BASKETBALL
Merchant stresses upcoming summer
Now that the MSU women’s basketball team’s season is over, Suzy Merchant has had time to relax and reflect on her first year as head coach.
FOOTBALL
Transfer Anderson fitting in on, off field heading into first season
When MSU football coach Mark Dantonio left Cincinnati, one vital asset followed. But junior defensive end Trevor Anderson didn’t think trashing his Bearcats uniform and fully diving into the MSU community would be as easy as pie.
SPORTS
Spartans look forward to only home meet of spring
Director of track and field Walt Drenth said he’s enthused about the MSU track team’s prospects at the Spartan Invitational on Saturday.
SOFTBALL
Mejia adds to résumé as freshman captain
Growing up, freshman captain Bianca Mejia was surrounded by softball. She played for her high school team at El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills, Calif., and her two older sisters, Krystal and Vanessa, played at Long Island University.
BASEBALL
Day in, day out
More than any other sport, the game of baseball is based on numbers. From batting average to earned run average, every player is judged by the numbers he puts up on the diamond. In the case of junior catcher Kyle Day, the offensive numbers he has put up through 26 games jump off the stat sheet. He leads the Spartans with a .355 batting average, five home runs and 28 RBIs.
BASEBALL
Spartans looking for consistency against Buckeyes
For the MSU baseball team and head coach David Grewe to right the ship this weekend and get on track for the Big Ten race, they’re going to have to go through the “best of the best.”
SPORTS
Women's tennis team falls to Wolverines
Despite wins against Iowa and Minnesota last weekend, the MSU women’s tennis team couldn’t continue its streak as it suffered a 6-1 loss against Michigan on Wednesday at MSU Indoor Tennis Facility.
SOFTBALL
Softball team tops Western Michigan behind active bats
Freshman utility player Lindsey Hansen notched her first collegiate home run in the fourth inning of the MSU softball team’s 5-4 victory over Western Michigan on Wednesday.
SPORTS
Breaking down road to Stanley Cup
There’s no doubt about it — my favorite time of the year is upon us. That’s right, it’s time for the Stanley Cup playoffs.
FOOTBALL
Position battles fuel competitive practices
Spring camp has been so intense that sophomore wide receiver Mark Dell had absolutely no clue the skin under his eye was busted up and bleeding — needing medical treatment.
SPORTS
Coach stresses no pressure for regionals
No pressure. That’s the message MSU head coach Kathie Klages wanted to drill into the heads of her gymnasts before the team heads to Oregon to compete in the NCAA West Regional Tournament on Saturday.
FOOTBALL
Football prospect withdraws because of leg complications
Upon an attempt to return from cancer, Arthur Ray, an MSU football prospect to play on the offensive line, has withdrawn from his spring semester and has suffered a major setback in relation to his football career.
SOFTBALL
Senior twins destined to be Spartans from beginning
As the mother of four daughters who have played Division I softball, Pam Nicosia has seen her share of softball coaches through the years.
SPORTS
Lugnuts steal home opener
The youthful Lansing Lugnuts were excited to play their first home game of the season Monday night at Oldsmobile Park. But they were nervous, too. “I have to say I had some butterflies out there,” 18-year-old third baseman Kevin Ahrens said. “But just about after my first at-bat, I settled down a little bit and got in the groove of playing again.”
BASKETBALL
Coach proves critics wrong in first year
MSU women’s basketball head coach Suzy Merchant may not have been everyone’s favorite hire in the beginning, but you have to admit, she did a great job jumping in feet-first to bring her young team up to par.
BASEBALL
Lugnuts look forward to home opener vs. South Bend
With a young season and an even younger opening-day roster, Lansing Lugnuts manager Clayton McCullough isn’t as worried about his team’s performance on the field as he is their adaptation to the grind of the professional game.
SPORTS
Spartans serve up weekend sweep at home
This past weekend was full of wins for MSU’s women’s tennis team. On Saturday, the team beat Minnesota 4-3. Freshmen Manon Noe, Lindsey Lonergan and Whitney Wilson’s wins in their singles matches pushed the team to a victory.
BASKETBALL
Championship-wrecked
They took the floor, but failed to show up. The MSU women’s basketball team got routed 81-66 by Marquette on Saturday afternoon at Breslin Center. After battling through four teams to make it to the WNIT championship game, the last 40 minutes of the 200-minute, five-game fight proved to be too much. Failing to bring home their first championship, the Spartans (23-14) ended their season with a thud in the WNIT final game to hand Marquette the title.
BASKETBALL
Despite sour ending, WNIT was positive
While the MSU women’s basketball team failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament, it’s clear its five-game run in the WNIT will end up being much more beneficial in the long run than a one-and-done in the Big Dance.
SOFTBALL
Softball sweeps Ohio State, baseball team splits series
The MSU softball team swept a two-game set against No. 24 Ohio State this weekend to improve to 19-15 overall and 4-2 in Big Ten play.