Friday, February 11
Leesburg, Fla.
10:00 am
Michigan State University
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Pittsburgh
0-1
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5
6
7
R
H
E
Michigan State
0
0
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1
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4
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Pittsburgh
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2
1
Miller’s Shutout Leads Softball in Season Opening Victory
2/11/2022 8:52:00 PM | Softball
GAME ONE
LEESBURG, Fla. – The Michigan State softball team won its season opener on Friday morning, defeating Pittsburgh 1-0 at the Sleepy Hollow Softball Complex in Leesburg, Florida. Sophomore pitcher Ashley Miller tossed a gem in the circle, striking out 10 in a complete game shutout.
Miller's 10 strikeouts represent a new career-high for the Leo, Indiana native, besting her previous mark of eight set against Rutgers on March 24, 2021. Miller allowed just four total baserunners on two hits and two walks.
Michigan State scored what proved to be the game-winning run in the fourth inning. Freshman Macy Lee's walk started a two-out rally as Miller and senior Kendall Kates each singled to bring home pinch runner Courtney Callahan.
The Spartans looked to add to their run tally in the fifth inning after fifth-year Caitie Ladd reached on an error to start the inning. A sacrifice bunt by sophomore Marissa Trivelpiece put Ladd on third before senior Jessica Mabrey (hit by pitch) and redshirt sophomore Jenae Wash (walk) each reached base. An untimely double-play ended the threat for MSU however.
Miller retired nine straight batters to finish the game following a lead-off walk in the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore Alexis Barroso joined Mabrey, Miller and Kates with one hit each in game one.
Pitt got one hit apiece from EC Taylor and Sarah Seamons, while Dani Drogemuller was the losing pitcher of record. Drogemuller allowed four hits, two walks and one earned run over 4.1 innings in the circle.
GAME TWO
LEESBURG, Fla. – Michigan State softball met No. 19-ranked Kentucky in game two of its first day at the Northern Lights/Southern Nights event hosted at the Sleepy Hollow Softball Complex in Leesburg, Fla. The Wildcats used a fast start to jump out to an early 4-0 lead before defeating the Spartans by a final score of 7-0.
Junior pitcher Sarah Ladd and junior Camryn Wincher turned in positive performances for Michigan State. Pitching in relief, Ladd threw 4.0 innings, tossing three scoreless before Kentucky tacked on two runs in the seventh. Wincher went 2-for-3 at the plate in her first start of the season.
Freshman pitcher Faith Guidry made the first start of her collegiate career and managed to battle through adversity after a tough first inning. Guidry finished with 3.0 innings pitched, allowing seven hits and five earned runs.
Michigan State's best chance for runs came in the bottom of the sixth when a two-out walk from freshman Kayleigh Roper was followed by a single to left field from senior Mackenzie Meech. Sophomore Ashley Miller came to the plate as a pinch hitter but was called out following a questionable catch in foul territory.
Up Next: Michigan State faces tough tests in UConn and #13 Virginia Tech on Saturday, Feb. 12 in Leesburg, Fla. UConn is 1-1 thus far in Leesburg with a win over Missouri (6-2) and a loss to Northwestern (8-0, 5). Virginia Tech is 2-0 with close wins over a pair of Big Ten opponents in Wisconsin (5-4) and Northwestern (3-2)
LEESBURG, Fla. – The Michigan State softball team won its season opener on Friday morning, defeating Pittsburgh 1-0 at the Sleepy Hollow Softball Complex in Leesburg, Florida. Sophomore pitcher Ashley Miller tossed a gem in the circle, striking out 10 in a complete game shutout.
Miller's 10 strikeouts represent a new career-high for the Leo, Indiana native, besting her previous mark of eight set against Rutgers on March 24, 2021. Miller allowed just four total baserunners on two hits and two walks.
Michigan State scored what proved to be the game-winning run in the fourth inning. Freshman Macy Lee's walk started a two-out rally as Miller and senior Kendall Kates each singled to bring home pinch runner Courtney Callahan.
The Spartans looked to add to their run tally in the fifth inning after fifth-year Caitie Ladd reached on an error to start the inning. A sacrifice bunt by sophomore Marissa Trivelpiece put Ladd on third before senior Jessica Mabrey (hit by pitch) and redshirt sophomore Jenae Wash (walk) each reached base. An untimely double-play ended the threat for MSU however.
Miller retired nine straight batters to finish the game following a lead-off walk in the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore Alexis Barroso joined Mabrey, Miller and Kates with one hit each in game one.
Pitt got one hit apiece from EC Taylor and Sarah Seamons, while Dani Drogemuller was the losing pitcher of record. Drogemuller allowed four hits, two walks and one earned run over 4.1 innings in the circle.
GAME TWO
LEESBURG, Fla. – Michigan State softball met No. 19-ranked Kentucky in game two of its first day at the Northern Lights/Southern Nights event hosted at the Sleepy Hollow Softball Complex in Leesburg, Fla. The Wildcats used a fast start to jump out to an early 4-0 lead before defeating the Spartans by a final score of 7-0.
Junior pitcher Sarah Ladd and junior Camryn Wincher turned in positive performances for Michigan State. Pitching in relief, Ladd threw 4.0 innings, tossing three scoreless before Kentucky tacked on two runs in the seventh. Wincher went 2-for-3 at the plate in her first start of the season.
Freshman pitcher Faith Guidry made the first start of her collegiate career and managed to battle through adversity after a tough first inning. Guidry finished with 3.0 innings pitched, allowing seven hits and five earned runs.
Michigan State's best chance for runs came in the bottom of the sixth when a two-out walk from freshman Kayleigh Roper was followed by a single to left field from senior Mackenzie Meech. Sophomore Ashley Miller came to the plate as a pinch hitter but was called out following a questionable catch in foul territory.
Up Next: Michigan State faces tough tests in UConn and #13 Virginia Tech on Saturday, Feb. 12 in Leesburg, Fla. UConn is 1-1 thus far in Leesburg with a win over Missouri (6-2) and a loss to Northwestern (8-0, 5). Virginia Tech is 2-0 with close wins over a pair of Big Ten opponents in Wisconsin (5-4) and Northwestern (3-2)
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Miller, Ashley (1-0)
L: D. Drogemull (0-1)
Batting:
RBI: Kates, Kendall 1
SH: Trivelpiece, Marissa 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Callahan, Courtney 1
CS: Joseph, Abby 1
HBP: Mabrey, Jessica 2
Batting:
SH: A. Ramirez 1
Base Running:
CS: S. Seamans 1
Game Leaders
AB
1
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
1B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
2B/SS
/ Softball
LHP
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
1B/UTL
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
SS
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
SS
/ Softball
3B/SS
/ SoftballA Road Less Traveled | Spartans All-Access
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Spartans All-Access: Coach Sharonda McDonald-Kelley
Thursday, April 20