Here is an article from @SydneyPadgett about the road to recovery for Darius Snow. After a good play this week, one of his teammates said, "'That looks like D-Snow.'

Check out Sydney's full article here:

More coming shortly on the addition

Login to view embedded media

Michigan State sophomore defensive back Eddie Pleasant III has entered the transfer portal, Rivals reports.

Pleasant took a redshirt as a true freshman in 2023 and did not see game action.

The Tampa, Florida native was a three-star prospect out of Carrollwood Day school in the 2023 class. He ranked as the No. 66 cornerback and the No. 99 player in the state of Florida for the 2023 cycle.

Out of high school, Pleasant had additional scholarship offers from Cincinnati, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Iowa, North Carolina State, Penn State, Tennessee, Utah, Vanderbilt and several others.

Login to view embedded media

MSU faces Western Michigan​

• Michigan State baseball will face in-state foe Western Michigan in the "Capital Clash" at Jackson® Field™, home of the Lansing Lugnuts, on Wednesday, April 17 ... First pitch is slated for 6:05 p.m.

• The Spartans and Broncos are meeting at Jackson® Field™ for the seventh overall time and first time since 2010.

• MSU and WMU are meeting for the third time in a season after playing twice in March in Greenville, S.C. at Fluor Field, in two different weekend tournaments ... The Spartans have won both of this season's previous meetings on the way to winning the last five match-ups with the Broncos as part of winning eight of the last nine, nine of the last 11 and 17 of the last 20 meetings, cutting WMU's all-time series lead down to 95-89 ... the Spartans have a 9-5 advantage in neutral field meetings, including 4-2 in games at Jackson® Field™

• The Spartans' schedule is subject to change, stay tuned to MSUSpartans.com and @MSUBaseball on X/Twitter for schedule updates.

• Fans can follow this weekend's action with "Watch Live," "Live Stats" and "Listen Live" links, where available, at MSUSpartans.com.

• For the eighth-straight year, the Spartan Media Network will carry a live audio stream for all home and select road Spartan baseball games this season ... The broadcast will be available exclusively at MSUSpartans.com by clicking on "Listen Live" on the baseball schedule ... Broadcast veteran Scott Moore calls the action, with Spartan baseball alum Jim Cotter providing analysis.

COACH VAN AMEYDE AWAY FROM TEAM
• Michigan State will be without veteran pitching coach Mark Van Ameyde (VAN-uh-mead) for an extended amount of time, as he will be away from the team after undergoing a successful kidney transplant on March 20.

SECOND OF TWO AT JACKSON® FIELD™
• Wednesday's "Capital Clash" vs. Western Michigan is the second of MSU's two scheduled games at Jackson® Field™ this season ... MSU also played there on April 3 for the 2024 Crosstown Showdown in an exhibition game against the Lansing Lugnuts.

SPARTANS AT JACKSON® FIELD™
• Additionally, Wednesday's MSU game vs. Western Michigan in the "Capital Clash" marks the third-straight season that the Spartans have played a regular-season game at Jackson® Field™ after playing in the 2022 Capital Clash vs. Michigan, and playing a three-game in two-day weekend series vs. Ohio State there last season due to the Red Cedar River flooding at Old College Field.

MSU IN MITTEN STATE MATCH-UPS
• This week's battle with the Broncos of WMU is the Spartans' sixth game out of 11 total scheduled events against teams from the Great Lakes State, with 10 official games and one exhibition ... the Spartans are currently 3-2 against fellow Mitten State opponents, having already beaten Western Michigan twice (13-3 in 8-innings on March 2 and 5-3 on March 8 at Fluor Field in Greenville, S.C.) along with beating Michigan, 16-6 on March 26 at Ann Arbor, before losing to Oakland, 11-7, the next day ... the Spartans also played an exhibition against the Lansing Lugnuts in the Crosstown Showdown (April 3) ... MSU's most recent in-state match-up was last week's game vs. Central Michigan at McLane Stadium at Kobs Field, won by CMU, 10-0 ... After the Spartans meet Western Michigan Wednesday at Jackson® Field™ in Lansing, home of the Lansing Lugnuts, MSU will host Michigan in a three-game B1G series Friday-Sunday, May 3-5, before wrapping up the in-state slate of games on May 14, hosting Eastern Michigan.

PROFESSIONAL STADIUM EXPERIENCE
• Wednesday's Capital Clash vs. WMU at Jackson® Field™ is the second different professional stadium, as part of seven games and one exhibition contests the Spartans play in.

The Spartans also played six games at their home-away-from-home, Fluor Field, in Greenville, S.C., home of the Greenville Drive. MSU hosted the First Pitch Invitational I on March 2-3, playing Western Michigan and Florida State on Saturday, March 2. MSU beat WMU, 13-3 in 8 innings, before losing to FSU, 11-2, as the Seminoles were among others receiving votes in the national rankings at the time and are now ranked No. 14. The Spartans then lost to Illinois, 12-6, in a non-conference match-up on Sunday, March 3.

The following weekend, MSU hosted the First Pitch Invitational II, squaring off with Western Michigan again on Friday, March 8, bucking the Broncos, 5-3. MSU then lost to Western Carolina, 9-5, on Saturday, March 9 and to VCU, 8-4, on March 10 to wrap up its Fluor Field stretch.

