After kicking off Big Ten play in a three-game series versus the University of Maryland, MSU softball is focused on becoming a good team and building the program. With only one senior on the roster this season, MSU is reliant on younger players taking on leadership roles, too.
MSU softball concluded its first home series of the season as the Spartans faced Maryland Sunday afternoon. Third baseman Kaitlyn Eveland recorded two runs and a hit in one at-bat as the Spartans won and swept the Terrapins, 6-2.
MSU softball edged out Maryland in the second game in a three-game series on fan appreciation day at Secchia Stadium, 2-0. The win came in a contrasting fashion from MSU's 8-3 win in game one, with the Spartans scoring two runs this time in a shutout win.
When it rains it pours. On a dreary and rainy Friday afternoon, the MSU softball team faced the University of Maryland to open up a three-game series. Tied 3-3 to begin the bottom of the fourth, the Spartans scored eight unanswered runs to beat the Terrapins 11-3 in six innings. Pinch-hitter Katelyn Hendershott brought home a run on a fielder’s choice as junior shortstop McKenzie Long scored to end the game in the sixth. In two at-bats, junior centerfielder Lea Foerster recorded two hits and two runs in the win. Leftfielder Ebonee Echols registered three runs and one hit in four at-bats.
MSU softball kicked off an 11-game home stand with their home opener and a 7-2 win against Western Michigan University. The season began on Feb. 10 and MSU has endured 26 straight road games, which mounted a 15-11 overall record. With their victory against the Broncos, the Spartans are now 16-11 overall, 0-3 in the Big Ten.
After recording a .625 batting average in MSU softball's three-game sweep on the road against Loyola Marymount, junior center fielder Lea Foerster was named Big Ten Conference Player of the Week.
Just four games into the 2016-17 regular season, MSU softball pitcher and outfielder Celeste Wood is already making herself known amongst the best in the Big Ten Conference.
MSU Softball will be traveling all the way to Boca Raton, Fla. to compete in the FAU Kickoff Classic on Feb. 10 to Feb. 12 for their first tournament of the season. In the kickoff classic the Spartans first opponent will be Boston University. In the following three days MSU will also be playing Florida Atlantic University, Troy University and North Carolina State University. In 2016 the Spartans finished off their regular conference play with an 8-15 record and 10th in the Big Ten Conference.
While the MSU softball team pulls talent locally and nationwide, three Spartans share the same home state of Georgia. These three players — junior Bridgette Rainey, sophomore Ebonee Echols and freshman Jordan Watson, also competed for the same club team back home — the Atlanta Vipers.
This week, MSU softball freshman Ebonee Echols was named as one of 25 finalists for the NCAA National Freshman of the Year award.
The MSU softball team was defeated by No. 2 University of Michigan on Wednesday, 3-0. A pitcher’s duel was broken up by a fifth-inning U-M rally. The stands of Secchia Stadium at Old College Field were filled to capacity for Wednesday afternoon’s in-state rivalry game.
After giving up two earned runs and three hits in the first inning, Bridgette Rainey held the Western Michigan Broncos scoreless in her final four innings.
An offensive explosion helped the MSU softball team (18-14, 1-2 Big Ten) achieve a 12-2 win in an in-state rivalry game against the Western Michigan University Broncos (10-15, 1-2 MAC) on Tuesday afternoon.
The Big Ten Network is set to televise over 360 games for baseball and softball games throughout the course of this season, according to BTN. This includes coverage for MSU baseball and softball.
The university investigation into the MSU softball program has found no misconduct on behalf of head coach Jacquie Joseph and her coaching staff.
The MSU baseball and softball teams received good news recently in the form of stadium upgrades. The Drayton McLane Baseball Stadium at John H. Kobs Field and Secchia Softball Stadium will both be receiving new electric field heating systems, according to an announcement made July 28 by the MSU Athletics Department.
No criminal charges in the complaint from former softball player Alyssa McBride that she was targeted with pitches in batting practice before two separate games will be filed, according to a statement from the Isabella County Prosecutor's Office.
After a disappointing season in which the MSU softball team finished 19-36, recent allegations from Alyssa McBride who just wrapped up her senior season have surrounded the team with even more questions.
In the midst of an investigation into softball assistant coach Jessica Bograkos and the program as a whole, a statement has now come on behalf of head coach Jacquie Joseph from her attorney Shirlee Bobryk’s of White, Schneider, Young & Chiodini. The statement opens with Bobryk stating that she would like to respond to the allegations made by former softball player Alyssa McBride that she was targeted with pitches after stating she wished she had played at another school due to the amount of losing she endured in her time at MSU. The bulk of the statement consists of two quotes from Joseph: "I have devoted my past 22 years as MSU head softball coach to guiding and mentoring student-athletes in the type of ideals, values and skills necessary to achieve success on the field, in their careers, and throughout their lives," the statement read.
After a disappointing season in which the MSU softball team finished 19-36, you would have thought things couldn't get much worse.