The MSU softball team is at a critical stage in its Big Ten season as it travels to Ohio State and Penn State for four games this weekend. "We're 3-5 in the Big Ten and we're going to play two teams that are right about where we're at, with Penn State being a little down in compared to Ohio State," head coach Jacquie Joseph said.
The MSU softball team hosts an Oakland squad that has less than half the wins the Spartans have.
A friendly softball rivalry that has survived almost 10 years and more than 2,200 miles is still alive and well. On Sunday, MSU third base Brittney Green faced two longtime rivals, catcher/first base Meghann Reiss and utility player Kaitlin Reiss of Wisconsin.
With a five-run lead and an ace in the hole, MSU softball head coach Jacquie Joseph thought a doubleheader sweep of Wisconsin was a safe bet. After winning the first game, 7-5, the Spartans (21-16 overall, 3-5 Big Ten) took a 6-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth of the second game.
After spending the majority of the season on the road, including the past six games, the MSU softball team is back in the comforts of its own dugout to open up the Big Ten season at home. The Spartans (19-14, 1-3 Big Ten) hope to put their recent woes behind them - 1-4 in the past five - as Minnesota (22-11, 3-1) and Wisconsin (21-17, 1-3) come to East Lansing.
Despite a record-setting performance from its star pitcher, the MSU softball team endured a rocky start to its Big Ten season this past weekend. Two losses in a doubleheader at Iowa on Sunday capped a four-game road trip for the Spartans (19-13 overall, 1-3 Big Ten). Before falling to the Hawkeyes (22-15, 4-0), MSU split a pair of games at Illinois, losing, 7-1, in its Big Ten opener on Friday and winning, 2-0, on Saturday.
Led by senior pitcher Jessica Beech, the MSU softball team launched its home season with a convincing sweep of Valparaiso on Saturday at Old College Field. The Spartans (17-10) made just one error and registered 15 hits and three home runs in the doubleheader. "These are the things we need to do," head coach Jacquie Joseph said.
Returning home to Old College Field after more than a month of road games, the MSU softball team (15-10) begins its home schedule against Valparaiso (3-8) on Saturday. MSU looks to improve upon its 0-3 record when facing nationally ranked opponents this year with the start of their home schedule and Big Ten Conference games. Head coach Jacquie Joseph conceded the team has dropped a couple of games they could have pulled out, but added that they are in a good position for this time of the year. "We are exactly where I thought we would be," she said.
MSU softball shined in the Buckeye Invitational, posting wins against Oakland and Robert Morris on Saturday.
The MSU softball team took the Florida International Tournament title after defeating Florida International, 3-2, on Sunday.
The MSU softball team hopes to continue its quest for a Big Ten title this weekend when it faces conference cellar dwellers Indiana and Purdue. The fourth-place Spartans (30-14 overall, 8-5 Big Ten) will tussle with both the Hoosiers (17-27, 0-12) and the Boilermakers (31-22, 4-8) - 11th and ninth in the Big Ten, respectively - at Old College Field.
The MSU softball team's tour against in-state competition continues with a nonconference doubleheader against Oakland today. The Spartans (29-13 overall, 8-5 Big Ten) have already faced Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan and Central Michigan, with games against Detroit-Mercy and Michigan still ahead.
The rollercoaster that is the MSU softball team's Big Ten season continued this weekend as the Spartans split a four-game road set with Penn State and Ohio State.The Buckeyes (23-18, 4-6 Big Ten) used the longball to defeat the Spartans (29-13, 8-5) in the opener, as two of Ohio State's three hits in the game were home runs.MSU's best chances to score came in the first and seventh innings.
On a team with a young, unproven pitching staff, junior pitcher Jessica Beech has put the MSU softball team on her back and has the team in the thick of the Big Ten conference race. After being No.
Another pivotal weekend in the Big Ten awaits the MSU softball team as it heads out on a four-game road trip to Penn State and Ohio State. The Spartans (27-11 overall, 6-3 Big Ten) hope to improve on their fourth-place position in the conference.
An explosive first inning was all the MSU softball team needed to down Central Michigan 4-0 on Wednesday at Old College Field.The Spartans (27-11 overall, 6-3 Big Ten) lit up Chippewa pitcher Amber Puchalski for four hits in their first at-bats.MSU also benefited from a wild pitch and aggressive base running to jump to a quick four-run lead."The first inning really set the tone for us," MSU sophomore second base Janette Hurtado said.
MSU head softball coach Jacquie Joseph said she wanted to use the team's first Big Ten road contests to see how her team measures up to tougher squads.By splitting a four-game series with Minnesota and Wisconsin, Joseph said her team is still good enough to be mentioned with the top teams in the Big Ten."I felt we should have come out of this weekend 3-1," she said.
If the MSU softball team expects to continue its hot start, then it needs to be at its best at the plate. The Spartans (24-9, 4-1 Big Ten) face some of the conference's top pitchers when it travels to face Minnesota (26-10, 4-2) and Wisconsin (13-16, 2-4) this weekend.
Experience, hard work and a new attitude have led to the MSU softball team's excellent start this season.After going 24-35 overall and 4-15 in the Big Ten in 2002, the Spartans (24-9 overall, 4-1 Big Ten) need just one win to eclipse last season's overall and conference win totals.
On April Fool's Day, senior centerfielder Sandy Lewis approached Old College Field for softball practice wearing a boot and brandishing a signed letter from the head trainer stating she would be out of action 4 to 6 weeks.