Spartans Split Doubleheader With Illinois

Friday, April 3

East Lansing, Mich.

3PM

Michigan State University

14-21, 1-9

Illinois

9-28, 1-9

Illinois

Michigan State

4/3/2026 10:06:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State split a Big Ten doubleheader with visiting Illinois on Friday at Secchia Stadium. In game one, MSU earned a 7-0 victory in a one-hit complete game from Jacey Schuler, but Illinois came back with a 11-hit effort in the nightcap to earn a 12-6 victory.

In game one, the Spartans (14-22, 1-10 B1G) plated four runs in the second and added three in the third to take a commanding lead. The Spartans rattled off eight hits and got the gem in the circle from Schuler, who recorded her third complete game and second shutout of the season. Sophie Holverstott posted four RBI on a double and a three-run homer in the game, and Sydney Doloszycki delivered a solo homer. Britain Beshears also had a pair of base hits.

Sophie Holverstott with a no-doubter over the wall in right field! #GoGreen pic.twitter.com/P3Ll9lG9e2
— Michigan State Softball (@MSU_Softball) April 3, 2026

Having been limited to just one hit in the first game, the Illini (10-28, 2-9 B1G) came out determined in game two with a seven-run top of the first. MSU scored twice in the home half and chipped away further with a Beshears solo homer in the second and another manufactured run in the bottom of the fourth to make it 7-4. Illinois then countered with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth and three more in the seventh to push their lead to 12-4. The Spartans tried for a late rally, but stranded three runners in the sixth and got two across on a sac fly and a base hit in the seventh, but could not come any closer and settled on the 12-6 decision. Four players had two base hits in the second game: Bernard, Beshears, Doloszycki, and Payton Conroy. Autumn Behlke threw five strong relief innings, and Alex Starr finished the game with one earned run and three hits against in 1.2 innings, striking out two.

There's out of the park, and there's OUT OF THE PARK.

Thats No. 27 in the career of No. 22! pic.twitter.com/eeOdH19yyO
— Michigan State Softball (@MSU_Softball) April 3, 2026

The rubber match takes place on Sunday at Secchia Stadium with a 1 pm start. Due to unpredictable weather, please check MSUSpartans.com for the most up-to-date schedule throughout the spring season.

Flashes the leather, then makes the big swing to put MSU on top! Syd Doloszycki with her third of the season to lead off the second inning. pic.twitter.com/vx0nGSKWzD
— Michigan State Softball (@MSU_Softball) April 3, 2026

NOTEWORTHY

MSU's eight hits and seven runs in today's first game were the most since the March 14^th game at UCLA. It also snapped a nine-game skid in Big Ten contests.
Jacey Schuler twirled a one-hit gem in the opener, tossing her second shutout of the season. She struck out three and walked two.
Autumn Behlke threw 5.0 innings in relief in the second game, scattering seven hits and allowing four runs. Alex Starr finished the game
Sydney Doloszycki hit her third homer of the season in the first game and added a pair of base hits in the nightcap. She had three hits and two RBI on the day.
Beshears hit a solo homer deep over the fence in left field in the second inning of game two– her third of the year and 27^th of her career. She is tied with Hannah Hawley for fifth all-time in career home runs in the MSU record book.
Beshears had a single in the sixth inning to finish with a combined four base hits on the day.
Zoie Bernard had a combined four base hits, a walk, and two RBI over the two games.
Payton Conroy had two base hits, a pair of walks, and two RBI in the doubleheader.