Along with tonight's game at Jackson® Field™, the Spartans also played the Lansing Lugnuts in the 2024 Crosstown Showdown on April 3 in a 7-inning exhibition contest.

HOME STATERS
• The Spartans have 22 players on its 2024 roster from the state of Michigan, while the Broncos have 16 Michiganders on their roster.

BOSS 800
• Last week's game vs. Central Michigan was MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr.'s 800th game at the helm of the Spartans, becoming the third MSU baseball head coach to coach 800 games leading the Spartans and also the third with 400+ wins, joining John Kobs and Danny Litwhiler.

Coach Years Gms. W L T Pct.
John H. Kobs 1935-63 (39) 969 576 377 16 .603
Daniel W. Litwhiler 1964-82 (19) 859 489 362 8 .574
Jake Boss Jr. 2009-pres. (16th) 803 430 373 0 .535

SPARTANS VS. BRONCOS AT JACKSON FIELD
• Wednesday is the seventh meeting between Michigan State and Western Michigan at Oldsmobile Park/Jackson® Field™, home of the Lansing Lugnuts ... MSU has a 4-2 advantage in meetings with WMU there, winning the last four in a row:

April 17, 2024 TBA
April 20, 2010 MSU 6, WMU 3
March 25, 2009 MSU 5, WMU 3
May 7, 2008 MSU 8, WMU 6
April 10, 2007 MSU 6, WMU 5
May 11, 2005 WMU 5, MSU 2
April 16, 2003 WMU 4, MWU 2

SPARTAN-BRONCO CONNECTIONS
Wednesday's match-up has connections galore between Michigan State and Western Michigan:

• Current MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr., WMU head coach Billy Gernon and MSU assistant coach/pitching coach Mark Van Ameyde were together on the Spartans' staff from 2009-10, before Gernon left to become head coach at WMU.

• Current MSU assistant coach Andrew Stone is in his third season with the Spartans, but was a four-year letterwinner at Western Michigan (2015-19) ... For his career, Stone finished with a .304 average with a .402 on-base percentage in 155 games played, making 104 starts ... Stone helped WMU to the 2016 MAC Tournament title and helped the Broncos advance to the NCAA Regionals for the first time since 1989 ... Stone was a three-time Academic All-MAC selection and a MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete ... He earned his bachelor's degree in sports management from Western Michigan in 2018, and his master's degree also in sports management from WMU in 2019 ... Stone's father is Jeff Stone, Western Michigan's former Senior Associate Athletic Director, overseeing academic and compliance services, who retired in 2022.

• Spartan junior pitcher Ryan Szczepaniak will be in a MSU vs WMU match-up as the lone Szczepaniak for the first time in his Spartan career, as his brother, Drew, was a pitcher at WMU ... Both Szczepaniak brothers were the pitchers of record at the same time during the 2022 season's first meeting on April 13, 2022 in East Lansing, with Drew pitching the bottom of the fifth, while Ryan pitched the top of the sixth ... Ryan had a three-up, three-down inning with one strikeout, while Drew faced four Spartan batters without a hit, allowing one walk ... in the second meeting of the season on May 11, 2022 in Kalamazoo, neither Szczepaniak brother saw action, as Ryan pitched the day before at Notre Dame, and Drew pitched three days prior at Central Michigan ... Drew pitched one inning in the 2023 season's first meeting, yielding MSU's go-ahead run and was dealt the tough-luck loss in the 8-3 Victory for MSU on March 22, 2023, and neither Szczepaniak brother pitched in the second meeting of 2023 on March 28, 2023, an 8-6 Spartan triumph.

LAST TIME OUT LOOK BACK
• Michigan State was swept in a three-game B1G weekend series at Purdue ... Senior infielder Dillon Kark led MSU going 4-for-12 for the weekend with one double, while junior infielder/outfielder Nick Williams, senior outfielder Greg Ziegler and freshman outfielder Landen Lozier all had three hits apiece.

MSU VS WMU PREVIOUS MEETINGS THIS SEASONS
• The Spartans and Broncos have two previous meetings this season, both in Greenville, S.C. at Fluor Field, home of the Greenville Drive.

-- Michigan State walloped Western Michigan, 13-3, in eight innings in the opening game of the First Pitch Invitational I on March 2.

• MSU rapped out 18 hits in the opener, while limiting WMU to just seven hits and three runs.

• Senior outfielder Jack Frank was 5-for-5, with a triple and four singles, becoming the first Spartan to go 5-for-5 in a game since Bailey Peterson had five hits in five at bats on Feb. 21, 2020 vs. Merrimack.

• Senior infielder Dillon Kark was 4-for-4 with five RBI and two runs scored, bashing a three-run "walk-off" HR in the bottom of the eighth to secure the run-rule Victory for MSU.

• Sophomore infielder Randy Seymour also belted a two-run home run, with a towering 382-foot smash over the Green Monster in left field for his first collegiate round-tripper.

• Junior outfielder Nick Williams was also 4-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, knocking an RBI double in the second and a two-run single in the fourth.

• Freshman infielder Ryan McKay was 2-for-4 with three runs and a ribbie.

• On the mound, Spartan senior southpaw Nick Powers chalked up five strikeouts in 7.0 IP, scattering seven hits while yielding three runs, two earns, and not walking any.

