Thursday, March 10
Greensboro, N.C.
2 pm
Michigan State University
at
UNCG
MSU Heads to Greensboro for UNCG Spartan Classic
3/9/2022 3:23:00 PM | Softball
GREENSBORO, N.C. – After playing a single game against South Carolina on Tuesday, the Michigan State softball team is headed back to North Carolina for the UNCG Spartan Classic held Thursday, March 10 through Sunday, March 13 at the UNCG Softball Stadium.
The Spartans will play two games against Each of UNCG and Delaware State before playing a single game against Elon on Sunday. Michigan State will face UNCG in a doubleheader on Thursday before playing single games against Delaware State on Friday and Saturday. MSU State split a two-game series against Elon last weekend at the Elon Cardinal Invite.
Games against UNCG will be broadcast on ESPN+ while games against neutral opponents will not be streamed. Live stats will be provided for all games at UNCGSpartans.com.
THE SCHEDULE
Thursday, March 10
2:30 p.m. – at UNCG | Video | Stats
4:00 p.m. – at UNCG | Video | Stats
Friday, March 11
12:00 p.m. – vs. Delaware State | Stats
Saturday, March 12
11:45 a.m. – vs. Delaware State | Stats
Sunday, March 13
10:30 a.m. – vs. Elon | Stats
THE OPPONENTS
UNCG
UNCG is 12-7 this season and 4-5 against Power 5 opponents. The Spartans are coached by Janele Breneman in her 11th season. UNCG is 2-0 all-time against Michigan State and last faced MSU in a two-game series in 2002.
UNCG boasts a potent offense with 30 home runs as a team through 19 games. Makenna Matthijs and Blayke Batten each have five homers on the season to lead the team. No regular starter has less than two home runs for the Spartans. Delaney Crumbie leads the team in batting average at .375 and owns a team-high 1.167 OPS. Maycin Brown, Grace Loftin and Jordan Gontram are all hitting over .300. Loftin is the team leader in RBI with 17. UNCG isn't afraid to swing, with 100 total strikeouts.
Pitching isn't UNCG's strong suit as its pitchers own a 4.57 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. Morgan Scott is the team's #1 starter, throwing 76.2 innings to the tune of a 4.81 ERA and 72 strikeouts. Scott has thrown eight complete games. Other pitchers seeing time for UNCG include Reese Byrd (32.2 IP, 3.03 ERA, 14 k's) and Graysen Hunter (19.2 IP, 5.95 ERA, 4 k's).
Delaware State
Delaware State is 0-8 this season under first year head coach Daniel Stockdale. This will be the first ever meeting between Michigan State and Delaware State. The Hornets have not played since Feb. 27 and have been defeated by Hartford, Louisiana Monroe, Bradley, Syracuse and Auburn.
The Hornets are hitting .165 as a team through eight games, led by the .263 average of Jaelyn Baker. Baker and Kyla Johnson lead the team with two runs batted in each. Sandrea Hord and Yanique Spencer each have an extra base hit to their name.
Delaware State has started four different pitchers in 2022, leading to a 7.44 team ERA in 42.1 innings pitched. Sydney Hoffman is the team innings leader with 12.0 and leads in ERA with a 5.25. Mayanah McIntosh is second on the team in innings with 11.2 and has a 7.80 ERA. McIntosh leads the team in strikeouts with 11.
Elon
Elon is 13-6 after hosting the Elon Cardinal Invite last weekend. The Phoenix went 4-1 at the invite losing its lone game to Michigan State. Elon defeated MSU, Detroit Mercy (x2) and East Carolina. Head coach Kathy Bocock is in her 12th season as head coach of the Phoenix.
Rebecca Murray is the leading batter for Elon hitting .396 on the season and leading the team with 12 stolen bases. Megan Grant is hitting .321 while leading the team with five triples. Gabi Schaal does the work driving batters home with a team-high 21 runs batted in this season.
Elon has a deep pitching staff with several options for Sunday's game. McKenzie Weber through a shutout in Elon's first matchup against Michigan State last weekend and has yet to allow an earned run this season in 24 innings pitched. Alexa Nemeth started game two against Michigan State and has a 2.19 ERA. Taylor Cherry is the team innings leader at 37.2 and tossed a perfect game against East Carolina last weekend.
