Friday, May 6
Piscataway, NJ
3 pm
Michigan State University
at
Rutgers
Softball Wraps Regular Season at Rutgers
5/4/2022 2:24:00 PM | Softball
EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan State softball team will travel to Rutgers this weekend for the final Big Ten series of the season, playing three games at the Rutgers Softball Complex in Piscataway, N.J. MSU will face the Scarlet Knights at 3:00 p.m. EST on Friday, May 6 and Saturday, May 7 before playing a 1:00 p.m. game on Sunday, May 8. Dates and times are subject to change due to forecasted weather.
All games will be streamed live on BTN+.
SCHEDULE/LINKS
Friday, May 6 – at Rutgers
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Video | Stats
Saturday, May 7 – at Rutgers
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Video | Stats
Sunday, May 8 – at Rutgers
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Video | Stats
ABOUT RUTGERS
Rutgers is 25-28 this season and 3-17 in the B1G. The Scarlet Knights sit in 13th place in the league, one spot behind Michigan State as the teams battle for the final slot in the Big Ten Tournament. Rutgers recently dropped a pair of games at Purdue last weekend.
Head Coach Kristen Butler is in her 4th season at Rutgers where she owns a 72-104 record. Butler coached four seasons at Toledo prior to taking over with the Scarlet Knights in 2019.
Offensively the Scarlet Knights are led by Kyleigh Sand and Gabrielle Callaway. Sand leads the team with a .400 batting average and is No. 10 nationally in hits with 66. With 32 walks, Sand's .498 on-base percentage also leads the team. Sand is a threat on the base paths with 22 steals to her name this season. Callaway enters the weekend hitting .381 with a .478 on-base percentage and a .660 slugging percentage for a team-high 1.138 OPS. Callaway leads the team in home runs (10) and RBI (47), while stealing 13 bags. Sand and Callaway's batting average has gone up in Big Ten play, with Sand hitting .431 and Callaway hitting .411.
Kayla Bock is the team's next best hitter in conference play with a .258 batting average followed by Taylor Fawcett (.246), Taylor Lane (.238) and Payton Lincavage (.237)
In the circle, Rutgers has used equal amounts of Ashley Hitchcock and Jaden Vickers this season, with Vickers pitching 167 innings and Hitchcock 150.2. Both have thrown 58 innings in Big Ten play. Hitchcock owns a 3.95 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP in 36 appearances for the Scarlet Knights, striking out 116 batters. Teams have hit .246 against Hitchcock. In Big Ten play, Hitchcock has posted a 4.59 ERA and a 1.84 WHIP in 14 appearances, striking out 38 as teams hit .272. Vickers has the best strikeout stuff on the team with 172 punch outs this season along with a 4.36 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. In Big Ten play Vickers owns a 7.60 ERA and a 2.03 WHIP over 15 appearances. Vickers has struck out 50 batters as opponents hit .317.
In the field, Rutgers has a .971 fielding percentage overall and has made 39 errors this season.
SPARTAN NOTES TO KNOW
Michigan State enters the weekend as the final team projected to make the 2022 Big Ten Tournament. Rutgers sits one game back from the Spartans in the standings as the teams fight for the 12th seed.
With 241 strikeouts this season, sophomore Ashley Miller ranks 2nd in program history for single season strikeouts. Miller needs 24 more strikeouts to break the all-time record.
Single Season Strikeout Leaders
1. Jessica Beach 264 2004
2. Ashley Miller 241 2022
Fifth-year Caitie Ladd has been Michigan State's hottest hitter, batting .375 over her last 10 games (12-of-32). Ladd has been Michigan State's most consistent hitter in Big Ten play with a .302 average.
Junior Camryn Wincher has turned in a strong campaign with a team-high .331 batting average and 50 hits. Wincher is second on the team with 20 RBI and is hitting .346 over the last 10 games (9-for-26). Sophomore Alexis Barroso leads the team in RBI with 25 while ranking second in batting average (.318) and hits (45).
Jessica Mabrey has been a staple in the lead-off spot for the Spartans, hitting .291 with a team-high .421 on-base percentage. Mabrey is second on the team with five home runs. Mabrey's 28 walks would have led the team during the 2021 season. Mabrey also leads the team in runs with 27.
