Spartans Sweep Rutgers In Doubleheader

GAME CAPSULE

Michigan State swept a doubleheader from visiting Rutgers on Saturday, earning a 4-3 walkoff win in game one and seeing its offense explode for a 10-3 victory in the nightcap.

The Spartans had nine base hits in the opening game, at the time its second-most of the season, amd got homers from Kendall Kates and Marissa Trivelpiece, the first home run in a Spartan uniform for both players. Trivelpiece's came in the sixth to knot the game at 3-3, and Kates followed suit as the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the seventh to give the Spartans the 4-3 victory.

In game two, the Spartans took a 2-0 lead in the second, and then exploded for a six-run fifth and tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the sixth to make it a 10-3 final. The Spartans had a season-best 13 base hits (22 total on the day), as four players had multiple-hit outings, with a home run from Jenae Wash, a triple from Caitie Ladd, and a double by Trivelpiece.

The Spartans used all four pitchers in the two games. Jala Wright earned her first collegiate victory in the opening game, tossing 3.2 innings of two-hit ball, striking out three after Alli Walker fanned four in 3.1 innings with the start. In game two, Sarah Ladd (who finished off the final two batters in the top of the seventh in game one), came on in relief in the third inning of game two to finish off the final 4.2 innings, scattering four base hits and striking out a season-best eight.

"This is the most complete day we've had all season," said head coach Jacquie Joseph. "It would have broken my heart to lose game one – we had done the things we needed to do, made all the adjustments we had asked the team to make after yesterday. That was a huge swing by Kendall Kates to end it, and I felt like we got rewarded. In game two, we had already seen all three of their pitchers, and I think it allowed our players to feel a little more relaxed and settle in. The offense came naturally – we moved runners in addition to seeing the longball. I really kind of leaned into them a little yesterday when we lost, and I thought that everyone really bought in and responded to give us a really good day today."

The teams wrap the season series on Sunday with a 1 pm first pitch.

PLAYER HIGHS

Kendall Kates went a combined 4-for-6 on the day (four RBI), and smacked the walkoff homer in game one.
Marissa Trivelpiece had a solo homer in the first game and went 2-for-2 with a double in game two.
Caitie Ladd was 2-for-4 in each end of the doubleheader.

STATS AND STORYLINES – GAME ONE

In the top of the first, leadoff batter Payton Lincavage appeared to pop out to third in foul territory, but was given new life as the umpire called an illegal pitch. She took advantage and hit a solo homer to left for a 1-0 lead.
MSU threatened in the bottom of the fourth, all with two outs. Kendall Kates doubled to left, Joana Bartz was hit by a pitch, and Shae Schreckengost put together a nine-pitch at-bat that loaded the bases . The Spartans couldn't get the clutch hit to bring any of them around and the Scarlet Knights escaped to hold on to the 1-0 lead.
In the top of the fifth, Rutgers started off with a walk to Aleeah Randazzo, and then Wright got a pair of big strikeouts. Gabrielle Callaway doubled down the right field line to bring home Randazzo, and a single by Kiersten Withstandley brought Callaway across the plate to push the lead out to 3-0.
MSU loaded the bases again in the bottom of the fifth with singles from Mackenzie Meech and Jenae Wash and a walk issued to pinch hitter Zaquai Dumas. Kendall Kates stepped in and singled up the middle, plating Meech and Wash and allowing her to advance to second on the throw. The Scarlet Knights went to the bullpen to bring in Ashley Hitchcock, Friday's starting pitcher, and she got a fly ball to end the inning.
Marissa Trivelpiece led off the sixth with a solo homer to dead center, her first career home run, which tied the game at 3-3. Hitchcock issued walks to Meech, Wash, and Barroso to load the bases, but then got a big strikeout to end the frame.
Kates hit a leadoff solo homer in the bottom of the seventh to give MSU the victory. It was her first homer of the season and capped her 3-for-3 day.

STATS AND STORYLINES – GAME TWO

The Spartans got on the board in the bottom of the second. Camryn Wincher led it off with a single into right, and pinch runner Brooke Snyder went to third on a ground out by Kates. Bartz walked, and a double steal brought Snyder hoe and put Bartz on second. Trivelpiece double brought home Bartz on a double to right to make it a 2-0 ballgame.
In the top of the fifth, Rutgers threatened when Liscavage reached on an error and Callaway singled to left. Sarah Ladd struck out Withstandley to get the second out of the inning, but Iliopoulos singled to short to load the bases. Herka worked an eight-pitch at-bat before drawing a walk, putting a Rutgers run on the board to cut MSU's lead in half. Kiana Workman singled up the middle to plate two more runs, giving the visitors a 3-2 lead.
The Spartans got the run right back in the bottom of the frame. Mackenzie Meech started off the rally with a single to right center, and Laney Joyner ran for Meech. Caitie Ladd doubled to right center to score Joyner and Alexis Barroso followed with a base hit that scored Ladd to retake the lead, 4-3. Jenae Wash stepped to the plate and launched a 1-0 pitch over the wall in left center for a 6-2 score. Courtney Callahan laced a single down the left field line after Kendall Kates walked, and a throwing error allowed Kates to come around to score and left Callahan at third. Trivelpiece stepped in and singled to left to score Callahan and give MSU an 8-3 lead.
MSU's offensive outburst continued into the bottom of the sixth. Meech reached after being hit by a pitch, and she moved to second on a single by Barroso, her second hit of the game. Dumas ran for Barroso, and Wincher singled to bring home Meech, moving Dumas to third. Kates then brought her home with a single to left for the 10-3 lead.

Players Mentioned

Alexis Barroso

Courtney Callahan

Zaquai Dumas

Laney Joyner

Kendall Kates

Caitie Ladd

Sarah Ladd

Mackenzie Meech

Shae Schreckengost

Brooke Snyder

Marissa Trivelpiece

Alli Walker

Jenae Wash

Camryn Wincher

Jala Wright