MSU downs No. 12/14 Virginia Tech, 7-6

Friday, February 13

Charlotte, NC

12:30 PM

Michigan State University

Virginia Tech

Michigan St

2/13/2026 3:24:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

East Lansing, Mich. -- Michigan State (5-1) earned a second straight victory over a ranked team, downing No. 12/14 Virginia Tech, 7-6, on Friday afternoon to open the Queen City Classic at Charlotte. It is MSU's fourth consecutive win overall and gives VaTech its first loss of the season (5-1).

The Spartans fell behind 3-0 after an inning and a half, but plated six runs in the second and added an insurance run in the fifth. Virginia Tech pushed a run across in the top of the sixth on a leadoff double, but sophomore pitcher Carsyn Cassady shut the door to prevent any additional runs on the board for the Hokies.

Freshman Alyssa Galindo came on in relief in the second inning, posting her longest outing of the season. She went four innings, throwing 71 pitches and striking out three – all career bests. The Spartans got multiple-hit outings from Kirsten Caravaca and Kendall Smiley, who each had two base hits. Smiley joined Zoie Bernard and Sydney Doloszycki with doubles.

Third baseman Jordan Lynch went 3-for-4 with three RBI for Virginia Tech, with a double and a homer.

MSU plays again later this evening, taking on host team Charlotte at 5:30 pm.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES

Kirsten Caravaca had a pair of base hits and two RBI.
Kendall Smiley had her first multiple-hit game of the season and established a new career best with three RBI.
Alyssa Galindo came on in relief in the top of the second with none out. She scattered six hits and in a solid four-inning relief outing.
Carsyn Cassady earned the save in the circle by pitching two one-hit innings.
Zoie Bernard and Sydney Doloszycki both went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI.

NOTABLES

MSU allowed a season-high 13 hits in the game. The Spartans generated their seven runs on seven base hits, four walks, and a pair of Virginia Tech errors.
Caravaca's RBI single in the bottom of the second was her first base hit as a Spartan, and she finished the day 2-for-3 with two RBI.
Bernard's fourth-inning double was her fifth two-bagger of the season and seventh extra-base hit overall.
Galindo's four-inning relief outing, 20 batters faced, and three strikeouts are all season highs for the freshman. She entered the second inning with one on, none out, and one run already across with a leadoff homer.
Cassady earned the save for two innings of work, MSU's second save for the staff this season. She has not allowed an earned run in 10.1 innings of work this season.

SCORING RECAPS

Virginia Tech led off the game with three consecutive base hits – a double and two singles – to plate the first run of the game, and a two-out single plated a second. The Hokies tacked on another run on a solo homer by Rachel Castine to open the top of the second. Alyssa Galindo inherited one runner with none out when she entered for Jacey Schuler and surrendered just one walk in getting out of the inning without another run going on the scoreboard.
MSU got things going in the home half of the second, with some help from a pair of errors by the Virginia Tech defense. Britain Beshears led off and reached on an error, and Sophia Grillo and Hannah Greer each worked free passes to load the bases without an out. Kirsten Caravaca brought home pinch runner Kayla Franklin and Greer, and Kendall Smiley followed with a double to plate two more runs to give MSU the lead. After an error put runners at the corners with no outs, the Hokies made a pitching change to bring on Bree Carrico to face the top of the order. Bernard grounded out to bring home Smiley, and Doloszycki doubled down the left field line to make it 6-3.
After a scoreless third, Virginia Tech put the first batter on in the fourth for Jordan Lynch, who pulled her team within a run (6-5) with a homer to center. Galindo dug in, got a pair of ground-ball outs, and after a single to center, ended the inning on a strikeout.
In the fifth, MSU looked to get back a bit of a cushion. Beshears walked to lead off the inning, and was replaced by pinch runner Ava Coffinger. Carrico got the next two batters, but back-to-back base hits by Caravaca and Smiley brought Coffinger around to score and left runners at the corners. A walk to pinch hitter Natalia Kenyatta loaded the bases, but she was hit by a batted ball (by Zoie Bernard) to end the inning.
The Hokies scratched across a run in the top of the sixth to make it 7-6. A leadoff double by Lynch – her third hit of the day – was the last batter for Galindo, who made way for Cassady out of the bullpen. She walked the first batter she faced, and a one-out single plated the Hokies' sixth run. Cassady got out of the jam with a strikeout and a fly ball to right to end the inning, stranding two runners. She retired the side in order in the top of the seventh to secure the save.