The MSU softball team traveled to Iowa City, Iowa this weekend to face off with Big Ten foe Iowa, winning the series by taking two of the three games.
Spartan senior pitcher Kelly Smith continued her week of dominance and gave up just four hits and no runs against the Hawkeyes in the series opener.This came after Smith had just thrown a no-hitter against Eastern Michigan on Wednesday, the first of her career.
The Spartans got their lone run in the 1-0 win late in game one Friday, when junior Stephanie Sanders hit a clutch single in the sixth inning to score senior Dana Briggs.
Game two of the series wasn’t as kind to the Spartans, as they lost 5-1 on Saturday. MSU jumped to an early lead in the top of the first inning when freshman Sarah Gutknecht hit a single to center that scored junior Alyssa McBride.
Unfortunately for MSU, that would be all the offense on the day for the green and white, as the Hawkeyes would go on to score five unanswered runs and win the game.
MSU committed two errors on the day and left 13 runners stranded on base.
The Spartans were able to bounce back and take the series in game three, winning 4-0.
They were lead by yet another strong pitching performance from Smith. She threw a complete game, shutting out the Hawkeyes.
The Big Ten series win is the first for the Spartans on the season, as they improved their record to 12-29 overall and 4-13 in the Big Ten Conference.
The Spartans will take the field next against Central Michigan at home on Wednesday, with the first pitch set for 5 p.m.
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