MSU Splits Penn State Doubleheader

GAME CAPSULE

Michigan State split a home doubleheader to cap a seven-game homestand on Tuesday, finalizing the 2021 home schedule with a 4-3 loss and 4-0 victory against Penn State.

Penn State scored the go-ahead run in game one in the top of the seventh, as a dropped third strike and subsequent throwing error allowed the go-ahead run to score from third. MSU was able to load the bases with just one out in the home half of the seventh, but could not get the timely hit to bring home an equalizer.

The nightcap was MSU's fourth shutout of the season, where MSU was able to move runners, take a lead, and get some insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth to seal a 4-0 victory in the final home game for five Michigan State seniors: Joanna Bartz, Laney Joyner, Katie Quinlan, Shae Schreckengost, and Alli Walker.

Walker got the start in her final home game, going five strong innings to pick up the victory, surrendering just two base hits and striking out six in the 4-0 win. Ashley Miller, who started game one, came on in relief to throw two hitless innings, striking out two. In the first contest, Sarah Ladd threw 5.2 innings of impressive relief, striking out eight batters without allowing an earned run and scattering six hits. She was forced to get four outs in the top of the seventh when the dropped third strike and error extended the inning, and gave the sophomore the hard-luck loss in the circle.

The Spartans had 10 extra-base hits on the day, which included three doubles for freshman Alex Barroso, a double, triple and home run for Jenae Wash (three RBI) and a home run for sophomore Kennedy Wyllie. Senior Caitie Ladd, who will be back with the team next year, also had a pair of doubles.

MSU (13-23) finished the home schedule with an 8-7 mark at Secchia Stadium. Penn State is now 6-31.

Michigan State ends the season with a four-game series at Ohio State, which begins on Friday.

PLAYER HIGHS

Jenae Wash had a triple and a homer in game one, and finished a single short of the cycle in the doubleheader with a game-two RBI double.
Kennedy Wyllie had a homer in game one and finished the day 2-for-5 with three RBI. She has 11 of her 12 base hits on the year over the last two weeks.
Alexis Barroso had three base hits – all doubles - over the two games, including two doubles in the nightcap.
Sarah Ladd threw the final two innings, striking out four and not allowing a base hit.

NOTABLES

The Spartans (13-23) have won their most Big Ten games in a season since the 2003 team went 13-6. MSU's record is 14 in a regular season, established in 1986 and tied in 1996 and 1997.
MSU scored seven runs in the doubleheader after scoring just eight runs over its previous nine games.
The Spartans are in a stretch of playing 11 games in 12 days and from April 30-May 16, will play 15 contests in 17 days.
The Spartans have five saves this season, the second-most in the Big Ten (tied with Nebraska).
With three walks issued in 14 innings today, the Spartan pitchers have issued just 73 walks in 36 games.
With 35 career doubles, Caitie Ladd has moved into 10th place in the Spartan record book. She had two doubles in today's games against Penn State.

STATS AND STORYLINES – GAME ONE

Penn State took the early lead in the top of the second. A pair of base hits, an error, and a passed ball helped the Nittany Lions generate a pair of runs with no outs. A double by Dani Fey up the left field line scored a third, and Sarah Ladd came out of the bullpen. She got the final two outs to get out of the inning.
MSU got back into the game in the home half of the second, with a leadoff double from Alexis Barroso and a two-run homer by Kennedy Wyllie, her first of the season.
Ally Kurland led off the sixth with a double to dead center, and Lilia Crouthamel singled, and Maggie Finnegan laid down a bunt single that loaded the bases with no outs. Sarah Ladd got Kaitlyn Morrison to line out to second, and a quick toss to first doubled off Finnegan for a quick two outs. A walk re-load the bases, but a foul ball in right field was run down by Katie Quinlan to end the inning.
Jenae Wash launched her third homer of the season far over the wall in left field to tie the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth.
In the top of the seventh, a Kennedy Legg double led things off, and she went to third on a groundout. With Ally Kurland in the box, Sarah Ladd rung her up on a strikeout, but it was dropped and on a throwing error to first, Legg scored from third to take a 4-3 lead.
Pinch hitter Camryn Wincher led off the seventh with a bloop single to right, and Zaquai Dumas walked to put two on with none out. Marissa Trivelpiece had a comebacker that took the glove right off of pitcher Langenfield, but she got the fielder's choice at second. MSU used its third pinch hitter in four at-bats when Shae Schreckengost was hit by a pitch which loaded the bases, but a forceout at home and a strikeout by Lingenfelter ended the Spartan threat with the bases loaded.
Bailey Parshall came on to pitch in the bottom of the sixth after starter Kylee Lingenfelter, who scattered five base hits and struck out five in five innings of work. Parshall gave up the game-tying homer to Jenae Wash and a double to Caitie Ladd before she was replaced by Lingenfelter who re-entered the game and earned the win.
The Spartans stranded six runners, including leaving the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh. Penn State stranded eight.
Sarah Ladd went 5.2 innings in relief and was the hard-luck loser, striking out eight and not allowing an earned run. She scattered six hits. Lingenfelter went a combined 6.1 innings, and struck out seven, allowing a pair of earned runs and six baseknocks.
Jenae Wash's triple was her fourth of the season, and ties her for the Big Ten lead.

STATS AND STORYLINES – GAME TWO

MSU scored first in the nightcap, as a Katie Quinlan single and Alexis Barroso double put two in scoring position for Kennedy Wyllie, who laced a single through the left side to easily score Quinlan.
In the fourth the Spartans doubled their lead. Caitie Ladd doubled down the left field line, and Cam Wincher brought her home with a single to left.
Alexis Barroso put down her second double of the game in the bottom of the fifth.
Caitie Ladd reached on a base hit to left to lead off the sixth, and Joanna Bartz walked to put a pair of runners on. Jenae Wash doubled to bring both runners home for the 4-0 advantage.
Ashley Miller entered in the top of the sixth in relief for Alli Walker. Walker went five complete, striking out six and surrendering just two hits in her final home game, and Miller contributed two innings of hitless relief, striking out two.
Katie Quinlan legged out a pair of infield singles in game two.

Players Mentioned

Alexis Barroso

Joanna Bartz

Zaquai Dumas

Laney Joyner

Caitie Ladd

Sarah Ladd

Ashley Miller

Katie Quinlan

Shae Schreckengost

Marissa Trivelpiece

Alli Walker

Jenae Wash

Camryn Wincher

Kennedy Wyllie