Friday, March 24
East Lansing, Mich.
3:00 pm
Michigan State University
3
vs
5
Wisconsin
Offense Propels Spartans Past Badgers in Game Two of Doubleheader
3/24/2023 10:11:00 PM | Softball
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State softball split Friday's B1G opening doubleheader against Wisconsin, defeating the Badgers in game two, 8-3, after dropping game one by a final score of 5-3 at Secchia Stadium.
The Spartans move to 10-13 overall at 1-1 in Big Ten action to start conference play.
Game One
Spartan Stats
Sophomore Faith Guidry (2-3) made the start for Michigan State in game one tossing her third consecutive complete game of the season. Guidry allowed three earned runs (five total) on seven hits and four walks, earning a lot of soft contact to limit the scoring despite 13 baserunners reaching.
Fifth-year Jessica Mabrey, sophomore Macy Lee and junior AJ Militello each had multi-hit games for the Spartans in game one, with Lee pacing the offense with a pair of RBIs. Mabrey drove in one for the Spartans with a pair of doubles.
Scoring Summary
MSU opened the scoring in the first inning when Lee plated Mabrey on an infield single to short. Wisconsin would go on to score five unanswered runs however starting in the third inning when Skylar Sirdashney scored on a double steal.
The Badgers extended their lead with Sirdashney's two-run homer in the fifth, along with Rylie Crane's single down the left field line that scored a pair.
Michigan State looked to chip away at Wisconsin's lead in the fifth when Mabrey and Lee each recorded RBI base knocks.
Game Two
Spartan Stats
Sophomore Madison Taylor (2-3) drew the start in the circle for Michigan State allowing three earned runs over five innings of work. Taylor allowed five hits and two walks to Badger batters. Guidry entered the game in relief pitching a pair of scoreless innings to earn her first save of the season.
Four Spartans turned in two-hit performances with freshman Mandy Esman, junior Alexis Barroso, Lee and Militello each reaching twice for MSU. Esman drove in two with a pair of doubles, Militello tripled and Barroso hit her first home run of the season in the fifth inning. Lee, Esman and Barroso all finished game two with a pair of RBIs.
Scoring Summary
Michigan State once again started the scoring in the first inning, taking a 2-0 lead over the Badgers after a pair of two-out RBIs by Esman and Barroso. MSU's lead doubled in the third when Esman and Barroso once again did the heavy lifting for the Spartans. Esman's double to left scored junior Collette Allen and Barroso reached on an error that scored Esman.
Wisconsin cut into Michigan State's lead with a three-run fourth inning that saw Kayla Konwent hit a ball into the Red Cedar River in center field. Christaana Angelopulos drove in a pair on a single to center later in the inning.
The Spartans got a run back in the fourth to lead 5-3 when Mabrey placed a ball through the five-hole of Wisconsin's third baseman to score Militello from third.
Barroso's first home run of the season was deep down the left field line and provided the Spartans with extra cushion heading into the late innings.
Lee continued her standout day for MSU with a two-RBI double down the left field line in the sixth to give Michigan State an 8-3 advantage.
Up Next
Michigan State will wrap up its series against the Badgers on Sunday, March 26. First pitch from Secchia Stadium is tentatively set for 1:00 p.m.
The Spartans move to 10-13 overall at 1-1 in Big Ten action to start conference play.
Game One
Spartan Stats
Sophomore Faith Guidry (2-3) made the start for Michigan State in game one tossing her third consecutive complete game of the season. Guidry allowed three earned runs (five total) on seven hits and four walks, earning a lot of soft contact to limit the scoring despite 13 baserunners reaching.
Fifth-year Jessica Mabrey, sophomore Macy Lee and junior AJ Militello each had multi-hit games for the Spartans in game one, with Lee pacing the offense with a pair of RBIs. Mabrey drove in one for the Spartans with a pair of doubles.
Scoring Summary
MSU opened the scoring in the first inning when Lee plated Mabrey on an infield single to short. Wisconsin would go on to score five unanswered runs however starting in the third inning when Skylar Sirdashney scored on a double steal.
The Badgers extended their lead with Sirdashney's two-run homer in the fifth, along with Rylie Crane's single down the left field line that scored a pair.
Michigan State looked to chip away at Wisconsin's lead in the fifth when Mabrey and Lee each recorded RBI base knocks.
Game Two
Spartan Stats
Sophomore Madison Taylor (2-3) drew the start in the circle for Michigan State allowing three earned runs over five innings of work. Taylor allowed five hits and two walks to Badger batters. Guidry entered the game in relief pitching a pair of scoreless innings to earn her first save of the season.
Four Spartans turned in two-hit performances with freshman Mandy Esman, junior Alexis Barroso, Lee and Militello each reaching twice for MSU. Esman drove in two with a pair of doubles, Militello tripled and Barroso hit her first home run of the season in the fifth inning. Lee, Esman and Barroso all finished game two with a pair of RBIs.
Scoring Summary
Michigan State once again started the scoring in the first inning, taking a 2-0 lead over the Badgers after a pair of two-out RBIs by Esman and Barroso. MSU's lead doubled in the third when Esman and Barroso once again did the heavy lifting for the Spartans. Esman's double to left scored junior Collette Allen and Barroso reached on an error that scored Esman.
Wisconsin cut into Michigan State's lead with a three-run fourth inning that saw Kayla Konwent hit a ball into the Red Cedar River in center field. Christaana Angelopulos drove in a pair on a single to center later in the inning.
The Spartans got a run back in the fourth to lead 5-3 when Mabrey placed a ball through the five-hole of Wisconsin's third baseman to score Militello from third.
Barroso's first home run of the season was deep down the left field line and provided the Spartans with extra cushion heading into the late innings.
Lee continued her standout day for MSU with a two-RBI double down the left field line in the sixth to give Michigan State an 8-3 advantage.
Up Next
Michigan State will wrap up its series against the Badgers on Sunday, March 26. First pitch from Secchia Stadium is tentatively set for 1:00 p.m.
Players Mentioned
1B
/ Softball
3B
/ Softball
2B
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
LHP
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