• Senior Nick Ferazzi went the other 1.0 IP of relief, with a 1-2-3 frame after chalking up a pair of Ks following a leadoff groundout.

-- In the second meeting, a week later in the First Pitch Invitational II, sophomore infielder Randy Seymour bashed his second home run in as many meetings with Western Michigan to boost the Spartans to a 5-3 Victory for MSU over the Broncos on March 8.

• Senior outfielder Jack Frank finished 3-for-3 with a run scored, while junior designated hitter Christian Williams was 2-for-3 with the two ribbies and scored a run.

• Seymour and junior infielder Sam Busch were both 2-for-4, with Busch driving in a run, while senior infielder Dillon Kark was 1-for-4 with an RBI.

• Sophomore starting southpaw Joseph Dzierwa settled in after a bumpy first frame and kept the Broncos in check from there, finishing with six strikeouts in 6.0 IP, scattering five hits and walking to, earning his first win of the season.

• Sophomore Nolan Higgins came on in the seventh and got out of a bases-loaded jam with a big strikeout to thwart the threat by the Broncos.

• Freshman Logan Pikur fired a 1-2-3 eighth inning, getting assistance from the infield with a nifty 4-6-3 double play.

• Sophomore Tommy Szczepanski pitched the ninth, after yielding a leadoff hit, chalked up two punchouts before inducing a foulout to senior catcher Sam Thompson to secure the Victory for MSU.

POWERS NO. 125 ON D1BASEBALL'S TOP 150 STARTING PITCHERS
• Senior left-handed starting pitcher Nick Powers is No. 125 on D1Baseball.com's Top 150 Starting Pitchers and is the lone Spartan representative on the publication's mid-season player rankings.

• Powers currently leads MSU and ranks third in the B1G and 47th in the NCAA in victories with five ... he is also fifth in the conference in strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.09).

• Powers has a 5-3 record with a 4.15 ERA in nine starts, including one complete game ... he has 45 strikeouts to just 11 walks in a team-leading 56.1 IP.

FRANK-ING FAST ON THE BASEPATHS AND UP THE RECORD BOOK
• Senior outfielder Jack Frank snagged three stolen bases in the weekend series vs. Niagara, now with 16 on the season and 49 stolen bases for his career ... with the 49 swipes, Frank has climbed within one of No. 5 on MSU's career stolen bases, one shy of Brandon Hughes (2015-17).

• Frank is also third in the B1G and 51st in the NCAA with the 16 stolen bases ... he also is fourth in the conference and 60th in the country in stolen bases per game (0.48).

• The 16 swipes is just three shy of his single-season career-high of 19 stolen bases last season, and is his third-straight double-digit swipes season after 10 in 2022.

NUMBER 2 FOR 2 BAGS
• Senior infielder Dillon Kark is matching his jersey number of 2 for 2-baggers with a team-high 12 doubles, good for ranking eighth in the B1G ... Kark is also seventh in the conference in doubles per game (0.36).

• Kark has knocked a double in three of the last six games ... he has had two streaks of three-straight games with a double, as well as a stretch of four in five games.

ABOUT WESTERN MICHIGAN
• The Broncos are 20-13 overall and 11-5 in MAC action ... WMU won its eighth in a row with a 12-2 (7-inning) win over NAIA opponent Goshen on Tuesday evening ... the Broncos' eight-game winning streak is their longest since winning nine in a row in 2005 ... over the weekend, the Broncos swept Miami (Ohio), winning 3-0, 8-5 and 17-11 ... last week, WMU won, 10-9, at Michigan.

• WMU is hitting .319 as a team, with 364 hits (11.0 pg) and 265 runs (8.0 pg), with 37 HR ... the Broncos are also 29-of-43 on the basepaths (0.9 stolen bases per game).

• Senior infielder Cade Sullivan leads the Broncos hitting .415, and was second in the MAC and 32nd in the NCAA entering Tuesday's game, bolstering his average after going 3-for-5 with three runs ... Sullivan adds a .659 slugging percentage and a .506 on-base percentage, with 56 hits with nine doubles and eight HR.

• Redshirt-junior outfielder Dylan Nevar adds a .369 average with seven HR, while infielder/outfielder CJ Richmond is close behind with a .363 average, with a team-leading 10 doubles and matches Sullivan for the team-lead with eight HR.

• Senior outfielder Jackson Kitchen leads WMU with 11 stolen bases (11-13).

• The WMU pitching staff has a combined 5.86 ERA with 254 strikeouts (7.7 pg) and 141 walks (4.3 pg), with two combined shutouts, and the opposition has a .293 average.

• Senior right-hander Jayden Dentler is Wednesday's probable starter, with a 3-2 record and a 5.00 ERA, logging 27 K and 17 BB in 26.2 IP, and the opposition has a .268 average against him.

• WMU head coach Billy Gernon is in his 14th year at the reins of the Broncos with a 293-390 record and Gernon is in his 23rd year overall as a head coach with a 450-665-3 career record.

COMMON OPPONENTS
• Michigan State and Western Michigan have five common opponents, boosted by WMU playing in both First Pitch Invitationals in Greenville, S.C., at Fluor Field.

