Wolverines Take Game One Over Michigan State

Friday, April 25

Ann Arbor, Mich.

4:00 PM

Michigan

25-17, 9-10

Michigan State

23-17, 9-10

Michigan State

Michigan

Greg Pace, Jr. (Michigan Photography)

4/25/2025 9:46:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Conor Stemme

» Michigan defeated MSU 8-2 in the series opener.
» Greg Pace Jr. doubled and homered in the contest and added four RBIs.
» Kurt Barr earned the win on the mound with 6.0 innings pitched.
» Matt Spear tallied three hits in the contest, scoring twice.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- After a long rain delay, the University of Michigan baseball team defeated Michigan State 8-2 on Friday afternoon (April 25) at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium, in the series opener.

Michigan (24-17, 9-10 Big Ten) got a strong performance on the mound from Kurt Barr (5-3), who pitched six innings, allowing just one run on six hits with three strikeouts. The Wolverines allowed only one run out of the bullpen, as Preston Barr and Brandon Mann combined to pitch the final three innings.

Offensively, Greg Pace Jr. led the charge with four RBIs, scoring two runs on two hits. Matt Spear added three hits and scored twice, while Jonathan Kim crossed the plate three times on two hits. Benny Casillas also contributed with multiple hits, one run scored, and two RBIs.

Michigan State (23-17, 9-10 Big Ten) drew a one-out walk in the first inning, and Michigan responded with a two-out double from Mitch Voit in the bottom of the frame, but both teams were held scoreless in the first.

The second inning was a turning point for the Wolverines. With two outs, Kim singled, followed by a hit-and-run single by Spear, advancing Kim to third. Pace Jr. doubled to right field, scoring Kim and moving Spear to third. Casillas then singled, driving in both runners and increasing Michigan's lead to 3-0. Both teams went down in order in the third.

Kurt Barr stranded two Spartans in the fourth inning, and Michigan added to its lead. After a strikeout to start the inning, a hit-by-pitch and single put two runners on for Pace Jr., who launched a home run over the right-field scoreboard.

In the fifth, the Spartans scored one run on two hits. Michigan didn't allow a hit in the sixth, with Kurt Barr recording his second strikeout to end the inning.

After a weather delay of more than two hours, Michigan State held Michigan off the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth.

Preston Barr took over on the mound in the seventh inning, and a 6-4-3 double play helped end the scoreless frame for the Wolverines. Casillas led off the bottom of the seventh with a double, followed by a single from Colby Turner that scored Brayden Jefferis. Despite a few hard-hit balls, Michigan stranded two runners.

Preston Barr turned in a quick 1-2-3 inning in the eighth, including an impressive catch on a comebacker. Kim led off the bottom of the inning with a double to deep right field, setting up an RBI single from Spear. Following a Michigan State pitching change, the Wolverines stranded two more.

Mann took the mound to finish the ninth, allowing one run but retiring the final batter on a groundout.

Michigan will continue the series against Michigan State on Saturday (April 26) with the first pitch scheduled for 2:00 p.m. The game will be streamed live on B1G+.