Cassady's Complete Game Provides MSU 2-1 Win Over Dayton

Sunday, March 1

Lexington, Ky

11 AM

Michigan State University

10-9

Dayton

7-5

Michigan State

Dayton

3/1/2026 1:18:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State earned a 2-1 victory over Dayton on Sunday morning to complete its five games in the John Cropp Invitational at Kentucky. MSU improves to 10-9 on the year with the win.

Sophomore Carsyn Cassady went the distance in the circle for MSU, scattering three hits and facing just 24 batters, striking out five in her first complete game of the season (and her career). She allowed a run in the bottom of the first inning, but allowed just two base hits (in the fifth and seventh) to keep the Flyers from adding to their lead.

MSU scored both of its runs in the top of the third inning to go on top for good. With two on, Kendall Smiley and Sophia Grillo each delivered RBI singles to plate Payton Conroy and Zoie Bernard.

MSU stranded a season-high 11 runners, including eight in the fourth through seventh innings. Cassady was on top of her game, however, erasing the only baserunner in the fifth with a double-play ball and getting three straight outs after allowing a leadoff single in the seventh.

Britain Beshears had a pair of base hits (one double) while Bernard finished 2-for-2 with a triple and a single, drawing walks in her final two at-bats of the day.

Michigan State completes its pre-Big Ten schedule with five games next weekend in North Carolina. MSU plays at NC State on Thursday evening (6 pm) before doubleheader days on both Friday and Saturday against Stetson and Mercer in Cary, NC at the USA Baseball Training Facility.

TOP PERFORMANCES

Zoie Bernard led off the game with a triple, added an infield single, and was walked in her final two at-bats.
Carsyn Cassady got the start and delivered a complete-game three-hitter. She faced just 24 batters, walking one and striking out five.
Britain Beshears went 2-for-4 with a sixth-inning double.
Sophia Grillo and Kendall Smiley each had RBI singles in the third inning.

NOTABLES

MSU stranded a season-high 11 runners on base, surpassing the 10 stranded vs. Auburn (2/6)
Cassady's complete game is the third of the season for the Spartans. Her previous high was five innings on Feb. 20 against Louisiana-Lafayette.
Natalia Kenyatta doubled in the fourth, her first extra-base hit of the season.
Bernard's leadoff triple to start the game was her fourth of the season. She and Smiley (2) lead the team in that category.
Bernard was 7-of-17 (.412) on the weekend with a triple and a double.
Grillo was 5-for 1 with 5 RBI on the weekend, with four of her hits going for extra bases (two homers, two doubles)
Kendall Smiley was 5-of-17 with six RBI in the five games at Kentucky.

SCORING NUGGETS

Bernard led off the game with a triple, but the Spartans were unable to bring her home. In the bottom of the inning, the Flyers led off with a single, and the runner advanced to third on a ground ball and an error, and came home on a fielder's choice.
Payton Conroy drew a one-out walk to start the third inning, and was moved to second on a bunt single by Bernard. Smiley stepped in and delivered a single up the middle that brought Conroy around from second to score, and Grillo followed with a base knock to right center to bring home Bernard to put MSU on top 2-1.