Michigan State pitching coach Mark Van Ameyde reacts to a 9th inning Oregon run at Ishbia Field in McLane Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan on May 4, 2025.
Michigan State University baseball couldn’t solve Oregon’s pitching in game three, managing just four hits in a 3-1 defeat.
In its past two games, Oregon only went to its bullpen once, leaving Sunday open for nearly the entire staff. Oregon sent its six-foot-eleven RHP Jason Reitz on the bump to start. Reitz had his way with the Spartan offense creating weak contact throughout most of his 6 ⅓ innings pitched.
Reitz finished with one earned run, one walk, and four strikeouts. While not overpowering, he consistently produced weak contact and kept MSU off balance.
MSU scratched across its only run in the sixth when designated hitter Noah Bright doubled to the left-field corner, advanced to third on a groundout, and scored on a Ryan McKay sacrifice fly.
The Spartans trailed just 2-1 after six, but managed only one baserunner the rest of the way.
Clinging to a one-run lead in the ninth, Oregon added insurance. The Ducks, who lead the Big Ten in home runs (88) and rank top-five in nearly every major offensive category, flexed their power once again.
Garrett Brewer quickly recorded two outs, but Oregon center fielder Anson Aroz smashed his 13th home run of the season to push the lead to 3-1.
MSU baseball head coach Jake Boss Jr. said the home run deflated his guys, unable to find an answer in the bottom half of the ninth.
“I thought they pitched it really well,” Boss said. “I thought they played really well defensively, and it's a shame; we just got beat today. The home run in the ninth kind of took some wind out of our sails, but at the same time, I like the way our guys competed.”
Junior right-hander Nolan Higgins made his 12th start of the season. After a rough outing last week against Michigan, Higgins showed improvement, allowing three hits, two runs, and two walks while striking out three across four innings.
Garrett Brewer took over in the fifth and was lights-out, tossing five innings of two-hit, one-run baseball with three strikeouts. Brewer has emerged as one of MSU’s most dependable bullpen arms during a season where starting pitching has been inconsistent.
Despite losing the series, Boss said he doesn’t think his team played poorly, but they need to play better. The No. 6 Ducks have been cruising all year but Boss said he doesn’t see them as a team they can’t compete with.
“Yesterday kind of got away from us, but at the same time, I don't care what their ranking is, the gap is not that big, really,” Boss said. “You got to get yourself into the tournament, and anything can happen. There's enough talent in our dugout, in our locker room, to make some noise.”
With their sixth loss in seven games, MSU falls to 24-21 (10-14), sitting 12th in the Big Ten. The Spartans are tied with Northwestern but currently hold the tiebreaker for the final tournament spot.
The Spartans now turn to their final two midweek games. They’ll face Eastern Michigan, Boss’ former program, on Tuesday before heading to Kalamazoo to play Western Michigan on Wednesday — MSU has already beaten the Broncos three times this season by a combined 22-7 margin.
Tuesday’s game against Eastern Michigan will stream live on Big Ten Plus. Wednesday’s matchup with Western Michigan will air on the Broncos’ YouTube channel.
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