Wednesday, May 1
East Lansing, Mich.
5 PM
Michigan State University
vs
Oakland
Photo by: Matthew Mitchell Photography
Softball Set for Home Finale Against Oakland
4/30/2024 4:03:00 PM | Softball
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State softball will conclude the home and non-conference portions of its schedule on Wednesday, May 1, welcoming Oakland to East Lansing for the 21st time in program history. First pitch is set for 5:00 p.m. from Secchia Stadium.
Wednesday's game will be streamed on B1G+. Fans can tune in to the Spartan Media Network on MSUSpartans.com or through the Michigan State Athletics app.
ABOUT OAKLAND
Oakland is 22-16 overall and 14-6 in Horizon League play this season, currently sitting second in the Horizon League standings. The Golden Grizzlies are ranked No. 156 in the latest NCAA RPI poll. Nationally Oakland ranks #120 in batting average (.278), #50 in ERA (2.78), #178 in fielding percentage (.959), #151 in OBP (.350), #170 in scoring (4.05) and #162 in SLG (.385).
Jen Krizka is #70 nationally in OBP (.488) and #74 in batting average (.402). Krizka's 26 RBI lead the team. Also hitting above .300 are Brooklyn Plitz (.347) and Reese Ruhlman (.314). Ruhlman and Krizka are tied for the team-high in homers (3).
Sydney Campbell is among the best pitchers in the country this season statistically, ranking #8 in complete games (19), #16 in shutouts and #25 in ERA (1.49). Campbell has struck out 89 batters in 146.0 innings of work. Opponents hit .228 against her. Alyssa Balcom has thrown 50.1 innings, making 12 appearances and 10 starts for the Golden Grizzlies with a 2.86 ERA.
SPARTANS WIN ON SENIOR DAY
Michigan State bounced back to win game three of its series against Rutgers last weekend, 4-1, on Senior Day. MSU honored the careers of six seniors pre-game (Ashlyn Roberts, Alexis Ross, Jenae Wash, Liv Grey, Anna Fox, AJ Militello). Militello, who suffered a season-ending injury in the non-conference portion of the schedule, made a ceremonial start in right field.
Hannah Hawley hit .500 (4-for-8) with a home run and two RBI on the weekend, walking twice for a .545 OBP. Fox hit .444 (4-for-9) to raise her career-best batting average. Hawley and Britain Beshears each homered.
This series was a return to form for Liv Grey, who posted a 1.17 ERA over 12.0 innings along with 12 strikeouts and a .196 batting average against.
PLAYOFF PICTURE
The 2024 B1G Softball Tournament is being hosted at Iowa this season, May 8-11. 12 of the 14 teams in the B1G make the tournament.
Michigan State is fighting for a spot in the tournament with a 4-16 record in conference play. In the event of a tie, MSU would not have the tiebreaker against Illinois, Maryland, or Iowa.
Team Conference Record
#11 Illinois 6-13
#12 Maryland 5-15
Iowa 4-16
MSU 4-16
PRODIGIOUS POP
MSU has hit 46 home runs through 47 games, which marks the most home runs by the program since the 2017 season (66 in 58 games). In 2024 Michigan State ranks No. 45 nationally in home runs per game (0.98).
Britain Beshears (14) and Hannah Hawley (12) mark the first Spartan duo since 2017 to hit double-digit home runs in the same season. Four Spartans hit that mark in 2017 (Lea Foerster, Kelcey Carrasco, Sarah Gutknecht, Kaitlyn Eveland).
The Spartans are now tied for #4 in program history for single season home runs.
#1 - 66, 2017
#2 - 53, 2011
#3 - 50, 2007
#4 - 46, 2024/2009
TAYLOR TURNING IT UP A NOTCH
In her last 14 appearances, junior pitcher Madison Taylor has posted a 3.28 ERA over 59.2 innings of work, far lower than her season-long ERA of 4.29. Taylor had a 6.00 ERA over her first 35.0 innings this season.
Taylor has tossed three complete games during that stretch and twice has struck out a career-high eight batters (at Northwestern, vs. Indiana). On April 21, Taylor pitched 7.0 innings of relief after entering the game in the first inning. Taylor earned her second save of the season in MSU's win over Rutgers on April 28.
SEEING DOUBLE
Sophomores Hannah Hawley (12) and Britain Beshears (14) have each hit double digit home runs this season. They are the first Spartan duo to hit 10+ homers in the same season since 2017.Four Spartans hit 10+ home runs in 2017 (Lea Foerster, Kelcey Carrasco, Sarah Gutknecht, Kaitlyn Eveland).