• MSU beat Michigan, 16-6 on March 26, while WMU has played Michigan five times, opening the season with four games in Phoenix Feb. 16-18, winning the first two (14-13 (11 inn.) and 11-9 (10 inn.)), before falling 9-4 (7 inn.) and 6-2, then also beat the Wolverines last week, 10-9 on April 9 in Ann Arbor.

• The Spartans and Broncos were in the First Pitch Invitational I field together, with the Spartans losing to Florida State, 11-2, while the Broncos lost to FSU, 8-3 ... MSU lost to Illinois, 12-6, while WMU lost, 8-6 (10 inn.).

• In the First Pitch Invitational II, the Spartans lost to Western Carolina, 9-5, while the Broncos lost, 18-6 (7 inn.) ... Michigan State lost to VCU, 8-4, while Western Michigan lost to the Rams, 9-7 (11 inn.).

• Both MSU and WMU would have two other opponents in common if not for rainouts, as the Spartans beat Purdue Fort Wayne, 11-1 (8 inn.) on March 19, while the Broncos and Mastodons were rained out on March 26 ... MSU was scheduled to play at Notre Dame on April 2, but got rained out, while WMU played the Irish on March 19, losing 16-11 in South Bend.

MSU VS. THE MAC
• Western Michigan is one of three Michigan State opponents from the Mid-American Conference so far, having also played Ball State and Central Michigan, along with the two previous games with WMU ... MSU is currently 2-2 vs. MAC teams ... the Spartans lost to Ball State, 4-1, on Feb. 18 at the Swig & Swine Classic at Shipyard Park in Charleston, S.C. ... MSU beat Western Michigan, 13-3 in 8 innings on March 2 in the First Pitch Invitational I at Fluor Field in Greenville, S.C. ... A week later, the Spartans then beat the Broncos again, 5-3, on March 8 at the First Pitch Invitational II, also at Fluor Field in Greenville, S.C. ... MSU lost to Central Michigan, 10-0 (7 inn.), on April 9 ... MSU has two more games against MAC foes, after meeting Western Michigan on Wednesday ... MSU will also host Bowling Green on Tuesday, May 7 and welcome Eastern Michigan the following week on Tuesday, May 14.

BOSS IN SWEET 16th SEASON WITH SPARTANS
• Head coach Jake Boss Jr. is in his 16th year at Michigan State and 17th overall as a collegiate head coach ... Boss entered the 2024 season at No. 3 on MSU's longest coaching list behind John H. Kobs (1935-63), the namesake for Kobs Field, location of McLane Stadium, with 39 seasons, and legendary head coach Denny Litwhiler (1964-82) with 19 seasons ... Boss is also No. 3 on the Spartan head coach list for wins and games coached, also behind Kobs with 576 wins in 969 games, and Litwhiler with 489 wins in 859 games.

Preview courtesy of MSU Athletics.

Hosted at one of the premiere swimming venues at Indianapolis at Indiana University was standing room only. Built 40 years ago and continues to be a go to venue for national swimming championships at all levels continues to rake in cash for the local community. Down the road, they are having the 8 highest rated boys basketball championships in the chipotle nationals. Just after hosting Larry Blurr and the Indiana State win to make the NIT finals

Yet, MSU can’t even finance a swim team, while Indiana lives of hosting major sporting events. No business foresight at MSU, just collecting money to pay settlements for failing to manage their employees. The same money could have built a state of the art Natatorium among other things. The leadership at MSU is like the way the Fords managed the Lions for years.

The good news is that one of my guys signed with ASU who brought home the National Championship under Bob Bowman who was Phelps coach at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club and building a powerhouse in the desert.

The other good news is that Paul VI, my daughter’s high school is participating in the Chipotle Nationals as a 2 seed, with 4 seniors committed to D1 programs - 2 to Duke, one to UConn and one to Notre Dame. They took down Bryson Tucker’s High School team twice this year.

Success is happening, just not in East Lansing and the leadership doesn’t seem to have the tooks to make better decisions. MSU used to be a good brand locally but now it has lost its luster.

When you have a league where a five star like Tucker is on a team that is .500 in conference and a local football team that was sub .500 in conference play that is sending a Running Back to Oregon and 3 other to D1 programs such as Virginia and Virginia Tech, brand is important around here and MSU has to improve its brand, and not just in basketball.

Jonathan Smith announced the Spring Showcase format today to the media.

The team's won't be split up like maybe your more traditional spring game. It will just be offense vs. defense. The defense will start with the lead (not sure by how many points yet) and the offense will have to play catch up. Smith said they will try to get in four quarters of 10 minutes of running clock.

"The clock's going to run and we're going to try to create a game-like atmosphere for most of it," Smith said.

This is definitely a welcome change to what the previous regime did. We will see about 40 minutes of scrimmaging on Saturday.

According to Rivals, Michigan State redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Braden Miller has entered the transfer portal. Miller appeared in three games in two seasons at Michigan State (all in 2023).

Additionally, running back Jaelon Barbarin is officially in the portal. This is not a surprise, as we previously reported that Barbarin was not part of the spring roster. He played in one game as a Spartan as a true freshman in 2023.

Login to view embedded media
Additionally, as was announced yesterday, linebacker Ma'a Gaoteote is now offcially in the transfer portal as well.

