The MSU softball team ended its season at the NCAA Regional in Athens, Ga., with a 9-1 loss to host school, Georgia.
The Spartans managed only one run and six hits for the entire game and were unable to muster up any offense.
"I think it's putting together hits and we didn't do that," senior third baseman Brittney Green said. "Overall we played very well.
"We had a couple of tough games but we handled it the best we could."
The No. 5 seed Spartans defeated No. 4 seed Texas A&M, lost to No. 1 seed Washington, beat No. 6 seed Massachusetts, before losing to the No. 2 seed Bulldogs.
"In the two games we lost, we definitely got beat," senior pitcher Jessica Beech said. "The better team won in both of those games.
It was the first time MSU had ever reached regionals in consecutive seasons. This season also marked the first Big Ten Tournament Championship for the Spartan program.
"The team showed a lot of character and I was proud of what they achieved," Spartans head coach Jacquie Joseph said.
The Spartans ousted Texas A&M on Thursday, beating the Aggies 5-1. Sophomore right fielder Elizabeth Peterson drove in four of MSU's five runs. Beech struck out seven batters and allowed only one run with five hits and three walks.
The Spartans moved on to play Washington in their second game of the tournament. Despite being down 12-0 going into the last inning, the Spartans didn't give up scoring eight runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, losing the game 12-8.
Freshman pitcher Christy McGrew took the mound in the top of the fifth, appearing for the first time since May 11, allowing one run before being taken out of the game.
Freshman pitcher Jackie Noble allowed five more runs when she came into the game in the seventh inning.
"The lack of depth on the pitching mound really hurt us and we had just run out of gas," Joseph said.
MSU got its first two runs in the bottom of the seventh with singles from Beech, freshman outfielder Nicole Mercado and senior centerfielder Angel Merren. Green hit a grand slam, her 10th home run of the season.
The Spartans played UMass in the consolation bracket in their third game of the tournament. MSU earned a 13-5 victory and stayed alive in the double-elimination tournament.
Beech struck out eight and allowed nine hits in six inning pitched.
"I thought our kids really did a great job rebounding (from the Washington game)," Joseph said.