Senior Courtney Callahan 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 .287 with nine doubles, a triple and two home runs. Her 12 stolen bases is tied for the team lead with Ladd.
All games will be streamed live on BTN+.
SCHEDULE/LINKS
Friday, May 6 – at Rutgers
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Video | Stats
Saturday, May 7 – at Rutgers
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Video | Stats
Sunday, May 8 – at Rutgers
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Video | Stats
ABOUT RUTGERS
Rutgers is 25-28 this season and 3-17 in the B1G. The Scarlet Knights sit in 13th place in the league, one spot behind Michigan State as the teams battle for the final slot in the Big Ten Tournament. Rutgers recently dropped a pair of games at Purdue last weekend.
Head Coach Kristen Butler is in her 4th season at Rutgers where she owns a 72-104 record. Butler coached four seasons at Toledo prior to taking over with the Scarlet Knights in 2019.
Offensively the Scarlet Knights are led by Kyleigh Sand and Gabrielle Callaway. Sand leads the team with a .400 batting average and is No. 10 nationally in hits with 66. With 32 walks, Sand's .498 on-base percentage also leads the team. Sand is a threat on the base paths with 22 steals to her name this season. Callaway enters the weekend hitting .381 with a .478 on-base percentage and a .660 slugging percentage for a team-high 1.138 OPS. Callaway leads the team in home runs (10) and RBI (47), while stealing 13 bags. Sand and Callaway's batting average has gone up in Big Ten play, with Sand hitting .431 and Callaway hitting .411.
Kayla Bock is the team's next best hitter in conference play with a .258 batting average followed by Taylor Fawcett (.246), Taylor Lane (.238) and Payton Lincavage (.237)
In the circle, Rutgers has used equal amounts of Ashley Hitchcock and Jaden Vickers this season, with Vickers pitching 167 innings and Hitchcock 150.2. Both have thrown 58 innings in Big Ten play. Hitchcock owns a 3.95 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP in 36 appearances for the Scarlet Knights, striking out 116 batters. Teams have hit .246 against Hitchcock. In Big Ten play, Hitchcock has posted a 4.59 ERA and a 1.84 WHIP in 14 appearances, striking out 38 as teams hit .272. Vickers has the best strikeout stuff on the team with 172 punch outs this season along with a 4.36 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. In Big Ten play Vickers owns a 7.60 ERA and a 2.03 WHIP over 15 appearances. Vickers has struck out 50 batters as opponents hit .317.
In the field, Rutgers has a .971 fielding percentage overall and has made 39 errors this season.
SPARTAN NOTES TO KNOW
Michigan State enters the weekend as the final team projected to make the 2022 Big Ten Tournament. Rutgers sits one game back from the Spartans in the standings as the teams fight for the 12th seed.
With 241 strikeouts this season, sophomore Ashley Miller ranks 2nd in program history for single season strikeouts. Miller needs 24 more strikeouts to break the all-time record.
Single Season Strikeout Leaders
1. Jessica Beach 264 2004
2. Ashley Miller 241 2022
Fifth-year Caitie Ladd has been Michigan State's hottest hitter, batting .375 over her last 10 games (12-of-32). Ladd has been Michigan State's most consistent hitter in Big Ten play with a .302 average.
Junior Camryn Wincher has turned in a strong campaign with a team-high .331 batting average and 50 hits. Wincher is second on the team with 20 RBI and is hitting .346 over the last 10 games (9-for-26). Sophomore Alexis Barroso leads the team in RBI with 25 while ranking second in batting average (.318) and hits (45).
Jessica Mabrey has been a staple in the lead-off spot for the Spartans, hitting .291 with a team-high .421 on-base percentage. Mabrey is second on the team with five home runs. Mabrey's 28 walks would have led the team during the 2021 season. Mabrey also leads the team in runs with 27.
Senior Courtney Callahan 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 .287 with nine doubles, a triple and two home runs. Her 12 stolen bases is tied for the team lead with Ladd.
Players Mentioned
3B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
2B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
1B
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