Login to view embedded media

There are some new rules for the transfer portal and NIL in college sports.

Firstly, transfers are allowed immediate eligibility if they are in good academic standing.

Login to view embedded media
Regarding NIL, schools are allowed to assist student-athletes with various opportunities. But the student-athletes do have to disclose those NIL activities if they are worth $600 or more. Schools can identify NIL opportunities for the student-athletes and facilitate deals between the third parties and student-athletes.

Login to view embedded media

I want to start a thread with heard/rumored NIL amounts getting tossed around for the MSU football team.

Anyone have any information to add?

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State softball hits the road on Tuesday, April 16 for the conclusion of its two-game season series against Michigan. First pitch from Alumni Field at Carol Hutchins Stadium is set for 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday night's game will be broadcast on Big Ten Network with Lisa Byington and Jennie Ritter calling the action. Spartan fans can also tune into the Spartan Media Network on MSUSpartans.com for Jeremy Otto's radio call.

ABOUT MICHIGAN
Michigan is 29-14 overall, 9-3 in the B1G and have won five straight. UM ranks No. 51 in the latest NCAA RPI. The Wolverines swept Iowa in three close games at home last weekend.

Michigan leads the all-time series against MSU 99-28 and have won nine straight over the Spartans.

UM ranks #120 nationally in batting average (.279), #63 in ERA (.286), #67 in fielding (.969), #110 in OBP (.363), #68 in scoring (5.19) and #62 in SLG (.462).

Lauren Derkowski ranks #24 nationally in strikeouts (142) with a 2.39 ERA over 132.0 innings. Opponents hit .245 against her. MSU also saw Erin Hoehn in the first meeting, with Hoehn owning a 3.31 ERA in 78.1 innings and a .225 batting average against.

Ellie Sieler leads UM with a .365 batting average, followed closely by Maddie Erickson's .364 average. Erickson leads the team with 51 hits and is tied for second on the team with eight homers. Keke Tholl leads Michigan with 12 home runs, three of which came against MSU during the April 9 meeting.

UP NEXT
Michigan State welcomes Illinois to East Lansing this upcoming weekend for a three-game series starting on Friday, April 19. First pitch on Friday is slated for 5:00 p.m. The Illini enter the week with an overall record of 16-24 along with a 3-9 B1G ledger. Illinois dropped its series to Purdue last weekend, 2-1, but like MSU it took game three to finish the weekend on a high note.

Preview courtesy of MSU Athletics.

Izzo needs a quality big or two out of the portal, time to get with it.

Login to view embedded media
Full release:

Michigan and five individuals who currently or previously worked for its football program have reached an agreement with NCAA enforcement staff on recruiting violations and coaching activities by noncoaching staff members that occurred within the football program, and the appropriate penalties for those violations. A Committee on Infractions panel has approved the agreement. One former coach did not participate in the agreement, and that portion of the case will be considered separately by the Committee on Infractions, after which the committee will release its full decision.

The agreed-upon violations involve impermissible in-person recruiting contacts during a COVID-19 dead period, impermissible tryouts, and the program exceeding the number of allowed countable coaches when noncoaching staff members engaged in on- and off-field coaching activities (including providing technical and tactical skills instruction to student-athletes). The negotiated resolution also involved the school's agreement that the underlying violations demonstrated a head coach responsibility violation and the former football head coach failed to meet his responsibility to cooperate with the investigation. The school also agreed that it failed to deter and detect the impermissible recruiting contacts and did not ensure that the football program adhered to rules for noncoaching staff members.

The committee will not discuss further details in the case to protect the integrity of the ongoing process, as the committee's final decision — including potential violations and penalties for the former coach — is pending.

By separating the cases, the Division I Committee on Infractions publicly acknowledges the infractions case and permits the school and the participating individuals to immediately begin serving their penalties while awaiting the committee's final decision on the remaining contested portion of the case. That decision will include any findings and penalties for the former coach. This is the fourth case where the committee has used multiple resolution paths.

The agreed-upon penalties in this case include three years of probation for the school, a fine and recruiting restrictions in alignment with the Level I-Mitigated classification for the school. The participating individuals also agreed to one-year show-cause orders consistent with the Level II-Standard and Level II-Mitigated classifications of their respective violations.

Click to expand...

Joe Tipton reported first that Nebraska-Omaha transfer Frankie Fidler is expected to take an official visit with Michigan State on April 12. Spartans Illustrated sources have also confirmed that this in the works, but the details still need finalizing and aren't settled yet due to the upcoming dead period for transfers.

Fidler's four finalists are Nebraska (Lincoln), Creighton, Wisconsin, and Michigan State.

Michigan State is in the final week of spring ball with the 15th and final spring practice session set to take place inside Spartan Stadium on Saturday.

The Spartans will have a light practice on Thursday before the Spring Showcase over the weekend, which is free for fans to attend.

“I think we’re progressing,” head coach Jonathan Smith said on Tuesday. “I think we’re working hard. I think we got a ways to go — just like we anticipated in the spring, putting in new offense, defense, special teams. I do think our work ethic is there, but there’s a lot to continue to iron out, which was anticipated. We've got a big summer to do a lot of that and then into August camp.”

