Tuesday, April 9
East Lansing, Mich.
6 PM
Michigan State University
vs
Michigan
Photo by: Andy Mead/YCJ
Softball Preps for Midweek Battles With Intrastate Rivals Michigan, Western Michigan
4/8/2024 3:55:00 PM | Softball
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State softball will place two home midweek games this week, first taking on Michigan on Tuesday, April 9 at 6:00 p.m. before hosting Western Michigan for a 5:00 p.m. first pitch on Wednesday, April 10. The Spartans will hit the road for a three-game B1G series at Penn State this upcoming weekend. Tuesday night's game against the Wolverines will be broadcast nationally on Big Ten Network. All other contests this week will stream on B1G+. Fans can listen to the Spartan Media Network live online at MSUSpartans.com where Jeremy Otto will call the action.
SCHEDULE
Tuesday, April 9 vs. Michigan - 6:00 p.m.
Fox Sports Live | Live Stats | Listen Live
Wednesday, April 10 vs. Western Michigan - 5:00 p.m.
Live Video | Live Stats | Listen Live
ABOUT MICHIGAN
Michigan is 24-14 this season and 6-3 in B1G action. The Wolverines were swept by Northwestern last weekend and enter Tuesday losers of three straight after opening B1G play with sweeps of their own over Purdue and Indiana. Michigan is ranked No. 54 in the latest NCAA RPI with two wins over current No. 16 by RPI Florida. UM is 3-4 against shared opponents with MSU. Michigan is 98-29 all-time against the Spartans, winning eight straight in the historic series.
The Wolverines rank No. 159 nationally in batting average (.267), No. 51 in ERA (2.67), No. 83 in fielding percentage (.967), No. 50 in home runs per game (.92), No. 153 in OBP (.347), No. 93 in scoring (4.84) and No. 84 in SLG (.436).
Lauren Derkowski is No. 32 nationally in strikeouts with 124. Derkowski has posted a 2.05 ERA through 112.2 innings and 22 appearances. Opponents are hitting .231 against her in the circle. Erin Hoehn has made 14 starts in the circle with a 3.11 ERA over 69.2 innings.
Maddie Erickson is hitting a team-high .364 with eight home runs and 26 RBI. Erickson is tough to strike out with only four strikeouts on the season. Ellie Sieler hits .355 and Ava Costales is hitting .353 on the year. Jessica Conway is tied for the team-high in homers with eight.
ABOUT WESTERN MICHIGAN
WMU is 17-15 overall and ranks No. 154 in the NCAA RPI. Nationally the Broncos rank No. 114 in batting average (.279), No. 121 in ERA (3.32), No. 251 in fielding percentage (.951), No. 172 in OBP (.342), No. 169 in scoring (4.06) and No. 132 in SLG (.404).
Michigan State holds a narrow 47-46-1 advantage in the all-time series, winning four straight against the Broncos. MSU last defeated WMU on April 13, 2022 by a final score of 6-4.
Rissa Bajusz is the ace of staff with a 1.94 ERA in 101.0 innings, striking out 141 batters with a .189 batting average against. Bajusz ranks No. 11 nationally in strikeouts. Riley Dittmar is No. 25 nationally with 12 doubles, hitting .368 for WMU with a .495 OBP (19:9 K:BB). Payton Kelly is hitting .344 and Megan Welsh has a team-best five home runs.
MSU DROPS THREE IN HOME OPENING WEEKEND
Playing at Secchia Stadium for the first time in 2024, the Spartans dropped three-straight to Indiana last weekend. IU and MSU took a 1-1 tie into extra innings on Friday, but the Hoosiers scored five runs in the eighth to win 6-2. Michigan State was defeated by scores of 12-4 and 7-2 in the final two games of the series.
Sydney Doloszycki was the star of the weekend for Michigan State hitting .556 (5-for-9) with two home runs and three RBI. Britain Beshears got back on track hitting .364 (4-for-11) with two doubles, a home run and four RBI.
