Michigan State University
16-28, 3-14
Illinois
18-26, 5-11
Softball Drops Series Finale to Illinois
4/21/2024 4:27:00 PM | Softball
MSU moves to 16-28 (3-14 B1G) while Illinois improves to 18-26 (5-11 B1G).
Senior Liv Grey (10-12) made the start for the Spartans before being relieved by junior Madison Taylor in the first inning. Taylor pitched well in relief allowing just one earned run in seven innings of work, striking out three. It was a bounce-back effort for Taylor who now owns a 3.35 ERA over her last 54.1 innings.
Michigan State's offense was led by sophomore Sydney Doloszycki's 2-for-4 effort. Doloszycki tripled for the second time in as many days and drove in one. Junior Mik Anthony went 2-for-3 with a double.
2 triples in 2 days for Sydney Doloszycki!#GoGreen #SpartanUp pic.twitter.com/W4rH6vo5M4
— MSU Softball (@MSU_Softball) April 21, 2024
Sophomore Britain Beshears hit her second home run of the series and her 13th of the season on Sunday. Her solo shot to center moved her into a tie for third in program history for single season home runs alongside Brett Williams (13, 2011) and Stacey Phillips (13, 2000). Beshears also drew a walk to reach base twice in game three.
Senior Alexis Ross and sophomore Hannah Hawley singled for MSU. Hawley reached twice with a single and a hit by pitch.
Illinois scored all the runs it would need in the first putting a five spot on the Spartans. A trio of singles and a walk put the Illini ahead 3-0 before an error prolonged the inning and allowed a fourth runner to cross. Illinois tacked on one more via sac fly to lead 5-0.
Beshears got Michigan State on the board with her solo homer in the second. Doloszycki tripled with one down in the third, but back-to-back Spartan strikeouts ended the scoring threat.
Brit send that one out to center for her 13th home run of the season!!
— MSU Softball (@MSU_Softball) April 21, 2024
That homer ties her for 3rd for home runs in a single season!! #GoGreen #SpartanUp pic.twitter.com/Q9KepimtBw
A walk and two singled provided Illinois with an insurance run in the fourth. Senior Jenae Wash prevented an Illini run from scoring in the third with a diving grab in left.
Another great play in left for Jenae Wash to prevent a run in the third inning!#GoGreen #SpartanUp pic.twitter.com/ujr5PR2JCF
— MSU Softball (@MSU_Softball) April 21, 2024
Three straight Spartans singles cut the Fighting Illini lead to three to open the fifth frame. Ross led-off the inning with a bunt single before Hawley singled to right. After Ross and Hawley advanced one base on the throw, Doloszycki drove both in on a single to center. A misplay on the pick-up in center allowed Hawley to score from second on the play.
Syd drives in two in the fifth to cut into the Illini lead!
— MSU Softball (@MSU_Softball) April 21, 2024
We trail 6-3 with none out in the fifth.#GoGreen #SpartanUp pic.twitter.com/iu0JWo79HF
MSU barreled up several pitches over the final two innings, but none found the outfield grass.
UP NEXT
Michigan State will be back in action next weekend when it hosts Rutgers on April 26-28 for the final B1G home series of the season. Action gets started at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, April 26. Rutgers took two-of-three from Minnesota this weekend to improve to 29-19 (10-7 B1G).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: McQueen, Tori (11-12)
L: Grey, Liv (10-12)
Batting:
RBI: Ryono, Kelly 1 ; Berkmeyer, Paige 1 ; Ryniec, Abby 2 ; Malott, Sydney 1
SF: Malott, Sydney 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ryono, Kelly 1 ; Meade, Stevie 1 ; Berkmeyer, Paige 1 ; Ryniec, Abby 1 ; Ward, Megan 1 ; Donahue, Eileen 1
SB: Berkmeyer, Paige 1
Batting:
2B: Hawley, Hannah 1 ; Anthony, Mik 1
3B: Doloszycki, Sydney 1
HR: Beshears, Britain 1
RBI: Doloszycki, Sydney 1 ; Beshears, Britain 1
SH: Fox, Anna 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hawley, Hannah 1 ; Beshears, Britain 1 ; Ross, Alexis 1
CS: Hawley, Hannah 1
HBP: Hawley, Hannah 1 ; Wash, Jenae 1
