EAST LANSING, Mich. (Interstat) — Michigan State defeated Illinois State 10-0 Thursday afternoon, using a balanced pitching performance and a pair of multi-run innings to shut out the Redbirds at McLane Stadium.

The Spartans improved to 21-30, while Illinois State dropped to 30-21. Michigan State pitchers combined to allow only four hits, striking out seven and walking two. The Redbirds managed just four singles, never advancing a runner past second base after the fourth inning.

Ben Kochany earned the win with 2 1/3 innings of hitless relief, striking out two. Aidan Donovan started and worked three scoreless innings, giving up two hits while striking out three. Andrew Siler tossed a hitless inning with two strikeouts, and Gannon Grundman retired the only two batters he faced. For Illinois State, Carson Cormier took the loss after allowing two earned runs over three innings despite not giving up a hit, burdened by three walks. Jackson Natanek surrendered three earned runs in two innings.

Offensively, Issac Sturgess led the Spartans with a 3-for-4 day, driving in two runs. Parker Picot went 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Randy Seymour had one hit in three at-bats with two RBIs, and CJ Deckinga contributed a hit and an RBI.

Michigan State struck first in the bottom of the second. Parker Picot walked, moved to third on a single by Sturgess and scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Seymour, giving the Spartans a 1-0 lead.

The Spartans added two more runs in the third. Bright doubled and scored when Thomas reached on a throwing error by the shortstop, advancing to second on the play. Picot then doubled down the left-field line, plating Thomas for a 3-0 advantage.

Illinois State threatened in the fourth, putting runners on first and second with one out, but a fielder’s choice and a strikeout ended the inning.

The pivotal moment came in the bottom of the fifth. With the game still 3-0, Thomas singled and Picot followed with a single. Sturgess singled to left-center, driving in Thomas. Seymour then singled to load the bases. Deckinga drew a walk, forcing in Picot to make it 5-0. McKay grounded out to first, scoring Sturgess for a 6-0 lead.

Michigan State broke the game open further in the sixth. Williams singled, Bright singled, and Thomas lifted a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Williams. Picot singled to put runners on the corners, and Sturgess doubled to right-center, scoring Bright and Picot, with Picot scoring on a throwing error by the second baseman. Seymour then grounded out to the pitcher, allowing Sturgess to score the 10th run.

Illinois State’s best chance to score came in the fourth when Mic Carrano and Luke Stulga singled to open the inning, but a fielder’s choice and a strikeout stranded both runners. The Redbirds did not get a runner past first base the rest of the game.

Michigan State finished with 12 hits and two sacrifice flies. Illinois State’s pitchers walked four batters and hit two others.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Illinois State 7, Michigan State 5, but the ELO system gave Michigan State a 54.30 percent probability to win.