Carey, O'Hearn lead Michigan to series sweep over Michigan State
Terrier grad Keegan O’Hearn (Oshawa, Ont.) doubled and singled as Michigan swept Michigan State. Photo: University of Michigan Athletics
April 27, 2025
» Michigan took down Michigan State 6-5 to sweep the series.
» Tate Carey had seven strikeouts in five innings to earn the win.
» Benjamin Casillas had 4 singles in the contest with a run and RBI.
» Will Rogers earned the save on the mound with three innings pitched.
By Conor Stemme
University of Michigan
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- A six-run first inning led the University of Michigan to a 6-5 win over the Michigan State Spartans on Sunday afternoon at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium.
The win completed the Wolverines’ three-game sweep of the Spartans.
Michigan (27-17, 11-10 Big Ten) was led offensively by Benny Casillas, who went 4-for-5 with a run and an RBI. Jeter Ybarra and Matt Spear had two hits with two RBIs, and DH Keegan O’Hearn added two hits, including a double.
RHP Tate Carey pitched five innings, scattering six hits and one earned run with seven strikeouts. Will Rogers closed the game, pitching the last four innings, and earning his seventh save of the season.
Michigan State (23-19, 9-12 Big Ten) started the game off with a single but a pop out and an inning-ending strikeout from Carey (Windsor, Ont.) stranded two runners.
The Wolverines came out strong in the bottom of the frame, scoring six runs and batting around. Casillas led off with a single to left field before a pair of walks loaded the bases. Ybarra came in clutch with a single to centre field, driving in Casillas and Mitch Voit. A hit by pitch loaded the bases again and Spear delivered with a two-run single through the left side, bringing home Cole Caruso and Ybarra. O’Hearn (Oshawa, Ont.) followed with a double to left field, driving in one more run and advancing Spear to third. After a pitching change, Casillas, in his second at bat of the inning, added an RBI single up the middle to score Spear and give Michigan a 6-0 lead.
Former Great Lake Canadians RHP Tate Carey (Tecumseh, Ont.) worked five innings for the big W. Photo: University of Michigan Athletics
In the second, Carey added three strikeouts to his day, striking out three of four batters, all of them swinging. The Spartans kept Michigan from scoring in the bottom half, recording a 1-2-3 inning.
In the third, a leadoff double ended up scoring from a double down the right field line, giving Michigan State their first run of the game, making it 6-1. After two strikeouts and a pop up, Spear was left stranded on first, as the only U-M base runner in the bottom of the third.
Carey struck out the first batter of the fifth inning, but a bunt and an error allowed an MSU runner to score. He ended the inning with another strikeout, stranding two runners.
After a lead-off double by Michigan State in the sixth, Rogers replaced Carey on the mound. A fielder’s choice put a runner on third, but the defence held strong, ending the inning with a pop-up to left field that stranded two.
In the bottom of the sixth, Spear grounded out to first, and O’Hearn singled to right for his second hit of the game. Casillas reached on a fielder’s choice, with O’Hearn thrown out at second to end the inning.
A home run by MSU in the seventh cut Michigan’s lead to 6-3. The Wolverines got one hit and a hit by pitch but couldn’t score.
In the eighth, Rogers pitched a 1-2-3 inning with three fly outs. Michigan’s offence showed promise, as O’Hearn was hit by a pitch and attempted to steal second but was thrown out. The inning stayed alive with a walk, and Casillas followed with a single to right-centre, advancing Pace to third. The Spartans kept Michigan off the board, forcing a pop out.
Rogers allowed two solo home runs in the ninth but secured the save with a strikeout and a ground out.
Michigan will return to action on Friday and begin a three-game series against Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio, with the first pitch for the series scheduled for 6 p.m.