It followed a familiar pattern in many of MSU’s losses this season — one or two poor innings stall the offense, and the team can’t claw back. MSU is now 0-6 when allowing four or more runs. When opponents break through with big innings, the Spartans have yet to mount a comeback.

Junior RHP Nolan Higgins has cemented his place as the Spartans second man in the rotation. The 6-foot-4 Wixom, Mich native started Saturday throwing 4 2/3 innings. His first four frames were lights out before derailing in the fifth. 

Higgins retired the side in order in three of his first four innings. If not for a solo homer by Jesse Jaconski in the third, he would have been perfect through four.

However in the fifth, Higgins allowed back-to-back singles followed by a walk to load the bases with zero outs. Penn State’s Matt Maloney then grounded into a fielder's choice, scoring the first run of the frame. Next Jesse Jaconski followed his home run from early with a routine groundball to Randy Seymour, the shortstop bobbled the ball, bringing another run home for the Nittany Lions.

As was the case last year, Seymour leads the team in errors and holds a .897 fielding percentage. His struggles in high-pressure moments have remained an issue for MSU.

MSU’s defensive issues continued when Ryan Weingartner singled through the left side to left fielder Nick Williams. Williams misplayed the ball, lifting his glove too early as it rolled to the warning track, allowing two runs to score and tie the game at five.

Reliever Garrett Brewer entered with two outs and escaped the inning with a strikeout. Brewer has been a consistent bright spot out of the bullpen, posting an 11.5 K/9 despite getting most of his work in losing efforts.

Brewer ran into trouble in the sixth. After issuing a walk and hitting a batter, he was called for a balk, advancing both runners. He struck out the next batter, but another walk loaded the bases.

Next to the plate for Penn State was Jesse Jaconski. The junior transfer is second in home runs with five on Penn State, and he unloaded for the second time of the game, this time a grand slam. 

Jaconski’s homer put Penn State up 9-5, and Zach Maxey took over for Brewer. The Nittany Lions tacked on one run in the seventh and another in the eighth to put the game out of reach.

MSU opened the scoring in the second when a throwing error on a fielder’s choice allowed Sam Busch to cross the plate. The Spartans added two more in the fourth on another error, scoring Busch and Will Shannon. In the fifth, Caleb Berry singled to left to score Ryan McKay, and Shannon followed with a liner to shallow center to plate McKay again.

There were a few bright spots. Sam Busch snapped his 0-for-12 slump with a double to the wall in the second and added a leadoff walk later. He ranks second on the team in OPS at 1.058 and leads MSU with seven home runs.

Designated hitter Will Shannon led MSU at the plate, finishing with two hits, an RBI and a run scored. The transfer from the Division II ranks was an All-American in 2024 before joining the Spartans this season.

The loss drops MSU to 15-7 overall and 2-3 in Big Ten play. Penn State improves to 16-6 and 5-3 in the conference. The Nittany Lions sit sixth in the Big Ten standings, while the Spartans are 11th after two league series.

MSU and Penn State will meet for the series finale Sunday at 1 p.m.