EAST LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The opening game of the 2023 Big Ten Baseball Championship almost had its first upset as no. 8 seed Michigan State fell to no. 1 seed Maryland, 3-2. Maryland broke open a 2-2- tie in the bottom of the ninth inning for the win.

Maryland’s Luke Shliger had the go-ahead double down the left field line with one out to put the Terrapins up, 3-2. MSU’s Nick Powers went 7.2 innings for the loss recording six strikeouts. Wyatt Rush finished off the final two outs with a ground out and a strikeout.

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MSU struck first in the game in the top of the first inning  when Mitch Jebb singled to second base. Maryland countered with two runs in the bottom of the first inning for a one-run lead, 2-1. It wasn’t until the top of the seventh inning that MSU would tie the game. Brock Vradenburg had a single through the left side brining in Greg Zielgler tying the game at two. Maryland was shut out in the seventh inning but then scored the winning run in the eighth.

Vradenburg and Ziegler both had two hits in the game.