocking an RBI bunt single for the Spartans' first run of the game, and later scoring. In the second, he flew out to center for a sacrifice fly. Thomas also made a spectacular diving catch in the ninth inning, running down a deep fly to center and making a diving catch on the warning track just before sliding into the wall.

Fellow sophomore, designated hitter Isaac Sturgess was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and lacing an RBI double down the left field line in the second inning. Graduate senior catcher Noah Bright scored on the Sturgess double after knocking a single. Bright had one hit, going 1-for-4, and that was one of his two runs scored, reaching on a fielder's choice and coming around to score in the first frame.

Picot's HR was his lone hit of the day, but it was a big one.

Senior outfielder Nick Williams was 1-for-4 with two runs, scoring the first run of the game after leading off with a walk. The infielder duo of sophomore Dayton Murphy and freshman JC Deckinga were each 1-for-4, with Murphy knocking an RBI.

MSU will now face No. 8 seed Iowa, who rallied to beat No. 9 seed Illinois, 10-6, after trailing 4-0 in the first inning and 6-4 in the fifth, scoring one run in the bottom of the fifth before plating five runs in the seventh.

The Spartans and Hawkeyes take the diamond of Charles Schwab Field on Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. CT.

The 2026 B1G Baseball Tournament, Presented by IFS.ai, is held at Charles Schwab Field Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska, site of the NCAA Men's College World Series.

The Big Ten Network will broadcast every game of the tournament. Games will also be available on the FOX Sports App. Single-game and all-session packages are on sale at www.bigten.org/baseballtickets.

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.