The Spartans tried to rally in the ninth, scoring three runs, but it wasn’t enough as MSU fell to 16-8 on the season.

Ryan Szczepaniak got the start for MSU with just 4 2/3 innings pitched this season. A year ago, Szczepaniak redshirted due to injury and looked confident in the first, striking out the lead-off batter while forcing weak contact for a pair of groundball outs. 

Szczepaniak couldn’t maintain that success in the next inning. Before recording an out, Notre Dame scored six runs, and he was relieved by Garett Brewer.

MSU used seven pitchers Wednesday night in preparation for its first home Big Ten series against Illinois this weekend. The Irish added three more runs with Brewer on the mound. A highlight for Brewer, the sophomore LHP, was striking out the side to end the long inning.

After the second, Notre Dame failed to put up another run while the remainder of the MSU bullpen forced weak outs, letting up a single hit and striking out five. 

George Viebrock III was the only Spartan to throw two innings. The graduate transfer tossed two no-hit innings, recording one strikeout and one walk.

Looking ahead to their upcoming series against No. 4 Florida State, Notre Dame also had a bullpen day, tossing eight pitchers.

MSU made a couple of defensive changes not seen since earlier in the season. Noah Bright started behind the plate, while Caleb Berry, typically a catcher, served as Wednesday’s designated hitter. East Lansing native Sam Busch sat out most of the game before pinch-hitting in the ninth, with Will Shannon taking Busch’s usual spot at first base.

Bright responded to the Notre Dame onslaught in the third inning, launching a double down the right-field line. Third baseman Jacob Anderson followed with a single, and JT Sokolove flew out to left field, scoring Berry on the sacrifice.

The Spartans added two more in the sixth, thanks to Randy Seymour and Nick Williams. After a Shannon single, Seymour doubled down the left field line, scoring Shannon from first. Williams followed with an RBI single to make it 9-3.

With its backs against the wall, MSU fought back in the ninth, scoring three runs. The Spartans got base runners from Notre Dame mishaps, including two walks and two hit-by-pitches. With the bases loaded, Big Ten Co-Player of the Week Ryan McKay hit a sacrifice fly to score one.

After another hit by pitch, the bases were loaded again. Sam Busch made his first appearance of the game, pinch-hitting. The MSU home run leader lined his pitch to center, scoring two, and for a minute, it seemed like MSU could pull off the impossible. However, next up, Shannon struck out on a blistering fastball, ending the contest for MSU. 

One inning has been the issue for MSU in their losses all season. However, the team didn’t back down this time.

In this weekend’s series, MSU has a good chance to win at least two of three. Spartan ace and Big Ten strikeout leader Joseph Dzierva will start Friday’s opener. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m., with BTN Plus broadcasting the game.