EAST LANSING, Mich. (Interstat) – Parker Picot hit two home runs and drove in five runs, and Noah Bright added a grand slam and four RBIs as Michigan State defeated Illinois State 18-8 on Saturday afternoon at McLane Stadium.

The Spartans, who entered the game at 21-31, improved to 22-31. The Redbirds fell to 31-22.

Picot, who had been 0 for 5 in Friday’s loss to Illinois State, finished 2 for 5 with two homers and five RBIs, including a three-run blast in the decisive eighth inning. Bright went 4 for 5 with a homer, four RBIs and three runs scored.

Illinois State took an early lead against Michigan State pitching. Brayden Bakes, the Redbirds’ left fielder, homered in the top of the first inning for a 1-0 advantage. Bakes finished 4 for 4 with a home run, three RBIs and three runs scored. His brother, Ryan Bakes, the designated hitter, went 1 for 3 with a two-run homer in the fourth inning and drove in two runs.

Michigan State answered in the bottom of the first, scoring on a groundout by Thomas that plated Nick Williams. The Spartans took a 3-2 lead in the second on a double by Deckinga and a triple by Murphy.

Illinois State regained the lead 4-3 in the top of the third on a two-run single by Luke Stulga, and Ryan Bakes’ homer in the fourth extended the Redbirds’ edge to 6-3. Michigan State chipped away, pulling within 6-5 after four innings on an RBI single by Williams and a run-scoring groundout.

The Spartans tied the game in the fifth. Thomas doubled, and Picot followed with a two-run homer. Randy Seymour then homered to left-center, making the score 8-8.

Illinois State scored two runs in the top of the sixth on a two-run single by Brayden Bakes to lead 8-6. But Michigan State answered in the bottom of the inning when Williams homered to make it 9-8. The Spartans added a run in the seventh on a single by Murphy to take a 10-8 lead.

Illinois State cut the deficit to 10-8 in the top of the eighth when Mic Carrano singled home Brayden Bakes, who had reached on a single and advanced on an error.

The game turned in the bottom of the eighth. Bright singled, Thomas walked, and both advanced on a double steal. Picot then launched his second homer of the game, a three-run shot to left-center, giving Michigan State a 13-8 lead. After a walk and a single, Nick Williams was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Bright then hit a grand slam to left field, pushing the Spartan lead to 18-8.

Illinois State managed 13 hits, with Brayden Bakes leading the charge. Michigan State collected 18 hits.

Kyle Rudolph earned the win in relief, pitching a scoreless fifth inning with one hit allowed. Gannon Grundman and JD Greeley also threw scoreless relief for the Spartans.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Illinois State 6, Michigan State 5. Interstat’s ELO system gave Michigan State a 55.40 percent probability to win.