Friday, May 15, 2026

Take a peek behind the curtain and test drive the NEW StateNews.com today!

Sports

SPORTS

President Simon to throw 1st pitch Sun.

The MSU softball team will head back to Big Ten play today at Old College Field with two games against Ohio State (today and Saturday) and a doubleheader against Penn State on Sunday. MSU head coach Jacquie Joseph will be honored before Friday's game in recognition of her 500th career victory, which came in the 4-1 victory over Loyola-Chicago on Tuesday. The team is coming off a 4-3 loss at Eastern Michigan on Wednesday, in which MSU (11-19-1 overall, 2-2 Big Ten) committed four costly errors. Sophomore pitcher Rachel Turney had been solid on the mound for the Spartans, compiling a 7-10 record with a minuscule 1.74 ERA. The team has struggled to score runs this season with freshman Traci Nicosia leading the team with 10 RBIs. Game time for Friday is 4:05 p.m., Saturday's game is at 1 p.m.

SPORTS

Spartans save best for last in seasons

The men's and women's basketball teams each suffered their worst losses of the season in their final games. But the hurt all of the players on both teams feel right now will soon subside, and all of them will realize what great seasons they had. The men's team began the season with high expectations, but after losing at Duke, MSU took a mental hit which they could not get rid of until the home game versus Wisconsin.

ICE HOCKEY

Recruits to add depth to team next season

MSU head coach Rick Comley said he likes who he has coming back and coming in for the Spartans next season. "We had a lot of young guys gain great experience this year that should be better next year," Comley said last week. "I think we have an outstanding senior class next year that is really going to help the hockey team.

BASEBALL

Spartans swing to victory

It was a game of season highs for the MSU baseball team, as the Spartans successfully swung the bat for a season-high 26 hits and scored a season-high 20 runs in a 20-9 win over Saginaw Valley State on Tuesday at Kobs Field. "I think we're confident now," MSU head coach Ted Mahan said.

SPORTS

Spartans show heart in comeback

Indianapolis - The No. 1 MSU women's basketball team wasn't playing with feeling in the first half of Sunday's 68-64 national semifinal win over Tennessee. Down by six points at halftime, MSU head coach Joanne P.

BASKETBALL

Writer shares 'rules of the road'

My parrot is better than your honor student. That's a weird bumper sticker to have on that beat-up 1980s Ford truck, I thought while driving down the center of Interstate 69 in Indiana. As I peered into the driver's seat, expecting a guy in Army gear and a NASCAR hat, I couldn't believe my eyes.

SPORTS

Spartan Vision attracts about 3,200

In need of camaraderie, Spartans fans gathered at Breslin Center on Saturday to watch the Final Four men's basketball game live on Spartan Vision. During the first half, the crowd connected with the game, reacting much like they would if it were a home game.

SPORTS

Anderson sees limited time due to knee injury

St. Louis - It's tough to win games in the NCAA Tournament when the second-leading scorer on the team doesn't register a single point. But that's what happened to MSU, as senior swingman Alan Anderson was held scoreless in its season-ending 87-71 loss to North Carolina in the Final Four. Anderson, though, was fighting through a knee injury suffered in the regional final game against Kentucky last Sunday. "I know the injury had something to do with it," MSU head coach Tom Izzo said.

SPORTS

Fans show Big Ten pride

St. Louis - Parading through crowds of orange and red, MSU finance junior Mike Tierney waved an MSU flag just hours before tipoff of the Final Four game on Saturday. With a group of six others, Tierney, an Izzone co-director, stuck out in the crowd of Illini fans that filled the streets of St.

SPORTS

Thanks for past 4 years of basketball

Alan Anderson, Tim Bograkos, Chris Hill and Kelvin Torbert, I thank you. Thank you for your dedication to your university and to the team. Thank you for never giving up, giving in, becoming daunted or distressed. For four years you played with resolve.

SPORTS

Tar Heels' Williams comes up big in win

St. Louis - North Carolina forward Jawad WiIliams had been missing. One of the more consistent players early this season, Williams only scored more than 10 points once in the past eight games. Williams was one of the Tar Heels seniors that survived an 8-20 season and a big coaching change during his four years. But he exploded for 20 points and eight rebounds on Saturday in the 87-71 win against MSU.

SPORTS

MSU has everything it needs from Izzo

St. Louis - What a guy. That says it all about MSU head coach Tom Izzo, who personifies everything you could want from a coach on and off the court. On the court, he is a fiery professional who stands up for his team when the situation calls for it, but he also is an extremely classy individual who shows the proper respect to the opposing team and its players. Off the court, Izzo has a larger-than-life personality, but that does not translate at all to his ego, which, like his team's, is nonexistent. Junior center Paul Davis calls Izzo's passion for the game unmatched and says that he wants to have just a piece of Izzo's passion.

FOOTBALL

Spartans show support for fellow athletes in tourneys

The MSU football team will take the field for its fourth spring practice of the year today, but the Spartans said they realize they are probably sitting second fiddle to the basketball program. Both the men's and women's basketball teams have advanced to the Final Four, and the MSU football team is among the ballers' biggest supporters. "Everybody's watching," senior defensive back Eric Smith said.

SOFTBALL

MSU takes on winless Valparaiso

The MSU softball team has had time to rest and prepare for its away game against Valparaiso today, after its first home games were canceled last weekend. The Spartans were originally scheduled to play Central Michigan last Thursday and Loyola-Chicago on Saturday.

BASEBALL

Team commits 6 errors, loses 9-4 in home opener against Wayne State

The MSU baseball team dropped its second game in a row Wednesday against Wayne State in its home opener at Kobs Field. Wayne State led early 2-0 and never looked back to pull off the 9-4 win. With the conference season opener coming up Friday at Iowa, MSU manager Ted Mahan isn't happy with his team's efforts. Starting freshman pitcher Mark Sorenson gave up four runs on five hits in three innings.