Cassady Strikes Career-High Eight In Setback at OSU

Saturday, March 28

Columbus, OH

2 PM

Michigan State University

13-19, 0

Ohio State

14-18, 0

Michigan State

Ohio State

3/28/2026 3:56:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

East Lansing, Mich. – Ohio State came out on top in a pitcher's duel in Columbus on Saturday, scoring twice in the bottom of the first and holding on for the 2-0 victory. OSU is now 14-18 on the year and evened its Big Ten record at 4-4.

The Buckeyes went with Jenna Molk in the circle, while Ohio native Carsyn Cassady drew the start for MSU. Both were on top of their games – Cassady posted the complete game, striking out a career-best eight and not allowing a run after the first inning. Molk, who also started Friday's game, struck out three and walked three in her seven innings. Both pitchers surrendered just four hits a side.

Zoie Bernard had two base hits for MSU (13-19, 0-8 B1G) and Izzy Neal had two of Ohio State's four. Catcher Izzy Lang had the RBI double to score two for OSU in the first inning.

The two teams complete their three-game series on Sunday in Columbus. The game will air live on Big Ten Network at 4 pm.

NOTABLES

Carsyn Cassady twirled a gem, a complete game in which she surrendered just four hits struck out eight. She established a new career best in strikeouts, bettering the six she originally set last season in a win over Detroit. Her previous high this season was five, which she did twice (most recently vs. Stetson).
Freshman Zoie Bernard had a pair of base hits, her 10^th multiple-hit game of the season. The other base hits were by Kendall Smiley (first inning), and Sophie Holverstott (seventh).
Britain Beshears drew her team-high 21^st walk of the season, establishing a new career best. She walked 20 times last year as a junior.
Sophia Grillo threw out a runner in the fifth, her third runner caught stealing this season.

SCORING SUMMARIES

MSU came out assertive in the first inning. Kendall Smiley legged out an infield single and stole second. Hannah Hawley drew a walk, but was out at second as Sophia Grillo reached on a fielder's choice. A second walk in the inning was issued to Payton Conroy, but the Spartans left the bases loaded. In the bottom of the frame, the Buckeyes matched MSU with a pair of walks sandwiched around an infield single, but Lang stepped in and delivered a two-out double to center to plate a pair of runs. Cassady got Landmesser looking to end the inning.
MSU tried to rally in the seventh – Sophie Holverstott sent a one-out single to right, and Natalia Kenyatta reached on an error to put a pair on for MSU. Zoie Bernard reached on an infield single to load the bases, but Molk got a lineout to end the game.