Boss, since 2009, now has a record of 17-34 against his in-state rival.

MSU took the lead first but a five-run fifth inning from the Wolverines blew the doors off an already lackluster day on the mound for MSU starting pitcher Carter Monke. 

In three innings, he threw 69 pitches with little command. The Wolverines' starter, Shane Brinham, didn’t reach that mark until the sixth inning. Monke (3-3) allowed 10 base runners in three innings of work. He and the MSU pitching staff relied more on UM mistakes than on capitalizing on its potential to strike batters out. 

Head Coach Jake Boss Jr. said he told his guys to take the comeback effort one at-bat at a time, but a lack of vigor on offense delayed any hope for a win.  

“You can't try to get them all back at one time,” Boss said after the game. "You just try to try to put a good at bat together and then follow that up with another one."

The graduate Illinois State transfer allowed 5 runs, 8 hits, while keeping five UM runners on base. Monke was able to work out of early jams and bases-loaded situations, but as the pressure mounted, the UM bats took over. 

Junior RHP Gannon Grundman came in relief of Monke with relative success. In three frames, Grundman allowed 1 run, 2 hits and one walk with 4 punchouts. MSU’s relief staff has had little to celebrate this season as they’ve let up 36 runs in the fifth inning or later in its past ten games. 

Boss said he liked what he saw out of his pitching staff today outside of the one inning.

“We certainly needed him — all of those guys today. I thought they all threw well holding it right there to give the offense an opportunity,” Boss said. “So it was a good day for those guys.”

As Michigan put crooked numbers on the scoreboard, MSU responded with little offensive firepower, a constant theme throughout the series. In game one, MSU tallied just four hits; today, they put together nine base knocks scoring the Spartans a run in the sixth, seventh and eight inning to put the game within two. However, MSU lacked the offensive moxie to initiate any momentum in key situations with runners on base. 

MSU was 2-for-11 with two outs and 4-18 with runner on base. 

In March, when the two teams faced off in a non-conference game, MSU had 8 hits but failed to score a run in Ann Arbor. Through three contests this season, MSU is 21-for-96 (.218) against the Wolverines’ pitching staff.

Four-year Spartan, Randy Seymour, extended his hit streak to ten Saturday afternoon on a single up the middle. Second baseman Ryan McKay tacked on to the rally, reaching base with an error before eventually scoring on a Nick Williams line drive over the second baseman’s head. 

Beyond the Spartans first score, Seymour batted in a run in the fifth, Pinch hitter Parker Picot brought home Khamaree Thomas and McKay doubled to right, scoring Seymour. 

“Unfortunately it was, it was too much, but our guys did a nice job of clawing themselves back into the game,” Boss said. “We keep playing hard and give ourselves a chance. We have an opportunity to salvage one tomorrow, and that's the goal.”

MSU now looks to avoid a sweep against its rival for the second year in a row at 1:02 p.m tomorrow, Sunday April 13, at MSU with live streaming on Big Ten Plus.