Friday, February 11
Leesburg, Fla.
10:00 am
Michigan State University
vs
Pittsburgh
Softball Heads South as Regular Season Kicks Off in Florida
2/10/2022 10:00:00 AM | Softball
EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan State softball team will get it's 2022 campaign underway this weekend in Leesburg, Florida, playing at the Northern Lights/Southern Nights event at the Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex. Michigan State will play five games over the courts of three days from Friday, Feb. 11 through Sunday, Feb. 13. Northern Lights/Southern Nights puts a focus on teams from the north and its twelve-team field six participants from the 2021 NCAA tournament, including three that advanced to the Super Regional.
Michigan State is set to meet Pittsburgh, #19 Kentucky, UConn, #13 Virginia Tech and Akron over the three-day event. Other participants include Eastern Kentucky, Iowa, Liberty, Missouri, Northwestern, Penn State and Wisconsin.
Each of the five games will air live on FloSoftball ($ - subscription required). Stats will be provided post-game on msuspartans.com. In game updates will be posted on the Twitter at @MSU_Softball.
The Spartans return a majority of the roster from 2021, including breakout pitcher Ashley Miller (1.99 ERA, 112.2 innings pitcher). Junior Sarah Ladd is the most experienced pitcher on the roster having made starts for the Spartans in 2020 and 2021. Michigan State returns it top 10 hitters by total plate appearance in 2021, highlighted by Mackenzie Meech who hit a team-best .284, veteran starter Caitie Ladd and team OPS leader Jenae Wash.
Michigan State welcomes five newcomers to the team in 2021, all of which should see action this weekend. Jessica Mabrey is a transfer from University of the Pacific where she hit .279 along with a .362 on base percentage and a .481 slugging percentage. Also joining the Spartans are freshmen Faith Guidry (RHP), Macy Lee (C/1B), Ashley Martin (RHP) and Kayleigh Roper (INF).
THE OPPONENTS
Pittsburgh
This is the sixth all-time meeting between MSU and Pittsburgh. Head coach Jodi Hermanek is in her fourth season at the helm. Michigan State owns a 3-2 series lead over the Panthers, including an 11-3 victory in the last matchup during the 2020 season.
At the plate Pitt is led by Cami Compson, EC Taylor and Sarah Seamans. Compson was the team-leader in batting average last season hitting .325 with 11 home runs and 29 RBI. Taylor hit .315, stealing 27 bases on 31 tries. The powerful Sarah Seamans hit 13 homers on a .293 avg with a team-high 35 RBI.
In the circle, Pitt was led by Abby Edwards in 2021, who posted a 4.30 ERA in 26 appearances and 16 starts. Pitt added transfer Ally Muraskin to the rotation for 2022 after her stops at FIU, USC Beaufort and Jacksonville. Muraskin last turned in a 1.00 ERA performance over 25 appearances and 17 starts at Beaufort in 2021. She had a 1.43 ERA at FIU in 2020.
Kentucky
This is the first meeting between MSU and Kentucky. Head coach Rachel Lawson is in her 16th season.
Kentucky went 43-16 in 2021, losing to Alabama in the Super Regional.
Kentucky had seven regular starters hit above .300 in 2021, led by Kayla Kowalik a .495 and Renee Abernathy at .357. Six of the seven return in 2022. Kowalik, Abernathy and Erin Coffel each hit 12 or more home runs, led by Coffel's 16.
Kentucky graduated its top two starting pitchers from a year ago and the returning group lacks experience. The wildcats added transfer Kennedy Sullivan from Western Kentucky, who posted a 2.40 ERA in 70 innings in 2021 in addition to a .358 batting average and 14 home runs as a hitter. Also joining the rotation is Alexia Lacatena, who pitched for Team Italy in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
UConn
It's the seventh all-time meeting between MSU and UConn, with Michigan State holding a 4-2 series lead. UConn won the last battle, 3-2, in 2019. Head coach Laura Valentino is in her third season.
UConn's top three hitters return in 2022, Reese Guevarra, Jana Sanden and Briana Marcelino each hit over .320 a season ago with Guevarra leading with a .346 average.
Pitchers Payton Kinney and Meghan O'Neil both return for the Huskies. The duo combined for 253.2 innings last season. Kinney led the team with a 2.99 ERA, striking out 135 batters and allowing a .204 batting average against.
Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech leads the all-time series 4-0. The Hokies last won by a score of 9-1 in 2014. Pete D'Amour is in his fourth season as head coach.
Kelsey Brown hit .384 and stole 31 bases for the Hokies last season and Kelsey Bennett added the pop with 13 home runs on a .314 avg. Alexa Milius was second on the team in batting average at .330.
Senior Keely Rochard is Virginia Tech's ace of staff, pitching 244 innings to the tune of a 1.38 ERA and a .83 WHIP in 2021. Rochard was an NFCA First-Team All-American in 2021 and the ACC Pitcher of the Year.
Akron
Akron leads the all-time series with Michigan State, 5-2, winning the last match-up 4-2 in 2015. Meaggan Pettipiece is in her third season as head coach of the Zips.
Akron graduated its top two hitters from a season ago, returning Molly McChesney and Tiffany Stevens at the plate. McChesney hit .260 last season while Stevens led the team with nine doubles. Laurel DeVoe was the team leader in home runs with six and in RBI with 26 despite hitting .218.
Akron had a young pitching staff in 2021, led by Lexie Petroff who made 29 appearances and seven starts to the tune of a 2.98 ERA. Olivia Otani and Olivia Stefanoni made a combined 34 starts with ERA's of 4.17 and 5.27 respectively.
