Tuesday, January 6, 2026

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Sports

SOFTBALL

U pitches shutout against Eastern

Riding the arm of sophomore Jessica Beech, the MSU softball team defeated Eastern Michigan 2-0 on Thursday.The game, originally scheduled for Tuesday, was the Spartans’ (14-21 overall, 1-3 Big Ten) fifth shutout of the season.

ICE HOCKEY

Miller headlines three Spartans as All-Americans

Junior goaltender Ryan Miller earned his second-straight West All-America first-team honor Thursday, while two Spartan defensemen made the second team. The second-team accolades taken by junior defenseman John-Michael Liles and senior defenseman Andrew Hutchinson make MSU the only school with three All-Americans this year.

BASEBALL

Sluggers ready for Northwestern

As the MSU baseball team returns to Big Ten action, it expects better results.After splitting its first conferences series with Minnesota 2-2, the Spartans (17-5 overall, 2-2 Big Ten) are looking for a better performance at Northwestern.The Wildcats (7-13, 1-3) host the first of a four-game series 3 p.m.

SPORTS

Sports briefs

Tennis teams ready for Big Ten action The men’s tennis team takes to the road in Big Ten action this weekend, while the women play at the Indoor Tennis Facility. The men’s team (13-7 overall, 1-4 Big Ten) will play Saturday at Ohio State (15-2, 4-0) and Sunday at Penn State (7-9, 0-4). The Spartans are coming off a 5-2 loss Wednesday to Michigan (11-5, 2-3). The women’s team (10-7, 2-3) will also play Penn State (6-7, 1-3) and Ohio State (16-1, 4-1) this weekend. The Spartans host Penn State Saturday and Ohio State on Sunday. Spartans ready to run The men’s and women’s track and field teams will be in action this weekend. The men’s team will compete at 9 a.m.

BASKETBALL

Young and restless

When Kelvin Torbert, Alan Anderson and Chris Hill became MSU’s 2001 recruiting class, another Big Ten title and another trip deep into the NCAA Tournament seemed within reach, if not certain. Sure, the Spartans would lose five seniors, but the trio of recruits would help ease the blow. Torbert, an electrifying scorer, was the 2001 Sporting News Player of the Year, Michigan’s Mr. Basketball and Flint’s second all-time leading scorer - behind ex-Spartan Charlie Bell - with his 1,978 career points at Flint Northwestern High. Anderson, a silky and versatile slasher, rated the No.

ICE HOCKEY

Goaltender ready to man the pipes

If junior goaltender Ryan Miller leaves school early - and that’s still an “if” at this point - Spartan fans probably will be a little worried about MSU’s last line of defense next season.After all, Miller has been the epitome of excellence and durability in his three-year MSU career.

BASKETBALL

Mid-major teams hang together, make impact

A Saluki is defined as an ancient breed of dog with a keen sense of vision used in hunting. A Southern Illinois Saluki is an ancient breed of basketball player, using its maturity and experience in the NCAA Tournament to knock off some of the biggest names in college coaching. The sixth-seeded Texas Tech Red Raiders and head coach Bobby Knight fell prey to the mighty Salukis in the first round of the tournament.

BASKETBALL

Death of the 4-year superstar

Inside his office in the new Berkowitz Basketball Complex, MSU men’s basketball associate head coach Brian Gregory sat and listened to my questions about the state of college basketball. “Can you think of any recent superstar-type players who turned down the NBA and came back for their senior year?” I asked. “Here at Michigan State you have to look at Mateen (Cleaves) and Morris Peterson, because those two guys had the opportunity to leave early,” Gregory said.

BASEBALL

Spartans split Big Ten opening series

After dropping its Big Ten opener, the MSU baseball team used the long ball to split a four-game series with Minnesota at Kobs Field this weekend.The Spartans (17-5 overall, 2-2 Big Ten) hit nine home runs in Saturday’s tripleheader to win two games.