Beshears' 14 homers are tied for second all-time for single season home runs at MSU. Hawley's 12 homers are tied for fourth all-time for single season home runs at MSU.
HAULING IN HITS
Sophomore Hannah Hawley leads the Spartans with a .355 batting average, a .467 on-base percentage, a .703 slugging percentage and a 1.170 OPS. Hawley is #5 in the B1G in slugging percentage and #5 in OPS. Hawley leads the team with 49 hits, 30 runs scored, 24 extra-base hits and 24 walks drawn.
She also leads the Spartans with 13 multi-hit games (five three-hit games, eight two-hit games) and is second with five multi-RBI games (Britain Beshears, 8).
Hawley is currently on career-best 12 game reached base streak.
BASHING BESHEARS
Sophomore Britain Beshears ranks #42 nationally in home runs (14) and #50 home runs per game (0.30). Beshears is #4 in the B1G in home runs and her 14 home runs, which ranks tied for second in program history for a single season (Lea Foerster). Prior to Beshears, no Spartan had hit 14 home runs in a season since 2017. Beshears ranks #11 in the B1G and leads the team in RBI with 38.
Beshears was on fire in April (15 games), leading the Spartans with a .370 (17-for-46) AVG over that stretch alongside a .453 OBP and a .717 SLG and 15 RBI. Her eight extra-base hits led the team (4 2B, 4 HR).
GREY-TEFUL DEAD
Graduate student Liv Grey has been among the best pitchers in the B1G so far this season. Through 133.0 innings Grey has posted a 2.63 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP and a .235 batting average against.
Grey has struck out 144 batters, ranking #46 nationally in strikeouts despite ranking #114 in innings pitched. Her 7.6 k/7 is #54 nationally.
Grey was named B1G Pitcher of the Week 3/4/2024, the eighth Spartan all time do so.
DOLOSZYCKI DOING DAMAGE
Sophomore outfielder Sydney Doloszycki has been a bright spot in the Spartan lineup over the last 17 games, reaching base in 14 of the last 17. Over her last 17 games, Doloszycki is third on the team hitting .321 (17-for-53) with three home runs, two triples, a double, nine runs scored, and eight RBI.
In that span, Doloszycki is third on the team in SLG (.585) and OPS (.964), and fourth on the team in OBP (.379).
UP NEXT
Michigan State will conclude the regular season on the road in West Lafayette, Ind. this upcoming weekend where it will meet Purdue at Bittinger Stadium on May 3-5.
Wednesday's game will be streamed on B1G+. Fans can tune in to the Spartan Media Network on MSUSpartans.com or through the Michigan State Athletics app.
ABOUT OAKLAND
Oakland is 22-16 overall and 14-6 in Horizon League play this season, currently sitting second in the Horizon League standings. The Golden Grizzlies are ranked No. 156 in the latest NCAA RPI poll. Nationally Oakland ranks #120 in batting average (.278), #50 in ERA (2.78), #178 in fielding percentage (.959), #151 in OBP (.350), #170 in scoring (4.05) and #162 in SLG (.385).
Jen Krizka is #70 nationally in OBP (.488) and #74 in batting average (.402). Krizka's 26 RBI lead the team. Also hitting above .300 are Brooklyn Plitz (.347) and Reese Ruhlman (.314). Ruhlman and Krizka are tied for the team-high in homers (3).
Sydney Campbell is among the best pitchers in the country this season statistically, ranking #8 in complete games (19), #16 in shutouts and #25 in ERA (1.49). Campbell has struck out 89 batters in 146.0 innings of work. Opponents hit .228 against her. Alyssa Balcom has thrown 50.1 innings, making 12 appearances and 10 starts for the Golden Grizzlies with a 2.86 ERA.
SPARTANS WIN ON SENIOR DAY
Michigan State bounced back to win game three of its series against Rutgers last weekend, 4-1, on Senior Day. MSU honored the careers of six seniors pre-game (Ashlyn Roberts, Alexis Ross, Jenae Wash, Liv Grey, Anna Fox, AJ Militello). Militello, who suffered a season-ending injury in the non-conference portion of the schedule, made a ceremonial start in right field.
Hannah Hawley hit .500 (4-for-8) with a home run and two RBI on the weekend, walking twice for a .545 OBP. Fox hit .444 (4-for-9) to raise her career-best batting average. Hawley and Britain Beshears each homered.
This series was a return to form for Liv Grey, who posted a 1.17 ERA over 12.0 innings along with 12 strikeouts and a .196 batting average against.
Got the job done on Senior Day! 💪💚#GoGreen | #SpartanUp pic.twitter.com/48defrZOO7
— MSU Softball (@MSU_Softball) April 29, 2024
PLAYOFF PICTURE
The 2024 B1G Softball Tournament is being hosted at Iowa this season, May 8-11. 12 of the 14 teams in the B1G make the tournament.