UP NEXT
Next weekend the Spartans will travel to Jacksonville, Florida for the JU-UNF Invitation hosted by Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida. Michigan State will play doubleheaders against both schools in addition to a single game against Mercer. MSU takes on Jacksonville on Friday, Feb. 18, North Florida on Saturday, Feb. 19 and Mercer on Sunday, Feb. 20.
Michigan State is set to meet Pittsburgh, #19 Kentucky, UConn, #13 Virginia Tech and Akron over the three-day event. Other participants include Eastern Kentucky, Iowa, Liberty, Missouri, Northwestern, Penn State and Wisconsin.
Each of the five games will air live on FloSoftball ($ - subscription required). Stats will be provided post-game on msuspartans.com. In game updates will be posted on the Twitter at @MSU_Softball.
The Spartans return a majority of the roster from 2021, including breakout pitcher Ashley Miller (1.99 ERA, 112.2 innings pitcher). Junior Sarah Ladd is the most experienced pitcher on the roster having made starts for the Spartans in 2020 and 2021. Michigan State returns it top 10 hitters by total plate appearance in 2021, highlighted by Mackenzie Meech who hit a team-best .284, veteran starter Caitie Ladd and team OPS leader Jenae Wash.
Michigan State welcomes five newcomers to the team in 2021, all of which should see action this weekend. Jessica Mabrey is a transfer from University of the Pacific where she hit .279 along with a .362 on base percentage and a .481 slugging percentage. Also joining the Spartans are freshmen Faith Guidry (RHP), Macy Lee (C/1B), Ashley Martin (RHP) and Kayleigh Roper (INF).
THE OPPONENTS
Pittsburgh
This is the sixth all-time meeting between MSU and Pittsburgh. Head coach Jodi Hermanek is in her fourth season at the helm. Michigan State owns a 3-2 series lead over the Panthers, including an 11-3 victory in the last matchup during the 2020 season.
At the plate Pitt is led by Cami Compson, EC Taylor and Sarah Seamans. Compson was the team-leader in batting average last season hitting .325 with 11 home runs and 29 RBI. Taylor hit .315, stealing 27 bases on 31 tries. The powerful Sarah Seamans hit 13 homers on a .293 avg with a team-high 35 RBI.
In the circle, Pitt was led by Abby Edwards in 2021, who posted a 4.30 ERA in 26 appearances and 16 starts. Pitt added transfer Ally Muraskin to the rotation for 2022 after her stops at FIU, USC Beaufort and Jacksonville. Muraskin last turned in a 1.00 ERA performance over 25 appearances and 17 starts at Beaufort in 2021. She had a 1.43 ERA at FIU in 2020.
Kentucky
This is the first meeting between MSU and Kentucky. Head coach Rachel Lawson is in her 16th season.
Kentucky went 43-16 in 2021, losing to Alabama in the Super Regional.
Kentucky had seven regular starters hit above .300 in 2021, led by Kayla Kowalik a .495 and Renee Abernathy at .357. Six of the seven return in 2022. Kowalik, Abernathy and Erin Coffel each hit 12 or more home runs, led by Coffel's 16.
Kentucky graduated its top two starting pitchers from a year ago and the returning group lacks experience. The wildcats added transfer Kennedy Sullivan from Western Kentucky, who posted a 2.40 ERA in 70 innings in 2021 in addition to a .358 batting average and 14 home runs as a hitter. Also joining the rotation is Alexia Lacatena, who pitched for Team Italy in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
UConn
It's the seventh all-time meeting between MSU and UConn, with Michigan State holding a 4-2 series lead. UConn won the last battle, 3-2, in 2019. Head coach Laura Valentino is in her third season.
UConn's top three hitters return in 2022, Reese Guevarra, Jana Sanden and Briana Marcelino each hit over .320 a season ago with Guevarra leading with a .346 average.
Pitchers Payton Kinney and Meghan O'Neil both return for the Huskies. The duo combined for 253.2 innings last season. Kinney led the team with a 2.99 ERA, striking out 135 batters and allowing a .204 batting average against.
Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech leads the all-time series 4-0. The Hokies last won by a score of 9-1 in 2014. Pete D'Amour is in his fourth season as head coach.
Kelsey Brown hit .384 and stole 31 bases for the Hokies last season and Kelsey Bennett added the pop with 13 home runs on a .314 avg. Alexa Milius was second on the team in batting average at .330.
Senior Keely Rochard is Virginia Tech's ace of staff, pitching 244 innings to the tune of a 1.38 ERA and a .83 WHIP in 2021. Rochard was an NFCA First-Team All-American in 2021 and the ACC Pitcher of the Year.
Akron
Akron leads the all-time series with Michigan State, 5-2, winning the last match-up 4-2 in 2015. Meaggan Pettipiece is in her third season as head coach of the Zips.
Akron graduated its top two hitters from a season ago, returning Molly McChesney and Tiffany Stevens at the plate. McChesney hit .260 last season while Stevens led the team with nine doubles. Laurel DeVoe was the team leader in home runs with six and in RBI with 26 despite hitting .218.
Akron had a young pitching staff in 2021, led by Lexie Petroff who made 29 appearances and seven starts to the tune of a 2.98 ERA. Olivia Otani and Olivia Stefanoni made a combined 34 starts with ERA's of 4.17 and 5.27 respectively.
UP NEXT
Next weekend the Spartans will travel to Jacksonville, Florida for the JU-UNF Invitation hosted by Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida. Michigan State will play doubleheaders against both schools in addition to a single game against Mercer. MSU takes on Jacksonville on Friday, Feb. 18, North Florida on Saturday, Feb. 19 and Mercer on Sunday, Feb. 20.
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Softball
2B/SS
/ Softball
LHP
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
1B/UTL
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
SS
/ Softball
SS
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