MSU Downs No. 13 Clemson To Finish NFCA Classic

Sunday, February 8

Clearwater, Fla.

10 AM

Michigan State University

4-1

Clemson

3-2

Clemson

Michigan State

2/8/2026 1:35:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

East Lansing, Mich. -- Michigan State closed out the NFCA Leadoff Classic on Sunday with a 5-2 victory over No. 13 Clemson on Sunday in Clearwater, Florida.

Carsyn Cassady threw 3.2 innings of one-hit relief to help improve MSU to 4-1 on the season. Zoie Bernard went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles in the game, while Sydney Doloszycki and Kendall Smiley also had base hits for the Spartans.

Clemson was the highest-ranked opponent that MSU has defeated since a 6-4 win on the road at No. 3 Oregon last May. The 13^th-ranked Tigers, who beat No. 5 Oregon on opening day, stranded 11 runners thanks to some timely big outs from both pitchers – Jacey Schuler started the game and went 3.1 innings, scattering six hits and stranding five, leaving them loaded in the second. The Tigers also had two errors to MSU's one.

Michigan State's motto this season is 'Finish the Fight' it was put on display as @MSU_Softball knocks off #13 Clemson.

Post game interview with Head Coach for the Spartans @ShoMcDonald https://t.co/whp1WAjnW6 pic.twitter.com/qt8BGMT3e9
— Sydney Supple (@Sydney_Supple) February 8, 2026

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES

Zoie Bernard went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored.
Jacey Schuler went 3.1 innings as the starter, striking out three and charged with both runs (only one earned). She threw 76 pitches, 47 for strikes.
Carsyn Cassady came on in relief in the fourth and allowed just one base hit while striking out three. She earned the win, her first of the year.

NOTABLES

MSU's 4-1 mark matches the 2015 and 2016 teams – the last to post a season-opening weekend record of 4-1. (The 2017 Spartans went 3-1). The 2006 and 2008 teams also went 4-1; the 1997 squad won seven straight to start the year before dropping its eighth game in extra innings.
MSU's pitchers stranded 11 Clemson runners on the basepaths on Sunday.
MSU turned a pair of double plays in the game and three on the weekend.
The Spartans committed just six errors on the opening weekend (.962 fielding pct.), compared to 13 for its five opponents.
On the weekend, five of Zoie Bernard's seven base hits were for extra bases (three doubles, two triples). She also walked five times and stole three bases, scoring a team-high nine runs.
Sydney Doloszycki led MSU with a .421 batting average in the opening weekend (8-for-19 with four RBI).
Jacey Schuler made three appearances on the weekend, all starts. She allowed three runs and scattered eight hits over 9.1 innings. Autumn Behlke led MSU in innings pitched (11.1) and earned her first two victories in an MSU uniform.

SCORING RECAPS

MSU put three of its first batters on base. Zoie Bernard led off with a double, Doloszycki reached on an error, and Beshears walked. A wild pitch moved the runners and scored Bernard, and then another fielding error allowed Grillo to reach safely, scoring both Doloszycki and and Beshears for a 3-0 lead.
Clemson led off the top of the second with a single, and Schuler got the next two batters on a popup and a strikeout. The next two batters reached on an error and walked to load the bases, and another free pass plated a run for the Tigers. Schuler got out of the inning with a ground ball to leave the bases loaded.
The Tigers trimmed the lead to one in the top of the fourth. Back-to-back one-out singles brought Carsyn Cassady out of the bullpen. She walked her first batter to load the bases, and a sac fly to center plated a run to make it 3-2. They threatened again in the top of the fifth on a dropped third strike and a hit batter, but MSU got out of it with a second double play of the game.
In the bottom of the fifth, MSU added to its lead. Lyndsey Hooker drew a pinch-hit walk, and Bernard doubled down the right field line. Doloszycki singled to center to score the first run – and then Hawley was hit by a pitch to load the bases with none out. Sophia Grillo worked a full-count, one-out walk to bring home a fifth run, but Clemson got out of the inning on a fielder's choice and a fly ball.