Wednesday, April 13
East Lansing, Mich.
5 pm
Michigan State University
vs
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Western Michigan
Softball Preps for Crucial Conference Series at Wisconsin
4/13/2022 12:23:00 PM | Softball
EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan State softball team is set to play four games this weekend, leading off with a home non-conference battle with Western Michigan on Wednesday, April 13 at 5:00 p.m. MSU travels to Madison, Wisconsin for a three-game weekend series kicking off at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, April 15. The Spartans will face the Badgers at 2:00 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday to close out the week.
Michigan State enters the weekend 20-20 overall and potential wins over the Badgers would help in the team's quest to qualify for the 2022 Big Ten Softball Tournament.
All games this week will be broadcast on BTN+, with Dalton Shetler getting the call on the radio for Michigan State's home game against Western Michigan on Wednesday.
THE SCHEDULE
Wednesday, April 13 – vs. Western Michigan
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Video | Radio | Stats
Friday, April 15 – at Wisconsin
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Video | Stats
Saturday, April 16 – at Wisconsin
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Video | Stats
Sunday, April 17 – at Wisconsin
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Video | Stats
SPARTAN NOTES TO KNOW
With 183 strikeouts this season, sophomore Ashley Miller ranks 6th in program history for single season strikeouts. Miller is closely following #4-5 and could reach #4 all-time this week. Miller is #13 nationally in strikeouts (183), #13 in innings pitched (136.1) and #25 in earned run average (1.39).
Entering the week Sarah Ladd, Ashley Miller, Faith Guidry, and Ashley Martin combine as a pitching staff for the 20th lowest ERA in the country at 2.14.
Sophomore Alexis Barroso leads the team in batting average (.343) and RBI (23). Camryn Wincher has turned in a strong junior campaign with a .333 batting average, ranking second on the team in RBI with 18. Wincher has the most hits on the team with 41. Senior Courtney Callahan is #8 nationally in sacrifice bunts per game and has been a consistent presence in the MSU lineup this season playing each of the outfield corners depending on who is pitching. Callahan is hitting .297 with eight doubles and a triple. Her nine stolen bases are tied for the team lead with Caitie Ladd.
Over the last 10 games Caitie Ladd has been MSU's best hitter, posting a .353 average on 12-of-34 hitting. Ladd is 5th all-time in doubles at MSU with 40. Ladd recently won the MSU Scholar Athlete Award for the third time at the 2022 SASS Academic Gala.
Jessica Mabrey has been a staple in the lead-off spot for the Spartans, hitting .298 with a team-high .449 on-base percentage. Mabrey is second on the team with five home runs. Mabrey is hitting .538 when leading off an inning. Mabrey's 26 walks would have led the team during the 2021 season. Mabrey also leads the team in runs with 24.
Freshman Kayleigh Roper is leading the team in batting over the last five contest with a .353 average on 6-of-17 hitting. Sophomore Zaquai Dumas has home runs in each of Michigan State's conference matchups this season, homering against Northwestern, Ohio State, Michigan and Nebraska so far.
With 749 career wins at Michigan State, head coach Jacquie Joseph is approaching win #750 in the green & white. Joseph is the third-longest tenured head coach in the Big Ten Conference, behind Carol Hutchins (Michigan, 38th season) and Rhonda Revelle (Nebraska, 30th season).
THE OPPONENTS
Western Michigan
Western Michigan is 14-22 overall and 4-7 in the MAC this season. The Broncos recently dropped a three-game series to Miami (Ohio) where they were shut out in all three contests. WMU is coached by Kathy Leitke in her 22nd year in Kalamazoo and 31st season overall as a head coach.
Reily Galloway does it all for the Broncos as the team's best hitter and best pitcher. Galloway is
hitting .311 with 32 hits, six home runs, 20 RBI and 13 runs scored, while posting a 2.06 ERA and 170
strikeouts in the circle over 115.1 innings pitched. Galloway is holding opponents to a .188 batting average over 22 appearances.
Alyssa Kramer leads Western in home runs with seven along with a team-high 21 RBI. Rissa Bajusz the the #2 starter for the Broncos, with a 4.08 ERA in 79 innings pitched. Bajusz has struck out 65 batters this season with opposing teams hitting .282 against her.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is 20-11 this season with a 5-4 mark in the Big Ten. The Badgers are riding a three-game skid
after being swept by Illinois last weekend by scores of 4-1, 4-2 and 7-1. Head Coach Yvette Healy is in her 12th season at the helm and previously coached at Loyola University (Chicago).
Kayla Konwent is Wisconsin's most dangerous hitter, entering the weekend with a .419 batting average and a .569 on-base percentage that ranks #16 nationally. Konwent leads the team with 36 hits, seven home runs and 23 RBI. Ally Mikelsh is hitting .392 rankings second on the team, joining Konwent as the two players with an OPS over 1.000.
In the circle Wisconsin is led by Maddie Schwartz who has posted a 2.64 ERA and a 15-5 record over 108.2 innings. Schwartz has thrown nine complete games for the Badgers this season and has struck out 73 batters. Opponents are hitting .259 against Schwartz. Ava Justman is the #2 starter in Madison with a 3.77 ERA over 61.1 innings. Justman has struck out 39 batters with opponents hitting .286 against her this season.
Michigan State enters the weekend 20-20 overall and potential wins over the Badgers would help in the team's quest to qualify for the 2022 Big Ten Softball Tournament.
