In softball, the pitcher is the heart and soul of the team. “You don’t win unless you have a horse in the circle,” MSU pitching coach Jessica Bograkos said. “You don’t see any teams go the distance without an ace.”
The MSU softball team split a doubleheader against Penn State on Wednesday, taking the nightcap 3-2 but losing the first game 6-3. The Spartans took the lead early in the second game with a deep three-run home run to left field by sophomore outfielder Jessica Bracamonte in the bottom of the first inning.
Finally healthy, the MSU softball team is rounding into form, even if only six games remain on the schedule. The Spartans notched their first Big Ten wins of the season, sweeping Minnesota over the weekend to move their conference record to 2-11.
One swing was all that kept the MSU softball team from sweeping Oakland in a double-header with the Golden Grizzlies at Old College Field on Thursday. Instead, the Spartans had to settle for a split, winning the first game 5-1 and dropping the nightcap 4-3 in the extra innings.
After waiting 15 minutes for her at bat, freshman infielder Ali Grant only needed a few seconds to end the game for her team. Playing through rain and wind the entire game, the MSU softball team was forced to take a break from its game against Bowling Green to wait for nearby lightning to pass.
The MSU softball team is trying to get better, head coach Jacquie Joseph said. It’s just running out of chances to do it.
Coming off the biggest comeback of the season, a 7-6 extra-innings win over Central Michigan, the MSU softball team is looking to use the confidence from the victory to push it to the first Big Ten win this season.
The MSU softball team snapped its seven-game slide with a late-inning flurry, beating Central Michigan 7-6 in extra innings. Although the Spartans took six innings to score their first run, they only needed three batters to take the game in the bottom of the eighth.
The MSU softball team nearly captured its first Big Ten victory Sunday but lost control in the last few innings, losing to Indiana 5-2 in extra innings, its seventh-straight loss. The Spartans were bolstered early by strong pitching by senior Megan Hair. Hair was nearly flawless through the first four innings, not giving up a hit and allowing only three Hoosiers to reach base.
After crushing Detroit Mercy in its first homestand, the second time back for the MSU softball team wasn’t as pleasant. The team was beat handily by Purdue in its doubleheader Thursday, losing 12-0 in the first game and 8-3 in the nightcap.
After recent snow pushed the MSU softball team’s doubleheader with Purdue to today, the Spartans spent Wednesday’s practice catching up for lost time. Because of scheduling and bad weather, the team wasn’t able to practice on the field for nearly a week, something the team will try to counter as it prepares for one of the fastest teams in the Big Ten, head coach Jacquie Joseph said.
The MSU softball team’s doubleheader against Purdue, originally scheduled for today, has been moved to Thursday, according to MSU Athletic Communications.
In Tuesday’s home opener, the MSU softball team waited until the bottom of the seventh inning to win the game on a walk-off home run by sophomore shortstop Lindsey Hansen.
The MSU softball team was on a roll this weekend, having outscored its two opponents 23-8 in two games going into Sunday’s doubleheader.
MSU sophomore shortstop Lindsey Hansen was named the Big Ten Softball Player of the Week after leading the team to two victories this week in the Magic City Classic.
MSU softball coach Jacquie Joseph doesn’t beat around the bush — she’s disappointed in her team’s performance at this point in the young season.
Coming off an Opening Day victory, the MSU baseball team dropped its final two games of the weekend to fall to 1-2 on the season. The Spartans defeated Connecticut 4-2 in their first game of the season but fell to Seton Hall 8-4 on Saturday and Minnesota 7-2 on Sunday.
While most students were enjoying their break from classes and the stresses of college, these Spartans were busy at work competing for Big Ten titles. Here’s a rundown of what you missed while you were vacationing.
The MSU softball team stunned No. 6 Michigan, 2-1, in the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday.
Despite sweeping Oakland in Wednesday’s doubleheader that lasted four hours, it was a rough victory for the MSU softball team.