EAST LANSING, Mich. - For just the third time in program history, the Golden Grizzlies took down the Spartans, 11-7, this afternoon at the McLane Baseball Stadium.
 
The Golden Grizzlies (10-14, 2-4 HL) tallied its most runs ever against the Spartans as Trent Rice and Lucas Day led the team with a trio of hits each, as those two and Brandon Nigh tied for a team-high with their two RBI. Gage Smith earned the win for the Golden Grizzlies as he allowed just one hit in two innings.
 
The Michigan State Spartans (10-13, 1-2 Big Ten) had four batters with a pair of hits as Noah Bright led the team with three RBI off a double and a home run. The Spartans starting pitcher Gannon Grundman gave up five earned off six hits in 1.1 innings pitched.
 
The Golden Grizzlies got it started early as Brandon Heidal and Ian Cleary both got on base in the second, as Carter Hain added to his season total with a single towards left which brought Heidal home, followed by Sam Griffith who reached on a fielder's choice as Cleary crossed home. Oakland didn't stop there, however, as it grabbed three more runs in the inning for a quick 5-0 lead, highlighted by a two-run double from Brandon Nigh to cap off the inning.
 
The Spartans answered, however, as it grabbed a pair in the bottom of the frame off a double towards right. It wasn't until the fourth where John Lauinger sent Nigh across the dish, but four runs in the bottom of the inning from Michigan State made the game even at six with more than half the game left to play. The Golden Grizzlies nearly tacked on the go-ahead run as Griffith doubled and advanced to third on a wild pitch, but the Golden Grizzlies couldn't drive him in as it remained tied after five.
 
Play teetered the next inning as neither team found the scoreboard, still tied at six, as Bussey made a standout play in center and saved a run with a diving grab. The following inning, Nigh and Bussey got on base as Lucas Day blasted a double towards left field to break the stalemate and put the Golden Grizzlies ahead, 8-6. The team kept it rolling in the eighth as Bussey sent Aidan Orr home as his single stung through the left side of the infield, followed by a Trent Rice double as Bussey sped from second to home to inch further away from the Spartans six runs.
 
The team tacked it on and gave itself an insurance run as Heidal got in on the action and played to a full count before knocking Gavin Arseneau home for a five-run lead. The Spartans had three outs to make up some ground and knot things up, but could only muster one run as the Golden Grizzlies win streak turned to three and took down the Spartans, 11-7.
 
The Golden Grizzlies outhit the Spartans, 16-10, as the team left 17 runners stranded while Michigan State left 11. Oakland knocked down four doubles for its only extra base hits as Michigan State tallied a pair of doubles and one home run. On the bump, Oakland struck out three as Michigan State turned aside 12.
 
The Golden Grizzlies return to the diamond tomorrow for a Horizon League Series against Wright State. The three-game series starts at 3:00 p.m. tomorrow (March 28) and will be streamed live on ESPN+.