Sunday, March 17
Oxford, Ohio
2:30 PM ET
Michigan State University
11-15
4
vs
2
Dayton
9-13
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Dayton
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
2
5
0
Michigan State
1
0
0
0
2
1
X
4
9
1
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Walker, Alli (7-4)
L: WEAVER, Jessica (3-5)
S: Gregory, McKenna (1)
Batting:
2B: EHRENBORG, Abby 1 ; HERATY, Hannah 1 ; ZIEGLER, Ellie 1
RBI: HERATY, Hannah 1 ; MALOOF, Madi 1
SF: HERATY, Hannah 1
Base Running:
RUNS: SIDOR, Briley 1 ; HERATY, Hannah 1
SB: ZIEGLER, Ellie 1
Batting:
2B: Echols, Charla 1 ; Ladd, Caitie 1
RBI: Echols, Charla 2 ; Meech, Mackenzie 1 ; Baccay, Melanie 1
SH: Echols, Charla 1 ; Hendershott, Katelyn 1
SF: Meech, Mackenzie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Quinlan, Katie 2 ; Ladd, Caitie 1 ; Joyner, Laney 1
SB: Quinlan, Katie 1
CS: Ladd, Caitie 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
2B
/ SoftballC/3B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
1B
/ SoftballSS/UTL
/ Softball
SS/UTL
/ Softball1B/UTL
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
Photo by: Rey Del Rio/MSU Athletic Communications
MSU Caps Weekend With 4-2 WIn Over Dayton
3/17/2019 4:52:00 PM | Softball
Walker picks up third win of the weekend
SPARTAN SYNOPSISÂ Â Â
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Michigan State earned its third win on the weekend with a 4-2 victory over Dayton to wrap up the Miami Invitational. The Spartans have won four of their last five and improve to 10-16, while the Flyers fall to 9-13.
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The Spartans downed Dayton for the second time in as many days. An offensive explosion fueled Saturday's 9-1 win, but a six-inning pitching effort from Alli Walker and a three-batter save from McKenna Gregory (two strikeouts) was the backbone of MSU's victory on Sunday. Walker surrendered five hits through six innings, striking out two and allowing the two runs. Jessica Weaver tossed a complete game for Dayton, giving up nine base hits and striking out three, walking just one.Â
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Three Spartans had a pair of base hits on the day: Katie Quinlan, Laney Joyner, and MacKenzie Meech all had two. Charla Echols was 1-for-2 with a pair of RBI.Â
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The Spartans ready for their first home games this week. The home schedule begins with a intra-state rivalry game vs. Western Michigan on Wednesday at 4:30 pm. Big Ten play begins on Friday when the Spartans open a three-game series with Penn State; the Friday 6 pm start will be the first night game for MSU at Secchia Stadium.Â
QUOTABLE
"We split today's games, but went 3-1 on the weekend. We've been focused on consistent improvement – today we got a pair of tight games where we gave up a walkoff in the first but learned a few things and were able to hold on for a win in the second. We got some clutch hits, we got some gutty pitching. Now, the importance of every game takes on a little extra as we head into Big Ten play – its about making adjustments as you play the same team three days in a row. We still have a lot to grow and improve our game, but I really like the direction our season has taken over the last three weekends. We're more than a little excited to sleep in our own beds after six straight weekends on the road to start the season." Â
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 TOP PERFORMERSÂ
•  Alli Walker went six-plus innings, striking out two and scattering five hits and allowing two earned runs in the victory.
•  McKenna Gregory earned her first save of the year, striking out two of the three batters she faced in the top of the seventh inning.Â
•  Charla Echols went 1-for-2 with a pair of RBI.
•  MacKenzie Meech went 2-for-2 with an RBI
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STATS AND STORYLINESÂ
•  Katie Quinlan opened the game with a single through the right side. She stole second, went to third on a sac bunt by Charla Echols, and came home on a sac fly by MacKenzie Meech.Â
•  Dayton countered in the top of the second when Hannah Heraty doubled and Madi Maloof followed with a single up the middle. Ellie Ziegler added a third straight base hit, but Walker worked her way out of the jam to limit it to one run scored.
