Spartans Split Home DH vs. Badgers

GAME CAPSULE

Michigan State split a doubleheader with visiting Wisconsin on Saturday at Secchia Stadium, falling 4-2 in eight innings in game one before rebounding with a 2-1 win in the nightcap.

The Spartans (12-21) 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.

MSU has two of the first three games of the series, and five of the last nine games played by the team have been one-run affairs, with three settled in extra innings. MSU's first game was its third straight in extras, a feat not seen in a season by MSU since 1997.

Wisconsin earned the game one win by a 4-2 score when a leadoff walk in the top of the eighth followed by a pair of base hits allowed the visiting Badgers to earn the 4-2 victory. In game two, MSU scored once in each of the first two innings, and Wisconsin plated one run in the fourth – but a heads up play on a relay throw by Caitie Ladd gunned down the tying run at the plate.

Sarah Ladd threw in relief in both games, combining for 4.1 innings, seven strikeouts, and the save in game two after Ashley Miller started and went 4.2 innings, allowing just the one earned run and striking out two. Alli Walker was the starter and also threw in relief in game one, taking the loss after issuing the walk at the top of the eighth which came around to score. Jala Wright threw one inning of relief in the opening contest, striking out two of the five batters she faced.

Kennedy Wyllie, a hot bat in the Spartan lineup of late, went 3-for-6 on the day, Courtney Callahan was 3-for-4 in game one, and both Jenae Wash and Alexis Barroso had two base hits each.

Sarah Ladd has thrown in all three games of the series – all three in relief – and has allowed just three base hits in those 8.1 innings, striking out 12 and boasting a 0.84 ERA. Ashley Miller has started two of the three contests, throwing 8.2 innings after throwing nine complete innings against Michigan on Wednesday, a 1-0 extra-inning loss.

Michigan State and Wisconsin (16-19) wrap up the series on Sunday with a single game, which begins at 1 pm.

PLAYER HIGHS

Kennedy Wyllie was a combined 3-for-6 on the day with an RBI, playing behind the plate in game one and as the DP in game two.
Michigan State honored two of its seniors in a pre-game ceremony – Katie Quinlan and Shae Schreckengost. Both had base hits in game one.
Sarah Ladd has scattered just three hits in 8.1 relief innings on the weekend with a staff-best 12 strikeouts.

STATS AND STORYLINES : GAME ONE

MSU has played three straight extra-inning games. The last time that happened was in April 1997 when MSU played extras in both ends of a doubleheader against Ohio State (2-1, 3-2) and then defeated Indiana 1-0 in 15 innings.
MSU had nine base hits in the game, the most since the third game of the Purdue series.
Wisconsin found the scoreboard first in the top of the third. Lauren Foster placed a single just out of the reach of Caitie Ladd at second, and then with two outs, Gabby Altobelli tripled to the gap in right center to plate the run.
The Spartans put together a trio of one-out base hits from Kennedy Wyllie, Courtney Callahan, and Shae Schreckengost to load the bases, and Marissa Trivelpiece worked a full-count walk to tie the game at 1-1. A fielder's choice plated a second run for a 2-1 advantage.
In the top of the fifth, a one-out walk and a two-out triple tied the game at 2-2 as Ally Miklesh got the clutch hit for the Badgers.
In the home half of the fifth, MSU got singles from Meech and Wyllie, but a play at the plate on a Callahan single nabbed Meech coming for home to preserve the 2-2 score.
Walker issued a free pass to Altobelli to start off the eighth, and the Spartans brought on Jala Wright to pitch. Altobelli stole second and took third on a ground ball out, coming home on a Foster single. Foster came around to score on a Morgan Kummer double for a 4-2 lead.
The Spartans generated some offense in the bottom of the eighth, starting with Kennedy Wyllie who reached on an error with one out. Courtney Callahan followed with a double down the left field line to put two runners on scoring position, but pitcher Haley Hestekin got a pair of ground balls to end the inning and the game.
MSU left 10 runners on base in game one, compared to just six for Wisonsin. The Spartans had nine base hits to just five for the Badgers.

STATS AND STORYLINES : GAME TWO

An RBI single by Kennedy Wyllie started the scoring for MSU in the bottom of the first, after Jenae Wash singled to lead off the frame and Katie Quinlan fought through a 12-pitch at bat to draw a free pass.
MSU tacked on a second run in the second inning. Marissa Trivelpiece doubled, and Jenae Wash brought her home with an RBI single.
Ashley Miller made way for Sarah Ladd in the circle in the fifth inning, with two on and two out. Ladd got Peyton Bannon to ground out to first to end the inning, and then went on to retire six of the next seven batters she faced in the sixth and seventh innings.
MSU's pitchers struck out six batters in the second game and eight in the first.
Wisconsin stranded eight runners on base in game two in the loss, compared to 10 for MSU in the first game in their extra-innings loss.

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Team Stats

Courtney Callahan

Kennedy Wyllie

Katie Quinlan

Alexis Barroso

Players Mentioned

Alexis Barroso

Courtney Callahan

Caitie Ladd

Sarah Ladd

Ashley Miller

Katie Quinlan

Shae Schreckengost

Marissa Trivelpiece

Alli Walker

Jenae Wash

Jala Wright

Kennedy Wyllie

Players Mentioned

Alexis Barroso

Courtney Callahan

Caitie Ladd

Sarah Ladd

Ashley Miller

Katie Quinlan

Shae Schreckengost

Marissa Trivelpiece

Alli Walker

Jenae Wash

Jala Wright

Kennedy Wyllie