Michigan State University
15-27, 5-14
Iowa
31-17, 12-7
Smiley Drives in Career-High Three in Series Finale
4/27/2025 6:01:00 PM | Softball
MSU moves to 15-27 (5-14 B1G) while Iowa improves to 31-17 (12-7). The Spartans will wrap up the regular season next weekend in Eugene, Oregon facing No. 5-ranked Oregon on May 2-4.
Guidry (2-7) started in the circle on senior day before freshman Jacey Schuler entered from the bullpen in the first inning. Schuler allowed two runs on two hits in one inning of work leading to senior Madison Taylor getting an opportunity out of the bullpen. Taylor was spectacular pitching 5.2 scoreless innings alongside four strikeouts.
Sophomore Kendall Smiley tied a career-high with three RBIs on Sunday and was joined by sophomore Hannah Greer, junior Hannah Hawley, Allen and Lee with base knocks. MSU's two extra-base hits on the day came off the bats of Allen, who doubled, and Smiley, who tripled. Junior Kaelin Cash reached twice via walk.
Michigan State made multiple stellar plays in the field as well with Smiley making a pair of diving catches in left field.
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Kendall Smiley diving to make the out in left!#GoGreen | #SpartanUp pic.twitter.com/JX68gFd5LH
— Michigan State Softball (@MSU_Softball) April 27, 2025
Iowa took an early 6-0 lead over the Spartans scoring six runs on just two hits to open the contest. Michigan State started to cut into the Hawkeye advantage in the bottom of the second however when Smiley brought in pinching running freshman Ava Coffinger on a sac fly.
Smiley's strong day at the plate continued in the fourth when her triple to left field beat the Hawkeye outfield playing too far in, scoring both Cash and Lee. Smiley came in to score one batter later on an RBI ground out off the bat of senior Jenae Wash, making it 6-4.
Hit 'em where they ain't! Kendall Smiley drives in two on a triple to left!
— Michigan State Softball (@MSU_Softball) April 27, 2025
Iowa 6 - MSU 3#GoGreen | #SpartanUp pic.twitter.com/CUk9oH2hnl
The Hawkeyes threatened on the base path in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings with Taylor stranding three runners in the fourth and two in both the fifth and seventh frames. Taylor struck out four in a season-long 5.2 innings of relief on Sunday and pitched 9.1 innings this weekend allowing no earned runs.
Back-to-back strikeouts to start the seventh for Madison Taylor on senior day!#GoGreen | #SpartanUp pic.twitter.com/zmm01krVes
— Michigan State Softball (@MSU_Softball) April 27, 2025
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Jalen Adams (22-5)
L: Guidry, Faith (2-7)
Batting:
2B: Tory Bennett 1
HR: Jena Young 1 ; Talia Tretton 1
RBI: Jena Young 1 ; Soo-Jin Berry 1 ; Talia Tretton 4
SH: Desiree Rivera 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jena Young 2 ; Tory Bennett 1 ; Hannah Lindsay 1 ; Soo-Jin Berry 1 ; Talia Tretton 1
HBP: Hannah Lindsay 2 ; Jaylee Ojo 1
Batting:
2B: Allen, Collette 1
3B: Smiley, Kendall 1
RBI: Smiley, Kendall 3 ; Wash, Jenae 1
SF: Smiley, Kendall 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cash, Kaelin 1 ; Coffinger, Ava 1 ; Lee , Macy 1 ; Smiley, Kendall 1
