The MSU bullpen was the star of game three, pitching eight shutout innings, which gave the offense multiple of chances. Garrett Brewer came in to salvage the first, avoiding excess damage. 

Brewer played a key role in the Spartans’ comeback attempt, limiting Michigan’s offense. In 2 2/3 innings, he allowed two hits and struck out five of the 10 batters he faced.

"He was huge, he came in with the runners on base too," MSU baseball head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "It was a huge spot in the game, albeit the bottom of the first inning. For him to shut the door on that rally and keep it where it was, and then to go out and throw a couple more. That's what we needed him to do."

Making up a six-run deficit in baseball is no easy task, but Boss said the message after the first inning was simple: don’t make the moment too big.

"You've got to try to do your job and pass it to the next guy," Boss said. "We can't think about getting them all back in the top of the second. You get one here, you get one there and you put yourself in a position to hopefully tie it at some point in the game."

MSU didn’t roll over despite the crushing first inning. The Spartans battled back, adding one run at a time to get within punching distance. 

Ryan McKay broke out of his 2-for-19 slump with a leadoff single in the first and added a double in the third. After his double, catcher Caleb Berry ripped a two-out grounder past third to score McKay for MSU’s first run.

MSU added another run in the fifth when Berry lifted a ball to left field that was dropped by Colby Turner, allowing McKay to score his second run of the day.

The Spartans had a prime opportunity in the sixth after JT Sokolove led off with a double, but he was tagged out trying to advance to third on a groundball. MSU couldn’t capitalize and came away empty.

In the seventh, Sam Busch ended his 0-for-9 slump by blasting his 12th home run of the season, hooking it around the right-field foul pole.

Down 6-3 entering the ninth, the Spartans faced an improbable task. Pinch-hitting for Jake Dresselhouse, Will Shannon led off by blasting a solo home run to center field, cutting the deficit to two and giving the few Spartan fans in attendance a reason to cheer.

McKay flew out, but third baseman Randy Seymour hit a home run to the same spot as Shannon in center field, putting the game within one. 

Berry struck out on three pitches for the second out. Sam Busch nearly had a single, but his line drive was caught by second baseman Benny Casillas, ending the game and completing the sweep for Michigan.

"The energy was great," Boss said. "I'm not quite sure why we didn't have that same energy on Friday and Saturday. The message in the ninth was just pass it to the next guy, and we got Sam up there with an opportunity, obviously our best power guy, and I think he just missed. That's the way the game goes."

It marks the second time MSU has been swept this season. After entering the weekend ninth in the Big Ten standings with a one-game lead over Michigan, the Spartans now sit in a four-way tie for 10th.

With the Big Ten Tournament expanding from eight to 12 teams this season, MSU remains on the cusp of qualifying with three weeks left. The Spartans will be off this week for final exams before hosting No. 13 Oregon for a three-game series.

"I think you build off some of the positives that happened today, especially after the first inning," Boss said. "I think the energy we showed in the ninth and the fight that we showed in the ninth is something to build off of."

Oregon, fresh off a series sweep of No. 3 Oregon State that included a run-rule win on Saturday, will present a tough challenge for MSU. The Spartans have dropped four straight heading into the matchup. Friday’s first pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium, with the game streaming live on Big Ten Plus.