Friday, March 15
Columbia, S.C.
3 PM
Michigan State University
vs
Minnesota
Photo by: Erica Lee
Softball Back in Palmetto State for Garnet & Black Invitational
3/14/2024 1:07:00 PM | Softball
COLUMBIA, S.C. – After a week of recovery from a lengthy spring break trek, Michigan State softball is back in action this weekend at the Garnet & Black Invitational hosted by South Carolina. Action gets underway at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, March 15 when the Spartans take on Minnesota in a rare non-conference clash. MSU will also face No. 22/23-ranked South Carolina, NC State and No. 24-ranked Boston University over the course of the weekend.
Only Friday night's game against South Carolina will be streamed. Live stats will be provided for all other games throughout the weekend.
SCHEDULE
Friday, March 15
3:00 p.m. vs. Minnesota | Live Stats
5:30 p.m. vs. South Carolina | Live Stats | Live Stream
Saturday, March 16
12:30 p.m. vs. NC State | Live Stats
Sunday, March 17
10:00 a.m. vs. Boston University | Live Stats
SPARTANS 3-1 AT CHANTICLEER SHOWDOWN
Michigan State moved above .500 for the first time this season going 3-1 at the Chanticleer
Showdown on March 1-3 in Conway, South Carolina.
The Spartans defeated Iona (7-0, 7-2) and Yale (5-2), while dropping a game to host Coastal Carolina (5-1). MSU's game against Oakland was canceled.
MSU hit .300 over the four games and posted a 2.33 team ERA. The Spartans were led on offense by sophomore Sydney Doloszycki's 4-for-11 effort on the weekend which included a three-run home run. In the circle, graduate student Liv Grey pitched 11.0 innings, allowing just three hits and no runs.
NEXT BATTER UP
Sophomore Hailey Bila made her first start of the season against Iona, going 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Bila's two-RBI double in the third inning marked the first RBI of her collegiate career.
Redshirt sophomore Mik Anthony has started in six consecutive contests for the Spartans at second base, joining the starting lineup against Campbell. Since joining the lineup, Anthony has hit .294 with two doubles and three RBI (5-for-17) along with a .350 OBP.
GREY-TEFUL DEAD
Graduate student Liv Grey has been among the best pitchers in the country so far this season. Through 56.2 innings Grey has posted a 1.73 ERA, a .99 WHIP and a .188 batting average against.
Grey has struck out 83 batters, ranking #11 nationally in strikeouts despite ranking #136 in
innings pitched. Her 10.3 k/7 is #8 nationally.
Grey was named B1G Pitcher of the Week 3/4/2024, the eighth Spartan all time do so.
BASHING BESHEARS
Sophomore Britain Beshears ranks #4 nationally in home runs (10) and home runs per game (0.48). Beshears is the B1G leader in home runs and her 10 home runs already rank tied for ninth in program history for a single season.
No Spartan had hit 10 home runs in a season since 2019 (Caitie Ladd, 11). Michigan State's single season record for home runs is 20 (Lindsey Hansen, 2011).
HAWLEY HAULING IN HITS
Sophomore third baseman/catcher Hannah Hawley is making a major impact on the Spartan lineup in her first season in East Lansing. Hawley leads the Spartans with a .361 batting average and on-base percentage (.458), while ranking second on the team in slugging (.705) and OPS (1.163).
Hawley is second on the team with 22 hits and leads the Spartans with 13 extra-base hits. Her nine walks drawn is tied for the team-high along with Macy Lee.
THE OPPOSITION
Minnesota
Minnesota went 3-1 at the Tiger Invitational last weekend, upsetting then #10/11 Clemson in the opening game, 5-3 (9). The Golden Gophers also took down Longwood (6-1) and Fordham (4-2).
Sophomore shortstop Jess Oakland was named NFCA Player of the Week on March 5, Minnesota's first to earn the honor since 2015. Oakland is No. 20 nationally in home runs (8) and No. 32 in RBI (26). She's hitting a team-high .423 with a .517 OBP.
Graduate student Bri Enter leads the team in the circle after making just one start for the team in 2023. Enter owns a 2.36 ERA through 65.1 innings, allowing opponents to hit .245 against.
