The MSU softball team won the Big Ten Tournament as the No. 8 seed last season but were unable to duplicate that result again this season.

As the No. 8 seed again this season, MSU played Michigan in the first round of the tournament in Ann Arbor. The No. 1 Wolverines (53-4) ended the Spartans (25-28-1) with a 6-2 victory.

U-M got on the scoreboard early, plating one run in the bottom of the first inning. However, it was the three-run second inning that opened up the lead for the tournament hosts, and they never looked back.

The Spartans did not go away quietly, as junior first baseman Elizabeth Peterson hit her third home run of the season, the 14th of her career. The round tripper cut the Wolverine lead to 4-1.

Still up by three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, U-M added some insurance with two more runs. A double and a single with one on and two out gave the Wolverines a five-run lead.

The Spartans showed some fight, when senior second baseman Janette Hurtado was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the sixth. Freshman Jessica LeFevre, who pinch ran for Hurtado, would come around to score on a throwing error by the Wolverines third baseman. MSU went one-two-three in the seventh inning to end the game.

Sophomore outfielder Nicole Mercado was named to second team All-Big Ten and was the only Spartan to garner first or second team All-Big Ten honors.