On the other side, Illinois pitcher John Anderson limited the Spartans to just six hits through seven and ? innings to pick up the win and give his team a guaranteed spot in the Big Ten Tournament championship game Saturday.

“We just beat a very good team,” Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb said. “It all started with John Anderson on the mound — he was outstanding tonight. … He really stepped up for us.”

The Fighting Illini started the scoring early as the second batter, designated hitter Justin Parr, led the attack with a one-out single but made it to second on a fielding error by sophomore right fielder Tony Wieber. The next batter Adam Davis would double off the wall to score Parr to give Illinois the early 1-0 lead.

Illinois extended its lead in the bottom of the fourth inning with an attack led by a single from left fielder Casey McMurray. After a walk to right fielder Davis Hendrickson, McMurray and Hendrickson would score on a double from the No. 9 hitter, shortstop Josh Parr to strectch the lead to 3-0.

After a home run in the bottom of the sixth by Illinois first baseman Matt Dittman, Illinois would extend its lead to 4-0 over the Spartans.

The Spartans would get on the board in the top of the eighth, but struggled to get big hits to fall all afternoon against Anderson. In the losing effort, MSU would scatter six hits and left nine total runners on base on the day.

“We kind of got ourselves out a lot,” senior first baseman Jeff Holm said. “We didn’t get timely hits like we have time and time again (this season).”

The loss also means the Spartans’ road to the tournament’s championship game just got a lot more difficult.

MSU will play No. 6-seeded Minnesota at 3:35 p.m. on Saturday at Huntington Park in Columbus, Ohio for the right to meet Illinois again in the title game at 7:05 p.m. If MSU gets to the title game, they will have to win once on Saturday and again at 12:05 p.m. on Sunday because of Friday’s previous match-up against Illinois.

Even as the road is longer for the Spartans, MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. is confident heading into the team’s next game against Minnesota. Boss, who earlier in the week talked about his team’s swagger heading into the tournament, said he still believes his team is the best in the tournament.

“Obviously I’m a little biased (but) I think we’re the best team in this conference,” Boss said. “It doesn’t take anything away from Illinois or Minnesota or anybody else in this league but in order to be successful, you have to think that way. I know Illinois thinks that way, as well they should.”