#22/23 South Carolina
South Carolina has lost three straight following a tight knit opening SEC weekend at #17 Texas A&M. The Gamecocks lost by a combined 7-2 in three games that included a pair of 2-1 losses.
South Carolina has posted the No. 15-ranked team ERA in the country this season at 1.62. All four pitchers that have appeared this season have ERAs under 2.00. Michigan native Reganne Bennett has a 0.75 ERA in 18.2 innings to lead the team. Alana Vawter has a team-high 53.0 innings with a 1.72 ERA followed by Sage Mardjetko's 1.86 ERA over 49.0 innings. Jori Heard has tossed 35.1 innings with a 1.58 ERA.
Riley Blampied leads the team with a .377 batting average and 29 hits.
NC State
NC State has lost five straight, falling to Clemson (8-0, 14-9) and Georgia Tech (4-1, 8-1, 10-2).
Three separate NC State batters have hit seven home runs already this season (Taylor Ensley, Makayla Marbury, Amanda Hasler). The Wolfpack ranks No. 24 nationally with 1.17 home runs per game. Michele Tarpey leads the team with a .451 batting average and is tied with Ensely and Marbury for the team-high in hits (23).
In the circle, Madison Inscoe owns a 2.98 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP, along with a .197 batting average against to lead all NC State pitchers. Aisha Weixlmann leads in innings pitched (45.2) and strikeouts (41).
#24/RV Boston University
Boston University is 18-1 this season and previously defeated Michigan State (9-1) at the Duke Invitational on Feb. 23. The Terriers join the national rankings at No. 24 in the Coaches Poll this week.
BU is among the best in the country at all three phases of the game, ranking No. 15 in batting average (.341), No. 18 in ERA (1.68) and No. 21 in fielding percentage (.977).
Four BU starters are hitting over .400 this season (Lauren Keleher, Kayla Roncin, Lizzy Avery, Caitlin Coker). Two additional players (Kylie Doherty and Brooke Deppiesse) are hitting over .300.
Kasey Ricard is among the best in the country in the circle with a .82 WHIP and a 1.64 ERA in 59.2 innings pitched. Ricard has allowed just a .155 batting average against and has tossed eight complete games.
UP NEXT
The Spartans will play one final non-conference tune up on the road at Notre Dame on Tuesday, March 19. First pitch is slate for 5:00 p.m.
Only Friday night's game against South Carolina will be streamed. Live stats will be provided for all other games throughout the weekend.
SCHEDULE
Friday, March 15
3:00 p.m. vs. Minnesota | Live Stats
5:30 p.m. vs. South Carolina | Live Stats | Live Stream
Saturday, March 16
12:30 p.m. vs. NC State | Live Stats
Sunday, March 17
10:00 a.m. vs. Boston University | Live Stats
SPARTANS 3-1 AT CHANTICLEER SHOWDOWN
Michigan State moved above .500 for the first time this season going 3-1 at the Chanticleer
Showdown on March 1-3 in Conway, South Carolina.
The Spartans defeated Iona (7-0, 7-2) and Yale (5-2), while dropping a game to host Coastal Carolina (5-1). MSU's game against Oakland was canceled.
MSU hit .300 over the four games and posted a 2.33 team ERA. The Spartans were led on offense by sophomore Sydney Doloszycki's 4-for-11 effort on the weekend which included a three-run home run. In the circle, graduate student Liv Grey pitched 11.0 innings, allowing just three hits and no runs.
NEXT BATTER UP
Sophomore Hailey Bila made her first start of the season against Iona, going 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Bila's two-RBI double in the third inning marked the first RBI of her collegiate career.
Redshirt sophomore Mik Anthony has started in six consecutive contests for the Spartans at second base, joining the starting lineup against Campbell. Since joining the lineup, Anthony has hit .294 with two doubles and three RBI (5-for-17) along with a .350 OBP.
GREY-TEFUL DEAD
Graduate student Liv Grey has been among the best pitchers in the country so far this season. Through 56.2 innings Grey has posted a 1.73 ERA, a .99 WHIP and a .188 batting average against.