More:

Friday Recap​

Michigan State Dropped By Purdue In Friday’s Series Opener​

Spartans beaten by Boilermakers in first game of three in weekend.​

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Michigan State baseball opened a three-game Big Ten Conference weekend series at Purdue with a 7-2 loss Friday night at a windy Alexander Field in West Lafayette, Indiana.

The Boilermakers steamed out to a 4-0 lead after three frames and the Spartans were unable to come back.

MSU slides to 14-17 overall and 3-4 in B1G play, while Purdue moves to 21-13 overall and 6-4 in conference competition. Friday's result snaps the Spartans' two-game win streak in the series, but MSU still holds a palindromic 87-78 series lead, as this weekend is Michigan State's first visit to West Lafayette since 2019.

Junior infielder Nick Williams was 2-for-2 with a double, an RBI, a run scored and a walk. Freshman outfielder Landen Lozier was 2-for-5, while senior outfielder Greg Ziegler and freshman infielder Ryan McKay were both 1-for-4, with Ziegler adding an RBI. Senior outfielder Jack Frank was 1-for-5 with a run scored, knocking a double.

On the mound, sophomore starter Joseph Dzierwa went 4.1 IP, yielding seven runs on seven hits, with two Ks and two BB. Sophomore reliever Nolan Higgins pitched the final 3.2 IP, with just two hits and no runs, and posting a pair of punchouts.

Purdue jumped out to a 4-0 lead with a run in the second and three in the third, boosted by back-to-back HR. The Spartans got on the board in the top of the fifth, as N.Williams led off with a double and later scored on an RBI infield single by Ziegler, pulling MSU within, 4-1.

Unfortunately, the three-run deficit was short-lived as the Boilermakers broke the game open with another three-run frame in the home half of the fifth for a 7-1 advantage.

Frank led off the sixth with a double and later came in to score on a sac fly by N.WIlliams to get a run back and within, 7-2.

In the eighth, the Spartans loaded the bases, forcing a Purdue pitching change, but a fielder's choice thwarted the threat without a run.

Recap courtesy of MSU Athletics.

---

Saturday Recap​

Spartans Beaten By Boilermakers Saturday​

MSU dropped by Purdue in game two of weekend series.​

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Michigan State baseball was beaten by Purdue on Saturday afternoon at Alexander Field in West Lafayette, Indiana.

The home-standing Boilermakers scored three runs in each of the first three frames, adding three more in the sixth and two in the seventh for the final margin of 14-0.

Michigan State now has a 14-18 overall and 3-5 B1G ledger. Purdue improves to 22-13 overall and 7-4 in league play. The Spartans are making their first visit to West Lafayette since 2019 this weekend, and Saturday's outcome earns Purdue the series win, the Boilermakers' first series win over the Spartans since 2012, as MSU had won the previous six series against Purdue. The result also cuts Michigan State's all-time series lead to 87-79.

Senior infielder Dillon Kark was 2-for-3 with a double, and was matched by sophomore infielder Randy Seymour also going 2-for-3, while senior outfielder Greg Ziegler was 1-for-2.

Recap courtesy of MSU Athletics.

---

Sunday Recap​

MSU Downed By Purdue In Series Finale Sunday​

Spartans defeated to wrap up weekend road trip.​

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Michigan State baseball was downed by Purdue Sunday afternoon at a warm and sun-drenched Alexander Field in West Lafayette, Indiana.

With temperatures pushing 80 degrees, the Boilermaker bats were nearly as hot, rapping out 22 hits. Purdue scored three in the first and four in the second to jump out to an early 7-0 lead. The home team doubled its lead with a seven-run sixth inning, adding one run in the seventh.

MSU got on the board with a run in the eighth, as junior catcher Noah Bright led off with a walk and later scored on an RBI single by senior infielder Dillon Kark.

Purdue plated six more in the eighth for the final 21-1 score.

MSU is now 14-19 overall and 3-6 in B1G play. Purdue moves to 23-13 overall and 8-4 in conference competition. Michigan State made its first trip to West Lafayette since 2019, and Sunday's result completed the sweep for the Boilermakers, their first series win over the Spartans since 2012, as MSU had won the previous six series against Purdue, and the first sweep over the Spartans since 1987. Sunday's outcome also cuts Michigan State's all-time series lead to 87-80.

Kark finished 2-for-4 with the RBI. Bright, along with freshman outfielder Landen Lozier, junior outfielder Nick Williams, senior outfielder Greg Ziegler, freshman infielder Ryan McKay and freshman pinch-hitter Jayden Holloway all added a hit apiece.

Michigan State is back in action Wednesday, April 17 when MSU meets Western Michigan in the "Capital Clash" at Jackson® Field™, home of the Lansing Lugnuts. First pitch for the clash between the Spartans and Broncos is set for 6:05 p.m.

MSU then returns home to McLane Stadium at Kobs Field for a B1G weekend series against Penn State in a three-game B1G series, Friday-Sunday, April 19-21. Friday's opener is an 8:05 p.m. first pitch and will be nationally televised on Big Ten Network. Saturday's game two is at 3:35 p.m. before the series finale on Sunday at 1:05 p.m.

Recap courtesy of MSU Athletics.

Alante Brown talks new scheme, his last year injury, and culture change he see’s with Jonathan Smith and his staff.

Linebacker Ma'a Gaoteote is now in the transfer portal.

