Michigan State University
19-13
Toledo
8-17
Softball Walks Off Toledo in 11 Inning Thriller
3/30/2022 10:33:00 PM | Softball
A win improves Michigan State's record to 19-13 overall, including a 5-0 mark at home.
While temperatures warmed up for a change, conditions on the field were spotty throughout Wednesday's game with rain coming in from the west intermittently.
Michigan State got strong performances from each of its pitchers, with sophomore Ashley Miller allowing three hits and two earned runs over five innings of work to start the game. Junior Sarah Ladd came on in relief of Miller and pitched the remainder of the contest, allowing three hits and two earned runs, while striking out seven in six innings. Ladd picked up her seventh win of the season as she improved her record in the circle to 7-4.
Toledo received a commendable effort in the circle from Sophia Knight, who threw a total of 166 pitches in a complete game effort. Knight kept the Rockets in it all night with her pitching, getting out of several tough spots throughout.
Things were looking great for the Spartans early on as senior Jessica Mabrey slugged her team-leading fourth home run of the season to lead off the bottom of the first inning, putting MSU out front 1-0.
B1 | MSU 1 - TOL 0
— MSU Softball (@MSU_Softball) March 30, 2022
LEAD OFF DINGER for Jessica Mabrey! @JessicaMabrey puts us out front 1-0 early.#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/mNZDTLe2CL
A double, an error, and a pair of walks helped Toledo tie things up in the top of the second as a bases loaded walk allowed Sidney Griffith to score.
Senior Mackenzie Meech kept things rolling for Michigan State in the second, leading off the inning with a double to left center. Meech would later come around to score on an infield single by Mabrey. Mabrey looked to score on a single to right from junior Camryn Wincher but was tagged out on a bang-bang play at the plate.
Mabrey continued to make things move for the Spartan offense in the fourth, when her reaching on an error allowed for senior Kendall Kates to score. A throw from the Toledo second baseman forced the Rocket first baseman to make a tag on the play, but the ball was dislodged from the defender's glove as the tag was applied.
After a scoreless fifth, Toledo put two runs on the board to tie things up at 3-3 in the sixth. A lead-off single was followed up with a double, a sacrifice fly, and a single down the right field line before the Spartans were able to get out of the inning.
Now in extra innings, Toledo's Aubrey Reed led off the top of the eighth with what appeared to be a game changing home run to right field, only to be matched by fifth-year Spartan Caitie Ladd to lead off the bottom of the frame. Ladd chose an opportune moment to hit her first long ball of the season as it tied the game at 4-4.
B8 | MSU 4 - TOL 4
— MSU Softball (@MSU_Softball) March 30, 2022
CAITIE LADD TIES IT! A lead-off home run to left field brings the score back to 4-4 in the eighth.#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/s5WP8LI15x
The score remained knotted up at 4-4 heading into the 11th inning, but the prior two frames weren't without excitement. A diving grab in foul territory by sophomore Marissa Trivelpiece highlighted the 10th inning defensively, while the Spartans put two runners on in the home half.
T10 | MSU 4 - TOL 4
— MSU Softball (@MSU_Softball) March 30, 2022
What a grab by Marissa Trivelpiece! @MTrivelpiece makes a diving grab in foul territory to end the top of the 10th inning.#GoGreen | #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/jkH9sNdy44
A single up the middle and a subsequent steal of second base by Callahan set the Spartans up for success in the bottom of the 11th. With two outs, Alexis Barroso ripped a single back up the middle, hitting the ball with enough might to allow the speedy Callahan to score from second base. It's the second walk-off of Barroso's career after she helped Michigan State defeat Purdue, 3-2, in the bottom of the seventh last season.
Final | MSU 5 - TOL 4
— MSU Softball (@MSU_Softball) March 31, 2022
WALK OFF WIN! Alexis Barroso singles up the middle to score Courtney Callahan from second base in the bottom of the 11th inning.#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/iedZSMMTg6
UP NEXT: Michigan State welcomes Big Ten adversary Ohio State to Secchia Stadium this weekend for a three-game series. The Spartans are scheduled to play the Buckeyes on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Dates and times for this weekend's games are subject to change.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ladd, Sarah (7-4)
L: KNIGHT, Sophia (4-7)
Batting:
2B: DENNER, Dayna 1 ; DIXON, Anna 2
HR: REED, Aubrey 1
RBI: REED, Aubrey 1 ; VANDER LUGT, Kendra 1 ; ROBESON, Bri 1 ; GRIFFITH, Sidney 1
SF: VANDER LUGT, Kendra 1
Base Running:
RUNS: BRASS, Bella 1 ; REED, Aubrey 1 ; DIXON, Anna 2
HBP: DENNER, Dayna 1
Batting:
2B: Ladd, Caitie 1 ; Meech, Mackenzie 1
HR: Mabrey, Jessica 1 ; Ladd, Caitie 1
RBI: Mabrey, Jessica 2 ; Barroso, Alexis 1 ; Ladd, Caitie 1
SH: Mabrey, Jessica 1 ; Barroso, Alexis 1 ; Lee , Macy 1 ; Kates, Kendall 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mabrey, Jessica 1 ; Callahan, Courtney 1 ; Ladd, Caitie 1 ; Meech, Mackenzie 1 ; Kates, Kendall 1
SB: Callahan, Courtney 1
HBP: Callahan, Courtney 1
