Instead, what transpired was one of the most bizarre games in recent memory, as the Spartans blew out the Wolverines, 5-0, on an extremely cold and wet afternoon.

“Some days it seems like everything you touch is golden,” Baum said. “And we were fortunate that happened to us today. I’ve been on the other end of this and I know how it feels. Some days you’ve got it and other days you struggle.”

On this day, things went MSU’s way early and often.

Less than three minutes in, freshman midfielder Spencer Thompson was pulled down inside the box and MSU (9-1-2 overall, 2-1-1 Big Ten) was awarded a penalty kick.

Junior forward Doug DeMartin was given the task of giving the Spartans the lead and he did so, putting it inside the left post.

Later, in the biggest moment of the game, U-M’s Julian Robles was assessed a red card for pulling senior forward Kenzo Webster’s jersey from behind and yanking him to the ground. The foul not only forced the Wolverines to play the remainder of the game with 10 men, but since it occurred inside the box, MSU was awarded another penalty kick.

Again, DeMartin took the kick and again went to the left side and gave the Spartans a 2-0 first half lead with his eighth goal of the season.

“That’s where I feel comfortable,” DeMartin said of the left side. “Going into the game, I said I was going to go to the left side, I stuck with it and it worked out.”

The card was one of four given to U-M on the day.

“We tried to stay disciplined and sit in and get our flanks going,” U-M head coach Steve Burns said, “and obviously State’s a team that can hurt you in transition and it was their day.”

Despite having a commanding 2-0 lead, MSU didn’t let up on offense, as Thompson, Webster and senior defender John Folino added goals in the second half.

DeMartin almost added a hat trick goal, but was denied not by the goalkeeper, but by the post.

“We got those two goals in the first half and the game really opened up,” Baum said. “They had to keep attacking to try to get on the board, but once the game opens up like that, you’re going to get chances and we just had momentum, some energy and we were able to finish a few more.”

Senior goalkeeper Chris Austin stopped seven shots for MSU while Patrick Sperry stopped three shots for U-M before being relieved by Tom Huls after the fifth goal.