Tuesday, March 21
East Lansing, Mich.
5:00 pm
Michigan State University
vs
Central Michigan
Softball Welcomes Central Michigan and Wisconsin for Home, B1G Openers
3/20/2023 12:11:00 PM | Softball
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State softball makes its return to Secchia Stadium this week, hosting Central Michigan in its home opener on Tuesday night and Wisconsin for the opening Big Ten series starting on Friday, March 24. The Spartans will play a three-game series against the Badgers.
All four games will be streamed on B1G+, with live radio commentary provided by Jeremy Otto on MSUSpartans.com. Otto is entering his first season as the voice of Michigan State Softball on the Spartan Media Network.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (subject to change due to weather)
Tuesday, March 21
vs. Central Michigan – 5:00 p.m.
Friday, March 24
vs. Wisconsin – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 25
vs. Wisconsin – 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 26
vs. Wisconsin – 1:00 p.m.
Links to live stats and streaming available here
THE OPPONENTS
Central Michigan
Michigan State welcomes Central Michigan for its home opener on Tuesday, March 21 at Secchia Stadium. The Spartans are 26-25 (.509) in home openers all-time dating back to 1972.
MSU is 31-59-2 all-time against the Chippewas dating back to the first ever contest on April 22, 1972, a 2-1 loss for the Spartans. Michigan State has won three straight against CMU, last defeating Central Michigan on March 22, 2022 in an 8-0 victory in six innings. Six different Spartans drove in runs, with Jessica Mabrey, Alexis Barroso and Camryn Wincher all reaching base three times. Ashley Miller and Sarah Ladd combined for the shut-out in the circle.
Central Michigan has not played since March 12 when they wrapped up a 2-3 weekend at the University of Minnesota. CMU defeated St. Thomas twice in Minneapolis, losing to Drake, Idaho State and Minnesota.
CMU boasts a pair of hitters batting over .400 this season in Abbey Tolmie (.442) and Michaleigh Vallimont (.413). Kelsey Alexander is hitting .358 with a team-high six home runs and 14 RBIs. CMU is hitting .293 as a squad through 22 contests.
Grace Lehto and Kaitlyn Bean share workhorse duties in the circle for CMU. Bean earned the start against Michigan State last season giving up six earned runs in 4.1 innings. Lehto and Bean share nearly identical stat lines, with Bean owning a 4.41 ERA in 51 innings and Lehto posting a 4.44 ERA in 50.2 innings pitched.
Wisconsin
Michigan State is 30-19 (.612) against Wisconsin all-time dating back to a 12-2 victory over the Badgers on April 20, 1996. MSU has lost four straight to UW dating back to the 2021 season. Last season Wisconsin won by tallies of 3-2, 8-4 and 8-0.
Wisconsin is 13-8 this year coming off a 7-6 victory over then #13/#9 Alabama. The Badgers have played five games against nationally ranked opponents, going 1-4 in those contests.
Former B1G Player of the Year Kayla Konwent paces the Badger offense hitting .333 with a .432 on-base percentage and a .691 slugging percentage. Konwent leads the team with 17 RBIs.
Wisconsin's strength is in their pitching with three strong starting options. Paytn Monticelli leads the team in innings pitched at 50 along with a 2.10 ERA in 12 appearances. Last season's top starter Maddie Schwartz is close behind with 48.2 innings of work and a 2.45 ERA in 16 appearances in the circle. Gabi Salo is most improved for the Badgers with a 0.68 ERA and a 0.75 WHIP in 30.2 innings (eight appearances, five starts).
LOOKING FORWARD
Michigan State returns to action with a mid-week home game against Detroit Mercy on Wednesday, March 29. Last season the Spartans went 3-0 against the Titans.
The Spartans will head to Maryland for a three-game series held in College Park, Md. on March 31-April 2. MSU was 1-3 against the Terps in 2022 including a loss in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.
All four games will be streamed on B1G+, with live radio commentary provided by Jeremy Otto on MSUSpartans.com. Otto is entering his first season as the voice of Michigan State Softball on the Spartan Media Network.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (subject to change due to weather)
Tuesday, March 21
vs. Central Michigan – 5:00 p.m.
Friday, March 24
vs. Wisconsin – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 25
vs. Wisconsin – 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 26
vs. Wisconsin – 1:00 p.m.
Links to live stats and streaming available here
THE OPPONENTS
Central Michigan
Michigan State welcomes Central Michigan for its home opener on Tuesday, March 21 at Secchia Stadium. The Spartans are 26-25 (.509) in home openers all-time dating back to 1972.
MSU is 31-59-2 all-time against the Chippewas dating back to the first ever contest on April 22, 1972, a 2-1 loss for the Spartans. Michigan State has won three straight against CMU, last defeating Central Michigan on March 22, 2022 in an 8-0 victory in six innings. Six different Spartans drove in runs, with Jessica Mabrey, Alexis Barroso and Camryn Wincher all reaching base three times. Ashley Miller and Sarah Ladd combined for the shut-out in the circle.
Central Michigan has not played since March 12 when they wrapped up a 2-3 weekend at the University of Minnesota. CMU defeated St. Thomas twice in Minneapolis, losing to Drake, Idaho State and Minnesota.
CMU boasts a pair of hitters batting over .400 this season in Abbey Tolmie (.442) and Michaleigh Vallimont (.413). Kelsey Alexander is hitting .358 with a team-high six home runs and 14 RBIs. CMU is hitting .293 as a squad through 22 contests.
Grace Lehto and Kaitlyn Bean share workhorse duties in the circle for CMU. Bean earned the start against Michigan State last season giving up six earned runs in 4.1 innings. Lehto and Bean share nearly identical stat lines, with Bean owning a 4.41 ERA in 51 innings and Lehto posting a 4.44 ERA in 50.2 innings pitched.
Wisconsin
Michigan State is 30-19 (.612) against Wisconsin all-time dating back to a 12-2 victory over the Badgers on April 20, 1996. MSU has lost four straight to UW dating back to the 2021 season. Last season Wisconsin won by tallies of 3-2, 8-4 and 8-0.
Wisconsin is 13-8 this year coming off a 7-6 victory over then #13/#9 Alabama. The Badgers have played five games against nationally ranked opponents, going 1-4 in those contests.
Former B1G Player of the Year Kayla Konwent paces the Badger offense hitting .333 with a .432 on-base percentage and a .691 slugging percentage. Konwent leads the team with 17 RBIs.
Wisconsin's strength is in their pitching with three strong starting options. Paytn Monticelli leads the team in innings pitched at 50 along with a 2.10 ERA in 12 appearances. Last season's top starter Maddie Schwartz is close behind with 48.2 innings of work and a 2.45 ERA in 16 appearances in the circle. Gabi Salo is most improved for the Badgers with a 0.68 ERA and a 0.75 WHIP in 30.2 innings (eight appearances, five starts).
LOOKING FORWARD
Michigan State returns to action with a mid-week home game against Detroit Mercy on Wednesday, March 29. Last season the Spartans went 3-0 against the Titans.
The Spartans will head to Maryland for a three-game series held in College Park, Md. on March 31-April 2. MSU was 1-3 against the Terps in 2022 including a loss in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.
Players Mentioned
3B
/ Softball
LHP
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
1B
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