Login to view embedded media
He was not listed on the spring roster so this is not a surprise.

We covered the roster changes here:


From the article: "Gaoteote, a four-star recruit in the 2021 class, dealt with injuries in 2023 and did not see the field. MSU listed him with a season-ending injury on the availability report ahead of its game at Minnesota on Oct. 28. Gaoteote appeared in 20 games in his first two seasons in East Lansing, and recorded 15 total tackles, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble and one pass defended. He briefly entered the transfer portal in the winter of 2022, before opting to withdraw and rejoin the Spartans."

Former MSU basketball target Jaden Schutt is leaving Duke after two years and hitting the portal. He was a 4 star SG from Yorkville, IL. He redshirted this year after having knee surgery. I know CTI really wanted him out of high school.

Michigan State's new tight ends coach is familiar with what a winning program in East Lansing looks like from first hand experience on the receiving end.

More from Brian Wozniak on the position group's development in spring ball and his memories of MSU by @ebartlett:

Login to view embedded media

Wide receiver TJ Sheffield, a Purdue transfer who was previously committed to Michigan State, has reopened his recruitment.

Sources tell Spartans Illustrated that this was more so a mutual decision as Sheffield still was working through some things academically (he had some classes to finish up) and MSU understood it may have needed to look at other options.

MSU will be pursuing at least one other wide receiver in the spring transfer portal window. If Sheffield is able to get all of his academics affairs in order, it is possible that Michigan State circles back to him later as well. For now, both MSU and Sheffield want to make sure he has a home, so opening things up os the best thing for both parties right now.

As we don’t know the complete story, we are not going to get more specific than that, and we do ask that you keep that info here in the message board.

Full article to come.

Login to view embedded media

A new regime in East Lansing brings fresh minds on both sides of the ball to complement Jonathan Smith’s vision for the Michigan State program. Particularly on offense, change is welcomed with open arms by fans after the last couple years that were stained with inconsistency and a glaring lack of identity under the previous coaching staff.

New offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Brian Lindgren has been encouraged so far by the progress the team has made in adjusting to a new offense throughout the spring practices thus far.

More here:

Friday Recap​

Softball Downed by Penn State​

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Michigan State softball was defeated by Penn State on Friday afternoon, 10-0, in game one of its three-game B1G series at Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field.

MSU moves to 14-24 (1-10 B1G) on the season while Penn State improves to 29-8 (8-2 B1G).

Senior Liv Grey (9-11) made the start for Michigan State in the circle, with junior Faith Guidry and senior Ashlyn Roberts also pitching for MSU. Roberts was most effective for the Spartans tossing two scoreless innings and striking out one.

Sophomores Hannah Hawley and Britain Beshears, and senior Alexis Ross recorded hits for the Spartans during Friday's game. Seniors Jenae Wash and Collette Allen reached base via walk.

The Nittany Lions got off to a quick start scoring four runs in the first inning. A two-out home run extended the PSU advantage to 6-0 in the second. Penn State took a 10-0 lead over MSU in the third after a grand slam.

Michigan State looked to get on the scoreboard in the third and fourth innings with two runners on and just one out in each frame. Penn State's pitching worked back-to-back ground outs in each inning to stifle the Spartan scoring opportunities.

Courtesy of MSU Athletics.

---

Saturday Recap​

Softball Battles Penn State Close in Game Two​

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Michigan State out-hit Penn State on Saturday afternoon but ultimately fell to the Nittany Lions, 6-3, in game two of the weekend conference series at Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field.

MSU recorded eight hits on the day led by a pair from sophomore Hannah Hawley. All nine Spartan starters reached base and seven starters tallied base knocks.

The Spartans move to 14-25 (1-11 B1G) with the loss while Penn State improves to 30-8 (9-2 B1G).

Junior Madison Taylor (2-10) pitched her third complete game in her last four starts for MSU, striking out three in six innings. Taylor allowed five earned runs on six hits.

Hawley led the Spartans with a 2-for-4 effort at the plate that included a lead-off home run in the first inning. Sophomore Britain Beshears and senior Jenae Wash each doubled as MSU posted three extra-base hits on the day. Junior Macy Lee, sophomore Sydney Doloszycki, and seniors Collette Allen and Anna Fox all singled. Junior Mik Anthony and senior Alexis Ross reached via walk.

With Hawley's home run the Spartans have two hitters with double-digit home runs this season for the first time since 2017 (Beshears, Hawley). Michigan State had four batters reach double figures in 2017 (Lea Foerster, Kelcey Carrasco, Sarah Gutknecht, Kaitlyn Eveland).

Michigan State started game two on the right foot, quickly scoring two runs in the top of the first. Hawley led-off the game with a home run on the second pitch she saw. Beshears just missed a homer to right-center, doubling off the wall to score sophomore Hailey Bila who pinch ran for Lee.

Login to view embedded media
Login to view embedded media
The Nittany Lions were quick to knot things up at 2-2 using a two-run homer in the home half of the first. After Taylor pitched a scoreless second, Penn State took a 3-2 lead on a solo shot to right in the third.

Base hits by Wash and Fox to lead-off the fourth put two runners in scoring position for MSU, but an untimely double play ended the Spartan scoring threat.