Michigan State is fighting for a spot in the tournament with a 4-16 record in conference play. In the event of a tie, MSU would not have the tiebreaker against Illinois, Maryland, or Iowa.
Team Conference Record
#11 Illinois 6-13
#12 Maryland 5-15
Iowa 4-16
MSU 4-16
PRODIGIOUS POP
MSU has hit 46 home runs through 47 games, which marks the most home runs by the program since the 2017 season (66 in 58 games). In 2024 Michigan State ranks No. 45 nationally in home runs per game (0.98).
Britain Beshears (14) and Hannah Hawley (12) mark the first Spartan duo since 2017 to hit double-digit home runs in the same season. Four Spartans hit that mark in 2017 (Lea Foerster, Kelcey Carrasco, Sarah Gutknecht, Kaitlyn Eveland).
The Spartans are now tied for #4 in program history for single season home runs.
#1 - 66, 2017
#2 - 53, 2011
#3 - 50, 2007
#4 - 46, 2024/2009
TAYLOR TURNING IT UP A NOTCH
In her last 14 appearances, junior pitcher Madison Taylor has posted a 3.28 ERA over 59.2 innings of work, far lower than her season-long ERA of 4.29. Taylor had a 6.00 ERA over her first 35.0 innings this season.
Taylor has tossed three complete games during that stretch and twice has struck out a career-high eight batters (at Northwestern, vs. Indiana). On April 21, Taylor pitched 7.0 innings of relief after entering the game in the first inning. Taylor earned her second save of the season in MSU's win over Rutgers on April 28.
SEEING DOUBLE
Sophomores Hannah Hawley (12) and Britain Beshears (14) have each hit double digit home runs this season. They are the first Spartan duo to hit 10+ homers in the same season since 2017.Four Spartans hit 10+ home runs in 2017 (Lea Foerster, Kelcey Carrasco, Sarah Gutknecht, Kaitlyn Eveland).
Beshears' 14 homers are tied for second all-time for single season home runs at MSU. Hawley's 12 homers are tied for fourth all-time for single season home runs at MSU.
HAULING IN HITS
Sophomore Hannah Hawley leads the Spartans with a .355 batting average, a .467 on-base percentage, a .703 slugging percentage and a 1.170 OPS. Hawley is #5 in the B1G in slugging percentage and #5 in OPS. Hawley leads the team with 49 hits, 30 runs scored, 24 extra-base hits and 24 walks drawn.
She also leads the Spartans with 13 multi-hit games (five three-hit games, eight two-hit games) and is second with five multi-RBI games (Britain Beshears, 8).
Hawley is currently on career-best 12 game reached base streak.
BASHING BESHEARS
Sophomore Britain Beshears ranks #42 nationally in home runs (14) and #50 home runs per game (0.30). Beshears is #4 in the B1G in home runs and her 14 home runs, which ranks tied for second in program history for a single season (Lea Foerster). Prior to Beshears, no Spartan had hit 14 home runs in a season since 2017. Beshears ranks #11 in the B1G and leads the team in RBI with 38.
Beshears was on fire in April (15 games), leading the Spartans with a .370 (17-for-46) AVG over that stretch alongside a .453 OBP and a .717 SLG and 15 RBI. Her eight extra-base hits led the team (4 2B, 4 HR).
GREY-TEFUL DEAD
Graduate student Liv Grey has been among the best pitchers in the B1G so far this season. Through 133.0 innings Grey has posted a 2.63 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP and a .235 batting average against.
Grey has struck out 144 batters, ranking #46 nationally in strikeouts despite ranking #114 in innings pitched. Her 7.6 k/7 is #54 nationally.
Grey was named B1G Pitcher of the Week 3/4/2024, the eighth Spartan all time do so.
DOLOSZYCKI DOING DAMAGE
Sophomore outfielder Sydney Doloszycki has been a bright spot in the Spartan lineup over the last 17 games, reaching base in 14 of the last 17. Over her last 17 games, Doloszycki is third on the team hitting .321 (17-for-53) with three home runs, two triples, a double, nine runs scored, and eight RBI.
In that span, Doloszycki is third on the team in SLG (.585) and OPS (.964), and fourth on the team in OBP (.379).
UP NEXT
Michigan State will conclude the regular season on the road in West Lafayette, Ind. this upcoming weekend where it will meet Purdue at Bittinger Stadium on May 3-5.
Players Mentioned
1B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
3B/C
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
LHP
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
LHP
/ Softball
OF
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