Grey has struck out 83 batters, ranking #11 nationally in strikeouts despite ranking #136 in
innings pitched. Her 10.3 k/7 is #8 nationally.
Grey was named B1G Pitcher of the Week 3/4/2024, the eighth Spartan all time do so.
BASHING BESHEARS
Sophomore Britain Beshears ranks #4 nationally in home runs (10) and home runs per game (0.48). Beshears is the B1G leader in home runs and her 10 home runs already rank tied for ninth in program history for a single season.
No Spartan had hit 10 home runs in a season since 2019 (Caitie Ladd, 11). Michigan State's single season record for home runs is 20 (Lindsey Hansen, 2011).
HAWLEY HAULING IN HITS
Sophomore third baseman/catcher Hannah Hawley is making a major impact on the Spartan lineup in her first season in East Lansing. Hawley leads the Spartans with a .361 batting average and on-base percentage (.458), while ranking second on the team in slugging (.705) and OPS (1.163).
Hawley is second on the team with 22 hits and leads the Spartans with 13 extra-base hits. Her nine walks drawn is tied for the team-high along with Macy Lee.
THE OPPOSITION
Minnesota
Minnesota went 3-1 at the Tiger Invitational last weekend, upsetting then #10/11 Clemson in the opening game, 5-3 (9). The Golden Gophers also took down Longwood (6-1) and Fordham (4-2).
Sophomore shortstop Jess Oakland was named NFCA Player of the Week on March 5, Minnesota's first to earn the honor since 2015. Oakland is No. 20 nationally in home runs (8) and No. 32 in RBI (26). She's hitting a team-high .423 with a .517 OBP.
Graduate student Bri Enter leads the team in the circle after making just one start for the team in 2023. Enter owns a 2.36 ERA through 65.1 innings, allowing opponents to hit .245 against.
#22/23 South Carolina
South Carolina has lost three straight following a tight knit opening SEC weekend at #17 Texas A&M. The Gamecocks lost by a combined 7-2 in three games that included a pair of 2-1 losses.
South Carolina has posted the No. 15-ranked team ERA in the country this season at 1.62. All four pitchers that have appeared this season have ERAs under 2.00. Michigan native Reganne Bennett has a 0.75 ERA in 18.2 innings to lead the team. Alana Vawter has a team-high 53.0 innings with a 1.72 ERA followed by Sage Mardjetko's 1.86 ERA over 49.0 innings. Jori Heard has tossed 35.1 innings with a 1.58 ERA.
Riley Blampied leads the team with a .377 batting average and 29 hits.
NC State
NC State has lost five straight, falling to Clemson (8-0, 14-9) and Georgia Tech (4-1, 8-1, 10-2).
Three separate NC State batters have hit seven home runs already this season (Taylor Ensley, Makayla Marbury, Amanda Hasler). The Wolfpack ranks No. 24 nationally with 1.17 home runs per game. Michele Tarpey leads the team with a .451 batting average and is tied with Ensely and Marbury for the team-high in hits (23).
In the circle, Madison Inscoe owns a 2.98 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP, along with a .197 batting average against to lead all NC State pitchers. Aisha Weixlmann leads in innings pitched (45.2) and strikeouts (41).
#24/RV Boston University
Boston University is 18-1 this season and previously defeated Michigan State (9-1) at the Duke Invitational on Feb. 23. The Terriers join the national rankings at No. 24 in the Coaches Poll this week.
BU is among the best in the country at all three phases of the game, ranking No. 15 in batting average (.341), No. 18 in ERA (1.68) and No. 21 in fielding percentage (.977).
Four BU starters are hitting over .400 this season (Lauren Keleher, Kayla Roncin, Lizzy Avery, Caitlin Coker). Two additional players (Kylie Doherty and Brooke Deppiesse) are hitting over .300.
Kasey Ricard is among the best in the country in the circle with a .82 WHIP and a 1.64 ERA in 59.2 innings pitched. Ricard has allowed just a .155 batting average against and has tossed eight complete games.
UP NEXT
The Spartans will play one final non-conference tune up on the road at Notre Dame on Tuesday, March 19. First pitch is slate for 5:00 p.m.
Players Mentioned
3B
/ Softball
1B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
3B/C
/ Softball
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