•  The Spartans broke it open a bit in the bottom of the fifth. Both Laney Joyner and Katie Quinlan legged out  infield singles, and Charla Echols delivered a two-out double to bring both home for a 3-1 lead. Meech stepped in and singled to move Charla Echols to third and leave runners on the corners for Ebonee Echols,
•  Ehrenborg led off the sixth with a double to left center, and pinch runner Sidor moved to third on a ground ball by Mateja. Sidor came home on a sac fly by Heraty to trim the Spartan lead to 3-2.Â
•  The Spartans got the run back in the bottom of the sixth. Caitie Ladd led off with a double, went to third on a sac bunt by Katelyn Hendershott, and then came home on a single by Melanie Baccay.Â
•  The Flyers attempted a seventh-inning rally, as Ziegler led off the inning with a double. The Spartans went to the bullpen to bring on McKenna Gregory; she struck the first two batters she faced , as Ziegler stole third. Gregory got Davidson to ground out to second to end the game.Â
•  Alli Walker picked up her third victory of the weekend to improve to 7-4. On the weekend, she started all four games and posted a 1.24 ERA in 17 innings, striking out 13 and allowing 16 base hits.Â
•  McKenna Gregory earned her first save of the season in her 19th appearance, all in relief. She owns a 2-5 overall record in 45.1 innings.Â
•  MSU hit .369 as a team on the weekend, led by Melanie Baccay's .667 (6-for-9) over three games with a double, homer, and five RBI. A total of six Spartans hit .375 or better.Â
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Michigan State earned its third win on the weekend with a 4-2 victory over Dayton to wrap up the Miami Invitational. The Spartans have won four of their last five and improve to 10-16, while the Flyers fall to 9-13.
Â
The Spartans downed Dayton for the second time in as many days. An offensive explosion fueled Saturday's 9-1 win, but a six-inning pitching effort from Alli Walker and a three-batter save from McKenna Gregory (two strikeouts) was the backbone of MSU's victory on Sunday. Walker surrendered five hits through six innings, striking out two and allowing the two runs. Jessica Weaver tossed a complete game for Dayton, giving up nine base hits and striking out three, walking just one.Â
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Three Spartans had a pair of base hits on the day: Katie Quinlan, Laney Joyner, and MacKenzie Meech all had two. Charla Echols was 1-for-2 with a pair of RBI.Â
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The Spartans ready for their first home games this week. The home schedule begins with a intra-state rivalry game vs. Western Michigan on Wednesday at 4:30 pm. Big Ten play begins on Friday when the Spartans open a three-game series with Penn State; the Friday 6 pm start will be the first night game for MSU at Secchia Stadium.Â
QUOTABLE
"We split today's games, but went 3-1 on the weekend. We've been focused on consistent improvement – today we got a pair of tight games where we gave up a walkoff in the first but learned a few things and were able to hold on for a win in the second. We got some clutch hits, we got some gutty pitching. Now, the importance of every game takes on a little extra as we head into Big Ten play – its about making adjustments as you play the same team three days in a row. We still have a lot to grow and improve our game, but I really like the direction our season has taken over the last three weekends. We're more than a little excited to sleep in our own beds after six straight weekends on the road to start the season." Â
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- Head Coach Jacquie Joseph
 TOP PERFORMERSÂ
•  Alli Walker went six-plus innings, striking out two and scattering five hits and allowing two earned runs in the victory.
•  McKenna Gregory earned her first save of the year, striking out two of the three batters she faced in the top of the seventh inning.Â
•  Charla Echols went 1-for-2 with a pair of RBI.
•  MacKenzie Meech went 2-for-2 with an RBI
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STATS AND STORYLINESÂ
•  Katie Quinlan opened the game with a single through the right side. She stole second, went to third on a sac bunt by Charla Echols, and came home on a sac fly by MacKenzie Meech.Â
•  Dayton countered in the top of the second when Hannah Heraty doubled and Madi Maloof followed with a single up the middle. Ellie Ziegler added a third straight base hit, but Walker worked her way out of the jam to limit it to one run scored.
•  The Spartans broke it open a bit in the bottom of the fifth. Both Laney Joyner and Katie Quinlan legged out  infield singles, and Charla Echols delivered a two-out double to bring both home for a 3-1 lead. Meech stepped in and singled to move Charla Echols to third and leave runners on the corners for Ebonee Echols,
•  Ehrenborg led off the sixth with a double to left center, and pinch runner Sidor moved to third on a ground ball by Mateja. Sidor came home on a sac fly by Heraty to trim the Spartan lead to 3-2.Â
•  The Spartans got the run back in the bottom of the sixth. Caitie Ladd led off with a double, went to third on a sac bunt by Katelyn Hendershott, and then came home on a single by Melanie Baccay.Â
•  The Flyers attempted a seventh-inning rally, as Ziegler led off the inning with a double. The Spartans went to the bullpen to bring on McKenna Gregory; she struck the first two batters she faced , as Ziegler stole third. Gregory got Davidson to ground out to second to end the game.Â
•  Alli Walker picked up her third victory of the weekend to improve to 7-4. On the weekend, she started all four games and posted a 1.24 ERA in 17 innings, striking out 13 and allowing 16 base hits.Â
•  McKenna Gregory earned her first save of the season in her 19th appearance, all in relief. She owns a 2-5 overall record in 45.1 innings.Â
•  MSU hit .369 as a team on the weekend, led by Melanie Baccay's .667 (6-for-9) over three games with a double, homer, and five RBI. A total of six Spartans hit .375 or better.Â
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Tuesday, February 11
Spartans All-Access: Jenae Wash
Thursday, April 11
Spartans All-Access: Coach Sharonda McDonald-Kelley
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