PSU extended its advantage to 5-2 using a two-run single with two down in the bottom of the fourth.

Both sides traded runs in the fifth frame as Michigan State used a two-out Nittany Lion error to cut the lead to 5-3. Hawley didn't give up on the play and scored from second on a ground ball between first and second base. Penn State gained the run back in the home half on a sacrifice fly.

Login to view embedded media
Courtesy of MSU Athletics.

---

Sunday Recap​

Softball Stuns Nittany Lions to Wrap Weekend​

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – In the final game of its three-game series at Penn State, the Michigan State softball team came away victorious, 6-2, on Sunday afternoon at Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field.

A win improves Michigan State to 15-25 (2-10 B1G) on the season while the Nittany Lions fall to 30-9 (9-3 B1G). The Spartans have now surpassed their win total from a season ago after earning their 15th victory of 2024.

Senior Ashlyn Roberts earned the start for the Spartans, the first of her MSU career after arriving on campus last season. Roberts pitched well through 3.1 innings, taking a shutout into the fourth before running into trouble. The Sammamish, Wash. native struck out two, allowing two earned runs on four hits. Junior Madison Taylor (3-10) came on in relief of Roberts and pitched 3.2 scoreless innings of relief to earn the win. Taylor struck out two and allowed just three hits.

Sophomore Britain Beshears led MSU at the plate going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Senior Collette Allen doubled, and sophomore Kayla Bane slugged her first home run of the season, a two-run shot down the left field line. Junior Mik Anthony tied Bane for the game-high in RBI with two. Sophomore Sydney Doloszycki, senior Jenae Wash and senior Alexis Ross singled. Reaching base twice via walk was sophomore Hannah Hawley.

The Spartans struck first for the second-straight day when Beshears laced a two-out single up the middle to score Fox from second base.

Login to view embedded media
MSU forced a Nittany Lion pitching change with none out in the second after Anthony's two-RBI single scored Allen and Bane. Doloszycki continued Michigan State's strong inning with a two-out RBI single to put the Spartans ahead 4-0.

Login to view embedded media
Login to view embedded media
Penn State cut MSU's lead in half in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run home run off the bat of Liana Jones.

Bane got those runs back for Michigan State in the fifth, picking a perfect time for her first home run of the season. Wash advanced all the way to third on a throwing error by the Nittany Lion third baseman to open the inning, putting one in scoring position for Bane, who sent a ball over the fence in left.

Login to view embedded media
The Nittany Lions looked to make a comeback, loading the bases in the bottom of the fifth and seventh innings. Taylor navigated trouble well and helped her own cause by making plays with her glove to get out of the frames scoreless. Penn State stranded eight baserunners over the final three innings of Sunday's game.

Login to view embedded media
UP NEXT
Michigan State will be back in action for a midweek rivalry contest when the Spartans meet Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich. At 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16. Tuesday night's game will be televised on Big Ten Network with Lisa Byington and Jennie Ritter calling the action.

Courtesy of MSU Athletics.

Friday Recap​

MSU Takes Early Doubles Point, Falls to Minnesota on the Road, 4-2​

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Michigan State women's tennis team took an early lead securing the doubles point against Minnesota on Friday afternoon, but falls short on the road, 4-2.

The Spartans (10-12, 1-7 B1G) began the dual dominating on the double courts. On court one, Ayshe Can and Liisa Vehvilainen rolled through the pairing of Anali Kocevar and Emma Belluomini, 6-1. The point was clinched over on court three, the duo of Nicole Conard and Matilde Morais would ease their way through Zeyneb Sarioglan and Aiva Schmitz, 6-1.

Momentum would shift to the Gophers (11-9, 4-4 B1G) taking a 3-1 advantage winning courts No. 3 (retired), No. 6 in straight sets (6-0, 6-3), and No. 4 in two sets (6-2, 6-1).

Sophomore Issey Purser continues to have a solid year two, tying her win total from last season (14) with a victory on court No. 5 in two sets, 6-3, 6-3, bringing the Green and White within one point.

Minnesota would ice the match on the top court in three sets.

Michigan State will have its final road test of the season as it travels to Wisconsin on Sunday, April 14, first serve is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.

Courtesy of MSU Athletics.

---

Sunday Recap​

Spartans Drop Final Road Dual to No. 25 Wisconsin​

MADISON, Wisc. – The Michigan State women's team drops its final road bout of the regular season at No. 25 Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon, 4-0.

The Badgers started the dual taking the doubles on court No. 2 in clean fashion, 6-0, then would secure the point against the Spartans top court, 6-1.

Wisconsin's hot rackets continued over on the singles courts, securing courts No. 1 (6-2, 6-2), No. 3 (6-1, 7-5) and No. 4 (6-1, 6-1) in straight sets.

Over on court No. 5, freshman Natalie Stasny was in a back-and-forth battle against Areil Johnson. Bouncing back from a tough 6-4 loss to Johnson in the first set, Stasny was pushing for a third set with a 5-4 lead in the second set before the match was abandoned.

Michigan State will be back in action at home this weekend as it closes out the season with a weekend slate. The Spartans face Nebraska on Saturday, April 20 at 11 a.m., then will honor their seniors for Senior Day on Sunday, April 21 against Iowa, first serve is scheduled for 11 a.m.

Courtesy of MSU Athletics.