Michigan State University
15-27, 2-13
Illinois
17-25, 4-10
Beshears Grand Slam Propels Spartan Offense in Loss
4/19/2024 9:24:00 PM | Softball
MSU moves to 15-27 (2-13 B1G) following a loss, while the Illini improve to 17-25 (4-10 B1G).
Beshears finished the day 2-for-3 at the plate with a career-high tying four RBI. Friday's long ball was Beshears' 12th of the season to move her into a tie for fourth in program history for single season home runs, tying Caitlin Mahoney (12, 2007).
Senior Jenae Wash matched Beshears with a pair of hits, going 2-for-4 with her third home run of the season in the second inning. Sophomore Hannah Hawley reached three times with a sun ball single and two walks. Also with hits for MSU were senior Anna Fox, sophomore Kayla Bane who doubled and senior Alexis Ross. Ross swiped her 17th base of the season.
Junior Madison Taylor (3-11) made the start in the circle for MSU and struck out six in 4.1 innings, allowing five earned runs. Taylor was relieved by senior Ashlyn Roberts and senior Liv Grey. Grey struck out one in 2.1 innings of relief.
Illinois started the night strong taking a quick 4-0 lead over the Spartans with back-to-back two run innings in the first and second frames.
Wash got the Spartans on the board for the first time on Friday with an opposite field solo homer to lead off the bottom of the second inning.
Jenae Wash gets us on the board in the second! Wash goes oppo for her third home run of the season!#GoGreen | #SpartanUp pic.twitter.com/fmPvhTiK8g
— MSU Softball (@MSU_Softball) April 19, 2024
After back-to-back scoreless innings in the circle by Taylor, Illinois tacked on three runs in the fifth to take a 7-1 lead over Michigan State. Stevie Meade's sacrifice fly put the Illini ahead 5-1, but an errant throw brought an additional run around to score. A bases loaded hit by pitch pushed a third run across for Illinois.
Bane led-off the bottom of the fifth with a double down the left field line, but the Spartans faced their final out of the inning with bases loaded. Senior Collette Allen and Hawley walked to put three on for junior Macy Lee. Lee grounded a ball to the left side of the infield, but an error by the Illini shortstop extended the inning and allowed a run to score. With the inning extended, Beshears made the most of the opportunity slugging a ball over the fence in center for her first career grand slam. Beshears' slam cut the Spartan deficit to 7-6 heading into the sixth.
BRIT BOMB! 💣
— MSU Softball (@MSU_Softball) April 19, 2024
Beshears sends a ball over the centerfield fence for a grand slam!
Spartans back within one, 7-6, in the fifth!#GoGreen | #SpartanUp pic.twitter.com/ZiWUbFdmxI
A trio of shallow singles provided Illinois with an insurance run in the seventh, giving the Illini an 8-6 advantage over MSU.
Down to its final opportunities of the night, Michigan State stranded a pair of base runners in each of the last two innings. After a bunt single and steal by Ross in the sixth, Illinois intentionally walked the dangerous hitting Hawley to prevent Ross from scoring on a base hit.
UP NEXT
Michigan State and Illinois will continue the three-game series with game two set for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 20. The Spartans are set to honor the 20-year anniversary of the 2004 B1G Tournament Championship team prior to the game.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: McQueen, Tori (10-12)
L: Taylor, Madison (3-11)
Batting:
HR: Ryono, Kelly 1
RBI: Ryono, Kelly 1 ; Meade, Stevie 1 ; Caryl, Adisyn 4 ; Ward, Megan 1
SH: Donahue, Eileen 1
SF: Meade, Stevie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ryono, Kelly 3 ; Meade, Stevie 2 ; Berkmeyer, Paige 1 ; Malott, Sydney 1 ; Starks, Serena 1
SB: Ryono, Kelly 1 ; Meade, Stevie 1 ; Berkmeyer, Paige 1
HBP: Berkmeyer, Paige 2 ; Caryl, Adisyn 2 ; Malott, Sydney 1
Batting:
2B: Bane, Kayla 1
HR: Beshears, Britain 1 ; Wash, Jenae 1
RBI: Lee , Macy 1 ; Beshears, Britain 4 ; Wash, Jenae 1
SH: Doloszycki, Sydney 1 ; Ross, Alexis 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hawley, Hannah 1 ; Lee , Macy 1 ; Beshears, Britain 1 ; Wash, Jenae 1 ; Bane, Kayla 1 ; Allen, Collette 1
SB: Ross, Alexis 1
HBP: Beshears, Britain 1
