Michigan State University
16-30, 3-16
Rutgers
31-19, 12-7
Wash Sets Career-High Against Scarlet Knights
4/27/2024 3:50:00 PM | Softball
Michigan State moves to 16-30 (3-16 B1G) while the Scarlet Knights improve to 31-19 (12-7 B1G).
Junior Madison Taylor (3-12) started in the circle completing 4.0 innings, allowing four runs (two earned) and striking out one. Senior Ashlyn Roberts and freshman Ava Mullen pitched in relief. Mullen went 2.0 innings and earned her first Secchia Stadium strikeout in the sixth.
Ava Mullen has her first career strikeout at Secchia Stadium as she gets Smith swinging!#GoGreen | #SpartanUp pic.twitter.com/5Wc2vk9P0h
— MSU Softball (@MSU_Softball) April 27, 2024
Senior Anna Fox led MSU in hits going 2-for-3 at the plate. Wash (3) and sophomore Hannah Hawley drove in runners for Michigan State, with Hawley hitting a solo homer in the third innings. Hawley was one of three Spartans to reach base twice, joining Fox and sophomore Britain Beshears (single, walk).
Rutgers struck first in the second stanza after loading the bases on an error. MSU got the force out at home the following at-bat, but a sacrifice fly and a second Spartan error allowed two runs to score.
Hawley halved the Scarlet Knight lead with a solo shot over the wall in left center on the first pitch she saw in the third. It was Hawley's 12th long ball of the season, moving her into a tie for fourth in program history for single season home runs.
Hannah Hawley leaves the yard for her 12th homer of the season!
— MSU Softball (@MSU_Softball) April 27, 2024
Hawley moves into fourth all-time for single season homers at MSU.
We trail Rutgers, 2-1.#GoGreen | #SpartanUp pic.twitter.com/Z2pi1M3A3k
Michigan State took its first lead of the contest in the fourth when Wash drove in a pair of baserunners on a single up the middle. Anthony walked and Fox singled to left before each moving up a base on a wild pitch.
Jenae Wash brings in two and the Spartans have the lead, 3-2!#GoGreen | #SpartanUp pic.twitter.com/MsuvriMaQ1
— MSU Softball (@MSU_Softball) April 27, 2024
The Scarlet Knights reclaimed a lead in the fifth scoring three runs to go ahead 5-3. RU led-off the frame with a solo homer to left that tied the game at 3-3. After back-to-back singles, Wash caught a ball at the warning track and cut down a runner advancing for third to turn two. A late rally by Rutgers was the difference in the inning after two singles and a double steal led to two runs.
Jenae Wash catches one on the track and cuts down the advancing runner at third to turn two!#GoGreen | #SpartanUp pic.twitter.com/sLUaasU2hQ
— MSU Softball (@MSU_Softball) April 27, 2024
Rutgers scored two in the sixth on a two RBI single, but MSU battled back with one of their own when Wash drove in freshman Payton Conroy on a sac fly to right for her third RBI of the game.
Jenae Wash with the sac fly for her third RBI of the afternoon. A new career-high for the senior!#GoGreen | #SpartanUp pic.twitter.com/1F3HY5kHOo
— MSU Softball (@MSU_Softball) April 27, 2024
Back-to-back doubles plated a pair of insurance runs for the Scarlet Knights in the seventh inning to put Rutgers ahead 9-4.
UP NEXT
Michigan State will conclude its three-game series with Rutgers on Sunday, April 28 at 1:00 p.m. MSU will honor its six seniors prior to first pitch. The Spartans are set to recognize the careers and contributions of Ashlyn Roberts, Alexis Ross, Jenae Wash, Liv Grey, Anna Fox and AJ Militello.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Boyd, Mattie (18-7)
L: Taylor, Madison (3-12)
Batting:
2B: Matthews, LA 1 ; Smith, Morgan 1 ; Wingert, Katie 1
HR: Sand, Kyleigh 1
RBI: Sand, Kyleigh 1 ; Matthews, LA 3 ; Smith, Morgan 1 ; Herka, Megan 1 ; Anderson, Jillian 1
SH: Punk, Lauren 1
SF: Anderson, Jillian 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sand, Kyleigh 3 ; Matthews, LA 1 ; Hura, Kobie 1 ; Chavez, Leilani 1 ; Lawson, Maddie 1 ; Punk, Lauren 1 ; Anderson, Jillian 1
SB: Hura, Kobie 1 ; Chavez, Leilani 1
Batting:
HR: Hawley, Hannah 1
RBI: Hawley, Hannah 1 ; Wash, Jenae 3
SF: Wash, Jenae 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hawley, Hannah 1 ; Conroy, Payton 1 ; Anthony, Mik 1 ; Fox, Anna 1
