Tuesday, December 30, 2025

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Sports

SPORTS

Women's rowing finishes seventh at NCAA Championship Regatta

With all the anticipation in an emotional weekend, the MSU rowing team harnessed its excitement through its final races Sunday, ultimately finishing seventh as a team in Gold River, Calif. Head coach Matt Weise said the Spartans capitalized on every strength they had for the best possible finish against the top 16 teams in the nation.

BASEBALL

Baseball needs win to stay alive in Big Ten Tournament

For the No. 2 seeded Spartan baseball team (35-20 overall, 16-10 Big Ten), the message is clear headed into Saturday’s matchup with Minnesota. After falling out of the winner’s bracket on Friday with a loss to top-seeded Illinois, MSU will meet the No. 6-seeded Golden Gophers at 3:35 p.m. today at Huntington Park in Columbus, Ohio.

BASEBALL

MSU baseball falls to No. 1-seed Illinois, takes on Minnesota Saturday

Junior pitcher Tony Bucciferro couldn’t match his complete game effort of a week ago, as he battled a high pitch count combined with high-powered No. 1-seeded Illinois (27-25 overall, 16-9 Big Ten) offense Friday as the No. 2-seeded MSU baseball team (35-20, 16-10) fell, 4-1. Bucciferro would allow eight hits over six and ? innings to drop his season record to 8-3.

BASEBALL

Baseball wins its opening Big Ten Tournament game

The No. 2-seeded MSU baseball team (35-19 overall, 16-9 Big Ten) shook off a two hour and 15 minute rain delay and used a collaborative hitting effort to rally behind senior pitcher Kurt Wunderlich to defeat Purdue, 7-1. With the win Thursday, MSU remains undefeated against the Boilermakers on the year, earlier sweeping them in three games during the first weekend in May.

BASEBALL

MSU looks to carry momentum into tournament

The MSU baseball team (34-19 overall, 15-9 Big Ten), which clinched a share of the Big Ten championship with Illinois last week, heads to Huntington Park in Columbus, Ohio, Thursday to face Purdue (37-18, 15-10) at 3:35 p.m. The tournament berth marks MSU’s ninth appearance in the Big Ten Tournament and second in the last three years.

ICE HOCKEY

New MSU hockey staff ready to take over program

With the hiring of former CCHA Commissioner Tom Anastos as MSU hockey’s head coach comes a new direction for the program. The recently hired Anastos and his staff met with members of the local and regional media Tuesday to discuss the direction of the program in an informal meet-and-greet session.

BASEBALL

Spartans earn share of Big Ten championship following weekend series

When junior pitcher Tony Bucciferro took the mound for the ninth inning of Friday’s game against Northwestern, he knew a complete game and the Big Ten championship were just three outs away. With a touch of swagger, Bucciferro dialed up his fastball and slider to strike out the side and deliver the first Big Ten title to the MSU baseball program since 1979. Bucciferro and senior pitcher Kurt Wunderlich threw a pair of complete games for the Spartans (34-19 overall, 15-9 Big Ten) over the weekend and capped off a strong pitching year for each of the players and for the program. “I knew it was going to happen, and I was fired-up,” Bucciferro said. “(Boss) has turned this program around.

BASEBALL

MSU falls to Northwestern, still celebrates Big Ten championship

Unfortunately Northwestern (20-29, 10-13) had other ideas for the Spartans (34-19 overall, 15-9 Big Ten), as they upended Senior Day at McLane Baseball Stadium at Kobs Field, 6-5. The day was not a total loss for MSU as they were presented with the Big Ten championship trophy by Athletics Director Mark Hollis and MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon, along with championship shirts and hats, following the conclusion of the game.

BASEBALL

Wunderlich throws complete game shutout, MSU beats Northwestern

In his last career start at McLane Baseball Stadium at Kobs Field, senior pitcher Kurt Wunderlich threw a complete game shutout, as the Spartans (33-18 overall, 14-8 Big Ten) downed Big Ten foe Northwestern (19-28, 9-12), 3-0. With the win, the Spartans edged ever closer to winning a Big Ten championship — the program’s first since 1979.

BASEBALL

Lasting Legacy

The MSU baseball team stands in position to win the Big Ten as its seniors take the field at home for their last weekend series against Northwestern.