GREENVILLE, S.C. — Michigan State shortstop Randy Seymour hit a one-out RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning, helping the host Spartans (10-2) secure a 3-2 walk-off victory over the Cornell baseball team (3-3) during the opening day of the 2025 First Pitch Invitational at Fluor Field on Friday morning.
 
Seymour was one of two Michigan State players with multi-hit games, along with center fielder JT Sokolove, as both players went 2-for-4 at the plate. Nick Williams contributed to Michigan State's other two runs, highlighted by his leadoff inside-the-park home run in the fourth inning.
 
Tyler Horvath was the winning pitcher for the Spartans, allowing one hit and striking out a Cornell batter in his one inning of relief. Michigan State's starter, Nolan Higgins, had a solid outing, giving up two runs on five hits during his 5.2 innings on the mound.
 
Senior designated hitter Kyle Musser went 3-for-5 at the plate with a double in Cornell's setback. Sophomore second baseman Owen Carlson recorded the only other multi-hit game for the Big Red, going 2-for-4 with an RBI single. Senior left fielder John Quinlan finished 1-for-2 with a home run and two walks drawn.
 
Junior right-hander Carson Mayfield was outstanding during his six-inning start, giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits, with three strikeouts and no walks issued. Senior southpaw William Jaun was charged with the loss after surrendering a leadoff walk to start the Spartans' half of the ninth inning.
 
Michigan State took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, thanks to a two-out RBI single by Sam Busch. Cornell countered with an RBI single by Carlson in the second and a leadoff home run by Quinlan in the third, giving the Big Red a 2-1 lead.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Michigan State tied the game with a leadoff inside-the-park home run from Williams, snapping Mayfield's string of retiring seven consecutive batters.
 
The inside-the-park home run was the first batter Mayfield could not retire since Busch's first-inning RBI single. Mayfield concluded his outing by retiring 16 of the last 18 batters he faced, with a one-out single in the fifth inning by Seymour being the only other Spartan to reach base safely.
 
Cornell created several scoring opportunities between the fifth and eighth innings, with two runners on base and two outs in each frame. However, Michigan State's pitching emerged unscathed on each occasion, recording a flyout and three groundouts.
 
Michigan State looked poised to take the lead in the bottom of the eighth with runners on the corners and two outs, but Jaun induced an inning-ending fly out to keep the score tied at 2-2.
 
Quinlan drew a four-pitch walk to start the ninth inning, putting the go-ahead run on base. After a mid-at-bat pitching change by Michigan State, Musser hit a double into the left-center field gap on the first pitch he saw from Horvath, but a quick Spartan relay from the outfield resulted in Quinlan being tagged out at home plate as he attempted to score from first.
 
Similar to Cornell's start in the ninth, Michigan State earned a leadoff walk on four pitches, prompting the Big Red to summon senior two-way player Ryan Porter from the bullpen. Following a popout from a failed sacrifice bunt attempt, Jake Dresselhouse was plunked by a 1-1 breaking ball from Porter, setting the stage for Seymour, who became Michigan State's hero by driving in an RBI single through the right side of the infield.
 
GAME NOTES
• Friday was the seventh meeting between Cornell and Michigan State as the Spartans upped their lead in the series, 5-2.
 
• Quinlan's third-inning home run marked his first round-tripper in 80 at-bats, as he circled the bases for the first time since April 20 of last year against Yale at Booth Field in Ithaca.
 
• Jensen extended his on-base streak to 24 games following his one-out single in the third inning.
 
• Musser's three-hit performance equaled his single-game high against Brown last year in the nightcap of a May 4 doubleheader.

• Mayfield has pitched into the fifth inning in eight of his 11 career starts (72.7 percent of starts), including all three of his outings so far in 2025.
 
UP NEXT
Cornell will return to Fluor Field on Saturday for a contest against UAB (10-2), with a scheduled first pitch at noon. Sophomore left-handed pitcher Huxley Holcombe (0-0, 16.20 ERA) is slated to toe the rubber for the Big Red going up against right-hander Colin Daniel (3-0, 2.25 ERA). Game action will be broadcast on ESPN+.