The MSU softball team opens its season today at the Louisville Slugger Classic in Tempe, Ariz.
The Spartans get started at 9 a.m. against Oklahoma State (5-0), followed by Illinois State (1-4) at 11 a.m.
Saturday also features two games with MSU. At 11 a.m. the Spartans play No. 6 Iowa (0-0), followed by No. 8 Arizona State (5-1) at 3:30 p.m.
After finishing the 2001 season 21-39 overall, 5-15 in Big Ten action, MSU softball head coach Jacquie Joseph said expectations have been set high this season.
“The NCAA Tournament is definitely within our reach,” Joseph said. “There are a lot of starting pitchers from last year that are playing this year, which is a bonus.
“Our sport is a pitcher-dominated game. The fact that pitching experience is back is always a bonus. The key is to pitch better than last year.”
The Spartans return two starting pitchers - seniors Becky Gray and Keri DeJong - who had a combined record of 45-52 last season.
Last season, DeJong was 19-21 with 225 strikeouts. Her strikeout total ranks sixth all-time in a season at MSU.
“Last season our game was kind of rough,” DeJong said. “We have improved a lot since last season. We are more comfortable with the game and with each other.
“In general, we seem to be having more fun, which ultimately will make us want to play more.”
With only five seniors last year, MSU fielded a young team. But Joseph said the Spartans’ schedule last season was too tough for a young team.
“Part of the problem was the overscheduling for the experience of the team,” Joseph said.
“The good news is this year almost every player is back and I’m hoping last year’s experience will pay off for everyone.
“So far in persuasion there is no question about us being better than last year. There is a definite improvement in the overall game of the entire team, which can be seen during every practice.”
The Spartans last reached the NCAA Tournament in 1999. And the team’s 21 wins last season marked the first time in six years it failed to win 30 games.
“We just want to go down there and get our feet wet,” Joseph said.
“We need to see what we have and what needs to be worked on.”
