Michigan State Baseball Triumphs Over Illinois in Dominating 14-4 Victory

East Lansing, Mich. — Michigan State University baseball secured a decisive 14-4 victory over the University of Illinois on Saturday, completing a three-game weekend series after a challenging start on Friday.

The Spartans’ impressive performance marked their first win against the Illini since 2017 and improved their season record to 17-10, with a conference record of 4-5 in the Big Ten.

Sam Busch led Michigan State’s offensive charge, delivering a stellar performance at the plate with four hits in five at-bats and driving in five runs. His contributions were pivotal in the game. Other key players included JT Sokolove and Ryan McKay, both of whom went 3-for-5, while Will Shannon added two hits in four at-bats.

On the mound, Tate Farquhar earned the win, supported by solid pitching from Gannon Grundman and George Viebrock, who contributed valuable innings to bolster the Spartans’ defense.

The victory comes as a relief after Michigan State faced a tough loss in the series opener against Illinois on Friday. The Spartans will now turn their attention to the upcoming 2025 Crosstown Showdown against the Lansing Lugnuts, scheduled for Tuesday at Jackson Field in Lansing. Following that exhibition, they will host Bowling Green on Wednesday before embarking on a road trip to Bloomington for a weekend series against Indiana.

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