Michigan State University
20-19, 1-8
Nebraska
27-9, 7-0
Softball Falls to Nebraska in Offensive Showcase
4/10/2022 7:20:00 PM | Softball
After the Spartans were shutout in game one of the three game series, the 22 total hits were a welcome sight for Michigan State fans at the ballpark despite the pair of losses. MSU got strong performances at the plate from senior Courtney Callahan and freshman Kayleigh Roper in both halves of Sunday's doubleheader. Callahan was a combined 4-for-8 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored while Roper was 4-for-8 with a double and an RBI. Michigan State batters turned in seven multi-hit games in total on Sunday.
Sophomore Ashley Miller got the start for the Spartans in game one on the heels of a complete game effort on Saturday afternoon. Miller pitched seven innings for Michigan State, allowing four earned runs and striking out five. Junior Sarah Ladd came on in relief of Miller and was tagged with the loss, allowing one earned run and striking out a pair in two innings. Ladd would turn around and make the start for MSU in game two where she allowed five earned on nine hits in five innings before giving way to freshman Faith Guidry. Guidry pitched a pair of scoreless innings in relief, allowing two hits and striking out one.
Nebraska's Saturday starter Olivia Ferrell made her presence felt on Sunday as well, earning the win in relief in game one and the save in game two. Ferrell hit a pair of two-run home runs that ended up being the difference in both games.
Michigan State scored first in each game of the doubleheader via RBIs from sophomore Alexis Barroso. A single to left by Barroso scored Callahan in the first inning of game one and a double down the left field line plated Callahan in game two.
B1 | MSU 1 - NEB 0
— MSU Softball (@MSU_Softball) April 10, 2022
Michigan State strikes first! Alexis Barroso singles through the left side to score Callahan from third.#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/jgE9Q8riCY
Three straight runs scored by the Huskers gave Nebraska a 3-1 advantage in game one before an RBI double from Roper scored fifth-year Caitie Ladd in the fourth inning. Callahan gave MSU a 4-3 lead in the fifth inning of game one as a double past the outstretched glove of the Husker outfielder scored two Spartans.
B4 | NEB 3 - MSU 2
— MSU Softball (@MSU_Softball) April 10, 2022
Freshman Kayleigh Roper lines a ball to left center for a stand up double of her own! Roper's double scores Caitie Ladd to make the score 3-2.#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/bXGXCNcsR0
B5 | MSU 4 - NEB 3
— MSU Softball (@MSU_Softball) April 10, 2022
Courtney Callahan's double past the outstretched glove of the Nebraska outfielder gives Michigan State a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the fifth, scoring Abby Joseph and Jessica Mabrey.#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/4sVhnDuYUe
A two-RBI single up the middle from Nebraska's Mya Felder gave the Husker a 5-4 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh, where senior Jessica Mabrey's two-out home run tied the game up and forced extra innings in game one. Mabrey stood out in game one with a 3-for-5 performance at the plate.
B7 | MSU 5 - NEB 5
— MSU Softball (@MSU_Softball) April 10, 2022
THIS GAME ISN'T OVER! Jessica Mabrey hits a two-out home run to left to tie the game at 5-5 in the bottom of the seventh inning. We're headed to extras at Secchia!#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/wVkyQz2L1F
After Barroso's RBI double gave Michigan State a 1-0 lead in game two, a double steal situation extended the Spartans' lead to 2-0. Caitie Ladd took of for second, distracting the Nebraska defense while senior Abby Joseph jolted home for a run. Michigan State celebrated Joseph's senior day on Sunday as she was honored before game one.
B3 | MSU 2 - NEB 0
— MSU Softball (@MSU_Softball) April 10, 2022
The Spartans convert on a double steal with Caitie Ladd taking second and Abby Joseph scoring from third. MSU now up 2-0 in the third inning.#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/hLhJo8p2JC
After a Ferrell home run tied the game at 2-2, Mabrey once again came up big for the Spartans with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning to help MSU retake the lead.
Three consecutive runs for the Huskers in the fifth and sixth innings put Michigan State in a 5-3 hole.
A late home run from sophomore Zaquai Dumas helped Michigan State cut into the Husker lead as she hit her seventh home run of the season to dead center field. Dumas has homered in every Big Ten series for the Spartans so far (Northwestern, Ohio State, Michigan, Nebraska).
B6 | NEB 5 - MSU 4
— MSU Softball (@MSU_Softball) April 10, 2022
Who else but Zaquai Dumas? Dumas hits a home run to dead center field to bring us back within one run in the sixth inning. Dumas has homered in every B1G series this season for the Spartans (Northwestern, Ohio State, Michigan, Nebraska).#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/f10JVjibQP
UP NEXT: Michigan State will remain in East Lansing for a Wednesday night game against Western Michigan. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ferrell, Olivia (15-4)
L: Ladd, Sarah (7-7)
Batting:
2B: Ybarra, Cam 1 ; Bredwell, Ava 1 ; Neal, Caitlynn 1
3B: Bredwell, Ava 1
HR: Ferrell, Olivia 1
RBI: Andrews, Billie 1 ; Gray, Sydney 1 ; Felder, Mya 2 ; Ferrell, Olivia 2 ; Wallace, Courtney 1
SF: Andrews, Billie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Andrews, Billie 1 ; Squier, Abbie 1 ; Ferrell, Olivia 1 ; Neal, Caitlynn 2 ; Wallace, Courtney 1 ; Andrews, Brooke 1
SB: Gray, Sydney 1 ; Squier, Abbie 1
Batting:
2B: Callahan, Courtney 2 ; Ladd, Caitie 1 ; Roper, Kayleigh 1
HR: Mabrey, Jessica 1
RBI: Mabrey, Jessica 1 ; Callahan, Courtney 2 ; Barroso, Alexis 1 ; Roper, Kayleigh 1
SH: Barroso, Alexis 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mabrey, Jessica 2 ; Callahan, Courtney 1 ; Ladd, Caitie 1 ; Joseph, Abby 1
CS: Kates, Kendall 1