UP NEXT
Michigan State has a week off of competition before welcoming Central Michigan to Secchia Stadium for the home opener on Tuesday, March 22 at 5 p.m.
The Spartans will play two games against Each of UNCG and Delaware State before playing a single game against Elon on Sunday. Michigan State will face UNCG in a doubleheader on Thursday before playing single games against Delaware State on Friday and Saturday. MSU State split a two-game series against Elon last weekend at the Elon Cardinal Invite.
Games against UNCG will be broadcast on ESPN+ while games against neutral opponents will not be streamed. Live stats will be provided for all games at UNCGSpartans.com.
THE SCHEDULE
Thursday, March 10
2:30 p.m. – at UNCG | Video | Stats
4:00 p.m. – at UNCG | Video | Stats
Friday, March 11
12:00 p.m. – vs. Delaware State | Stats
Saturday, March 12
11:45 a.m. – vs. Delaware State | Stats
Sunday, March 13
10:30 a.m. – vs. Elon | Stats
THE OPPONENTS
UNCG
UNCG is 12-7 this season and 4-5 against Power 5 opponents. The Spartans are coached by Janele Breneman in her 11th season. UNCG is 2-0 all-time against Michigan State and last faced MSU in a two-game series in 2002.
UNCG boasts a potent offense with 30 home runs as a team through 19 games. Makenna Matthijs and Blayke Batten each have five homers on the season to lead the team. No regular starter has less than two home runs for the Spartans. Delaney Crumbie leads the team in batting average at .375 and owns a team-high 1.167 OPS. Maycin Brown, Grace Loftin and Jordan Gontram are all hitting over .300. Loftin is the team leader in RBI with 17. UNCG isn't afraid to swing, with 100 total strikeouts.
Pitching isn't UNCG's strong suit as its pitchers own a 4.57 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. Morgan Scott is the team's #1 starter, throwing 76.2 innings to the tune of a 4.81 ERA and 72 strikeouts. Scott has thrown eight complete games. Other pitchers seeing time for UNCG include Reese Byrd (32.2 IP, 3.03 ERA, 14 k's) and Graysen Hunter (19.2 IP, 5.95 ERA, 4 k's).
Delaware State
Delaware State is 0-8 this season under first year head coach Daniel Stockdale. This will be the first ever meeting between Michigan State and Delaware State. The Hornets have not played since Feb. 27 and have been defeated by Hartford, Louisiana Monroe, Bradley, Syracuse and Auburn.
The Hornets are hitting .165 as a team through eight games, led by the .263 average of Jaelyn Baker. Baker and Kyla Johnson lead the team with two runs batted in each. Sandrea Hord and Yanique Spencer each have an extra base hit to their name.
Delaware State has started four different pitchers in 2022, leading to a 7.44 team ERA in 42.1 innings pitched. Sydney Hoffman is the team innings leader with 12.0 and leads in ERA with a 5.25. Mayanah McIntosh is second on the team in innings with 11.2 and has a 7.80 ERA. McIntosh leads the team in strikeouts with 11.
Elon
Elon is 13-6 after hosting the Elon Cardinal Invite last weekend. The Phoenix went 4-1 at the invite losing its lone game to Michigan State. Elon defeated MSU, Detroit Mercy (x2) and East Carolina. Head coach Kathy Bocock is in her 12th season as head coach of the Phoenix.
Rebecca Murray is the leading batter for Elon hitting .396 on the season and leading the team with 12 stolen bases. Megan Grant is hitting .321 while leading the team with five triples. Gabi Schaal does the work driving batters home with a team-high 21 runs batted in this season.
Elon has a deep pitching staff with several options for Sunday's game. McKenzie Weber through a shutout in Elon's first matchup against Michigan State last weekend and has yet to allow an earned run this season in 24 innings pitched. Alexa Nemeth started game two against Michigan State and has a 2.19 ERA. Taylor Cherry is the team innings leader at 37.2 and tossed a perfect game against East Carolina last weekend.
UP NEXT
Michigan State has a week off of competition before welcoming Central Michigan to Secchia Stadium for the home opener on Tuesday, March 22 at 5 p.m.
A Road Less Traveled | Spartans All-Access
Thursday, April 17
A Higher Standard | Spartans All-Access
Tuesday, February 11
Spartans All-Access: Jenae Wash
Thursday, April 11
Spartans All-Access: Coach Sharonda McDonald-Kelley
Thursday, April 20