Gymnasts approach double sweep at home
The MSU gymnastics team will culminate its successful season with a trimeet against Michigan and Pitt this weekend.
The Spartans (14-6, 2-2 Big Ten) are looking to complete season sweeps of both teams as they defeated the Wolverines in February and bested the Panthers last weekend.
The meet will mark the final home competition for seniors Ilene Cohen, Diana Crea, Julie Devaty, Christy Linder, Kristina Petersen, Lindsay Trainham and Maurella Walls.
MSU's home finale kicks off at 7 p.m. Saturday at Jenison Field House.
Tennis team aims to end 4-game losing skid
The 73rd-ranked Spartans (9-6, 0-1 Big Ten) hope they can halt their four-match losing streak with a win over No. 75 Penn State (9-2, 0-1).
Sophomore Cameron Marshall leads he team with 17 victories in singles play, while Marshall and junior Eric Simonton have combined to lead the team with 12 wins as doubles partners.
With a win, MSU can snap a two-game losing skid to Penn State as the Nittany Lions defeated the Spartans in both the 2002 regular season and Big Ten Tournament.
The matchup will take place at noon Saturday at the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility.
Struggling sluggers take on hot Bobcats
The MSU baseball team hopes to get out of its slump with a four-game weekend series against Ohio.
The Spartans (3-10) are on a nine-game losing skid, while the Bobcats (8-5) are at the other end of the spectrum with a six-game winning streak.
Despite MSU's recent struggles, senior catcher Brady Burrill leads the offense with a .442 batting average. Burrill is also on a nine-game hitting streak.
The series opens with an afternoon tilt today, continues with a doubleheader on Saturday and climaxes with a noon game on Sunday. All games will be played in Athens, Ohio at Bob Wren Stadium.
Spartans square off with RedHawks, Flyers
The MSU softball team will hit the road for two weekend doubleheaders.
The Spartans (15-7) travel to Ohio where they face off with Miami (Ohio) and Dayton.
MSU is in a funk as it has dropped four consecutive contests.
Junior pitcher Jessica Beech continues to impress as she is 9-3 with a 0.90 ERA and 84 strikeouts.
The Spartans square off with the RedHawks Saturday in Oxford, Ohio, while the matchup with the Flyers will take place Sunday in Dayton, Ohio.
Grapplers off to good start at championships
Five members of the MSU men's wrestling team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championships on Thursday.
Seniors Rashad Evans, Nik Fekete, Gray Maynard and Karl Nadolsky, along with freshman Nick Simmons all fought their way to victories.
Junior Ryan L'Amoreaux was the only Spartan to taste defeat as he lost 8-4 to Sacred Heart's Mike Messina.
As a team, the Spartans are currently tied for fifth place with Big Ten foes Iowa and Minnesota. 1995 was the last year the Spartans had success in the championships, where they finished third as a team.
The tournament is held under a double elimination format with the top eight finishers earning All-America honors.
The quarterfinals, semifinals and medal round take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, respectively. All of the action is taking place in Kansas City, Mo. at Kemper Arena.
Briefs by Jason Carmel Davis
