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The Michigan State Spartans picked up a crucial win over the Michigan Wolverines on Thursday.
Pitcher Alex Troop tossed a gem to boost the good guys to a 6-1 victory over the No. 15 Wolverines at Kobs Field in the opener of a key three-game Big Ten Conference series for the Spartans’ postseason hopes.
Troop took a perfect game into the sixth inning and a no-hitter into the seventh inning while racking up 10 strikeouts and allowing two hits, tying his career-highs for both Ks and hits allowed. The 10 K’s by Troop matches his career-best set earlier this season against Campbell.
Michigan State entered the weekend in ninth-place in the conference standings, and their fighting tooth and nail just to get a top-eight spot to qualify for the Big Ten Tournament next weekend. Thursday’s triumph moves the Spartans to 10-12 in conference play and 29-21 overall.
Michigan had its four-game win streak snapped and slid to 40-13 overall and 14-8 in conference play. The series shifts to Ann Arbor for Friday’s game with a 6 p.m. first pitch before returning to East Lansing on Saturday with a 4:02 start time.