All games this week will be broadcast on BTN+, with Dalton Shetler getting the call on the radio for Michigan State's home game against Western Michigan on Wednesday.
THE SCHEDULE
Wednesday, April 13 – vs. Western Michigan
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Video | Radio | Stats
Friday, April 15 – at Wisconsin
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Video | Stats
Saturday, April 16 – at Wisconsin
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Video | Stats
Sunday, April 17 – at Wisconsin
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Video | Stats
SPARTAN NOTES TO KNOW
With 183 strikeouts this season, sophomore Ashley Miller ranks 6th in program history for single season strikeouts. Miller is closely following #4-5 and could reach #4 all-time this week. Miller is #13 nationally in strikeouts (183), #13 in innings pitched (136.1) and #25 in earned run average (1.39).
| 1. Jessica Beech | 264 | 2004 |
| 2. Jessica Beech | 235 | 2003 |
| 3. Kelly Smith | 222 | 2013 |
| 4. Kristina Zalewski | 209 | 2016 |
| 5. Stacey Smith | 189 | 1997 |
| 6. Ashley Miller | 183 | 2022 |
| 7. Lauren Kramer | 177 | 2010 |
| 8. Becky Gray | 174 | 2002 |
| 9. Kristina Zalewski | 170 | 2018 |
| 10. Rachel Turney | 160 | 2005 |
| 10. Erica Strutz | 160 | 1999 |
Entering the week Sarah Ladd, Ashley Miller, Faith Guidry, and Ashley Martin combine as a pitching staff for the 20th lowest ERA in the country at 2.14.
Sophomore Alexis Barroso leads the team in batting average (.343) and RBI (23). Camryn Wincher has turned in a strong junior campaign with a .333 batting average, ranking second on the team in RBI with 18. Wincher has the most hits on the team with 41. Senior Courtney Callahan is #8 nationally in sacrifice bunts per game and has been a consistent presence in the MSU lineup this season playing each of the outfield corners depending on who is pitching. Callahan is hitting .297 with eight doubles and a triple. Her nine stolen bases are tied for the team lead with Caitie Ladd.
Over the last 10 games Caitie Ladd has been MSU's best hitter, posting a .353 average on 12-of-34 hitting. Ladd is 5th all-time in doubles at MSU with 40. Ladd recently won the MSU Scholar Athlete Award for the third time at the 2022 SASS Academic Gala.
Jessica Mabrey has been a staple in the lead-off spot for the Spartans, hitting .298 with a team-high .449 on-base percentage. Mabrey is second on the team with five home runs. Mabrey is hitting .538 when leading off an inning. Mabrey's 26 walks would have led the team during the 2021 season. Mabrey also leads the team in runs with 24.
Freshman Kayleigh Roper is leading the team in batting over the last five contest with a .353 average on 6-of-17 hitting. Sophomore Zaquai Dumas has home runs in each of Michigan State's conference matchups this season, homering against Northwestern, Ohio State, Michigan and Nebraska so far.
With 749 career wins at Michigan State, head coach Jacquie Joseph is approaching win #750 in the green & white. Joseph is the third-longest tenured head coach in the Big Ten Conference, behind Carol Hutchins (Michigan, 38th season) and Rhonda Revelle (Nebraska, 30th season).
THE OPPONENTS
Western Michigan
Western Michigan is 14-22 overall and 4-7 in the MAC this season. The Broncos recently dropped a three-game series to Miami (Ohio) where they were shut out in all three contests. WMU is coached by Kathy Leitke in her 22nd year in Kalamazoo and 31st season overall as a head coach.
Reily Galloway does it all for the Broncos as the team's best hitter and best pitcher. Galloway is
hitting .311 with 32 hits, six home runs, 20 RBI and 13 runs scored, while posting a 2.06 ERA and 170
strikeouts in the circle over 115.1 innings pitched. Galloway is holding opponents to a .188 batting average over 22 appearances.
Alyssa Kramer leads Western in home runs with seven along with a team-high 21 RBI. Rissa Bajusz the the #2 starter for the Broncos, with a 4.08 ERA in 79 innings pitched. Bajusz has struck out 65 batters this season with opposing teams hitting .282 against her.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is 20-11 this season with a 5-4 mark in the Big Ten. The Badgers are riding a three-game skid
after being swept by Illinois last weekend by scores of 4-1, 4-2 and 7-1. Head Coach Yvette Healy is in her 12th season at the helm and previously coached at Loyola University (Chicago).
Kayla Konwent is Wisconsin's most dangerous hitter, entering the weekend with a .419 batting average and a .569 on-base percentage that ranks #16 nationally. Konwent leads the team with 36 hits, seven home runs and 23 RBI. Ally Mikelsh is hitting .392 rankings second on the team, joining Konwent as the two players with an OPS over 1.000.
In the circle Wisconsin is led by Maddie Schwartz who has posted a 2.64 ERA and a 15-5 record over 108.2 innings. Schwartz has thrown nine complete games for the Badgers this season and has struck out 73 batters. Opponents are hitting .259 against Schwartz. Ava Justman is the #2 starter in Madison with a 3.77 ERA over 61.1 innings. Justman has struck out 39 batters with opponents hitting .286 against her this season.
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Players Mentioned
3B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
2B
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
2B
/ Softball
LHP
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
SS
/ Softball
1B
/ SoftballA Road Less Traveled | Spartans All-Access
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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