Madison Taylor was strong in the circle, especially on Sunday when she struck out a career-high eight batters. Taylor posted a 3.75 ERA over the weekend in three appearances.
TAYLOR TURNING IT UP IN B1G PLAY
Junior Madison Taylor has lowered her season ERA to 3.94 in B1G action through 21.1 innings and a team-best six appearances in the circle. Twice in B1G play Taylor has matched her career-high in strikeouts, sending down eight batters on strikes against both Northwestern and Indiana.
PRODIGIOUS POP
MSU has hit 36 home runs through 35 games, which marks the most home runs by the program since the 2019 season (44 in 50 games). In 2024 Michigan State ranks No. 32 nationally in home runs per game (1.03). The Spartans are now tied for No. 8 in program history for single season home runs.
#1 - 66, 2017
#2 - 53, 2011
#3 - 50, 2007
#4 - 46, 2009
#5 - 44, 2019
#6 - 41, 2016
#7 - 38, 2015
#8 - 36, 2024/2008
HAULING IN HITS
Sophomore Hannah Hawley leads the Spartans with a .356 batting average, a .451 on-base percentage, a .683 slugging percentage and a 1.134 OPS. Hawley is #6 in the B1G in slugging percentage and OPS. Hawley leads the team with 37 hits, 21 runs scored, 18 extra-base hits and 14 walks drawn.
Hawley also leads the Spartans with 11 multi-hit games (five three-hit games, six two-hit games) and is second with five multi-RBI games (Britain Beshears, 6). Hawley recently ended a 10-game on base streak.
BASHING BESHEARS
Sophomore Britain Beshears ranks #39 nationally in home runs (11) and #39 home runs per game (0.31). Beshears is #5 in the B1G in home runs and her 11 home runs already rank tied for fifth in program history for a single season.
No Spartan had hit 11 home runs in a season since 2019 (Caitie Ladd, 11). Michigan State's single-season record for home runs is 20 (Lindsey Hansen, 2011).
UP NEXT
Michigan State travels to State College, Pa. for the three-game B1G series at Penn State this upcoming weekend April 12-14. Penn State is currently second in the conference with a 7-2 record in B1G games and is 28-8 overall to lead the conference in overall victories. Bridget Nemeth is among the best pitchers in the conference with a 1.37 ERA, a .180 batting average against and 43 strikeouts over 51.0 innings against B1G opponents.
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SCHEDULE
Tuesday, April 9 vs. Michigan - 6:00 p.m.
Fox Sports Live | Live Stats | Listen Live
Wednesday, April 10 vs. Western Michigan - 5:00 p.m.
Live Video | Live Stats | Listen Live
ABOUT MICHIGAN
Michigan is 24-14 this season and 6-3 in B1G action. The Wolverines were swept by Northwestern last weekend and enter Tuesday losers of three straight after opening B1G play with sweeps of their own over Purdue and Indiana. Michigan is ranked No. 54 in the latest NCAA RPI with two wins over current No. 16 by RPI Florida. UM is 3-4 against shared opponents with MSU. Michigan is 98-29 all-time against the Spartans, winning eight straight in the historic series.
The Wolverines rank No. 159 nationally in batting average (.267), No. 51 in ERA (2.67), No. 83 in fielding percentage (.967), No. 50 in home runs per game (.92), No. 153 in OBP (.347), No. 93 in scoring (4.84) and No. 84 in SLG (.436).
Lauren Derkowski is No. 32 nationally in strikeouts with 124. Derkowski has posted a 2.05 ERA through 112.2 innings and 22 appearances. Opponents are hitting .231 against her in the circle. Erin Hoehn has made 14 starts in the circle with a 3.11 ERA over 69.2 innings.
Maddie Erickson is hitting a team-high .364 with eight home runs and 26 RBI. Erickson is tough to strike out with only four strikeouts on the season. Ellie Sieler hits .355 and Ava Costales is hitting .353 on the year. Jessica Conway is tied for the team-high in homers with eight.
