Jason Trott (Jr., Dublin, Ohio) tapped a bloop single to left, scoring Lockwood and Carek scored when Mike Kremblas (Sr., Carroll, Ohio) grounded into a double play. After two quick outs in the top of the second, Michigan State cut the OSU lead to 2-1 when Joe Albaugh hammered his fourth home run off the scoreboard in right center field. The Spartans tied the game in the top of the following inning when Carlos Fernandez scored on a fielder's choice after walking. OSU went back on top in the bottom of the third as Trent McIlvain (Fr., Louisville, Ohio) scored Kremblas' RBI single after slugging a hit to right center and moving to third on a hit-and-run by Carek. Dan Seimetz (Sr., Massillon, Ohio) ended his hitting slump with a three-run home run to right field to give the Buckeyes a 6-2 lead. The Buckeyes picked up a seventh run in the bottom of the fourth as Tom Durant (Jr., Columbus, Ohio) scored on a Carek sacrifice fly after Steiger loaded the bases and gave way to Casey Reader.

The Spartans put together three consecutive hits in the top of the fifth, but managed just one run to bring the score to 7-3. In the bottom of the sixth, with the infield drawn in and runners on second and third, Lockwood singled to right to score Durant who had walked and Chad Ehrnsberger (Fr., Kalida, Ohio) who had singled. The Spartans again went to the bullpen, calling on Scott Brandell who recorded the final two outs of the inning, but not before Trott brought home Lockwood who had singled, stole second and advanced to third on a fielder's choice to make it a 10-3 ball game. The Bucks added an 11th run in the eighth.