ABOUT WESTERN MICHIGAN
WMU is 17-15 overall and ranks No. 154 in the NCAA RPI. Nationally the Broncos rank No. 114 in batting average (.279), No. 121 in ERA (3.32), No. 251 in fielding percentage (.951), No. 172 in OBP (.342), No. 169 in scoring (4.06) and No. 132 in SLG (.404).
Michigan State holds a narrow 47-46-1 advantage in the all-time series, winning four straight against the Broncos. MSU last defeated WMU on April 13, 2022 by a final score of 6-4.
Rissa Bajusz is the ace of staff with a 1.94 ERA in 101.0 innings, striking out 141 batters with a .189 batting average against. Bajusz ranks No. 11 nationally in strikeouts. Riley Dittmar is No. 25 nationally with 12 doubles, hitting .368 for WMU with a .495 OBP (19:9 K:BB). Payton Kelly is hitting .344 and Megan Welsh has a team-best five home runs.
MSU DROPS THREE IN HOME OPENING WEEKEND
Playing at Secchia Stadium for the first time in 2024, the Spartans dropped three-straight to Indiana last weekend. IU and MSU took a 1-1 tie into extra innings on Friday, but the Hoosiers scored five runs in the eighth to win 6-2. Michigan State was defeated by scores of 12-4 and 7-2 in the final two games of the series.
Sydney Doloszycki was the star of the weekend for Michigan State hitting .556 (5-for-9) with two home runs and three RBI. Britain Beshears got back on track hitting .364 (4-for-11) with two doubles, a home run and four RBI.
Madison Taylor was strong in the circle, especially on Sunday when she struck out a career-high eight batters. Taylor posted a 3.75 ERA over the weekend in three appearances.
TAYLOR TURNING IT UP IN B1G PLAY
Junior Madison Taylor has lowered her season ERA to 3.94 in B1G action through 21.1 innings and a team-best six appearances in the circle. Twice in B1G play Taylor has matched her career-high in strikeouts, sending down eight batters on strikes against both Northwestern and Indiana.
PRODIGIOUS POP
MSU has hit 36 home runs through 35 games, which marks the most home runs by the program since the 2019 season (44 in 50 games). In 2024 Michigan State ranks No. 32 nationally in home runs per game (1.03). The Spartans are now tied for No. 8 in program history for single season home runs.
#1 - 66, 2017
#2 - 53, 2011
#3 - 50, 2007
#4 - 46, 2009
#5 - 44, 2019
#6 - 41, 2016
#7 - 38, 2015
#8 - 36, 2024/2008
HAULING IN HITS
Sophomore Hannah Hawley leads the Spartans with a .356 batting average, a .451 on-base percentage, a .683 slugging percentage and a 1.134 OPS. Hawley is #6 in the B1G in slugging percentage and OPS. Hawley leads the team with 37 hits, 21 runs scored, 18 extra-base hits and 14 walks drawn.
Hawley also leads the Spartans with 11 multi-hit games (five three-hit games, six two-hit games) and is second with five multi-RBI games (Britain Beshears, 6). Hawley recently ended a 10-game on base streak.
BASHING BESHEARS
Sophomore Britain Beshears ranks #39 nationally in home runs (11) and #39 home runs per game (0.31). Beshears is #5 in the B1G in home runs and her 11 home runs already rank tied for fifth in program history for a single season.
No Spartan had hit 11 home runs in a season since 2019 (Caitie Ladd, 11). Michigan State's single-season record for home runs is 20 (Lindsey Hansen, 2011).
UP NEXT
Michigan State travels to State College, Pa. for the three-game B1G series at Penn State this upcoming weekend April 12-14. Penn State is currently second in the conference with a 7-2 record in B1G games and is 28-8 overall to lead the conference in overall victories. Bridget Nemeth is among the best pitchers in the conference with a 1.37 ERA, a .180 batting average against and 43 strikeouts over 51.0 innings against B1G opponents.
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Players Mentioned
1B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
3B/C
/ Softball
LHP
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