Tuesday, April 18
Ann Arbor, Mich.
6:00 pm
Michigan State University
at
Michigan
Photo by: Sarah Smith
Softball Makes Trip to Ann Arbor on Tuesday
4/17/2023 3:39:00 PM | Softball
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State softball will conclude its season series against Michigan on Tuesday, April 18 at 6:00 p.m. from Alumni Field at Carol Hutchins Stadium. MSU takes on the Michigan for the second time this season, previously dropping a 5-2 decision to the Wolverines in East Lansing on April 12.
Tuesday night's game will be televised nationally on Big Ten Network with Jennie Ritter and Lisa Byington calling the action. Fans can also listen in live via the Spartan Media Network where MSU student Owen Oszust will fill in for the voice of Michigan State softball, Jeremy Otto. Links to live stats and streaming available here.
ABOUT MICHIGAN
Michigan is 22-16 and 8-5 in Big Ten play under first year head coach Bonnie Tholl. Tholl spent 29 years as Carol Hutchins' top assistant and takes over the program following Hutchins' retirement after the 2022 season. The Wolverines have won five of their last six games and are 5-1 at home this season.
Former Big Ten Player of the Year Lexie Blair is hitting a team-high .352 for the Wolverines this season and is joined by Ellie Sieler (.308) as the two players hitting over .300 for Michigan. Blair has 11 doubles on the season as well as one triple, good for second on the team in extra-base hits (12). Keke Tholl brings power to the lineup with seven home runs and a team-best 29 RBIs. Tholl leads the team with 13 extra-base hits. Michigan is hitting .263 as a team with a .327 on-base percentage.
Lauren Derkowski is making the most of her increased playing time this season leading the Wolverine pitching staff with a 1.66 ERA in 143.1 innings pitched. Derkowski has 170 strikeouts and a 0.97 WHIP as opponents hit .183 against her. Against Purdue, Derkowski tossed consecutive no-hitters with a combined 20 strikeouts. Jessica LeBeau is Michigan's #2 starter with a 3.06 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 87.1 innings.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE WOLVERINES
Michigan State was defeated by Michigan at home on April 12, falling to the Wolverines by a 5-2 tally. MSU led 2-0 through three innings, but a three-run fourth inning was more than Michigan would need to earn victory.
Michigan State was able to capitalize on a Michigan mistake to take a 1-0 lead following a fielding error in the second inning, later scoring on a fielder's choice in the third.
THE SERIES
Michigan State trails the all-time series against Michigan, 29-97. The Wolverines have won seven straight against MSU.
Michigan State's last victory over Michigan came on May 12, 2017 by a score of 7-0. The Spartans upset No. 1-seeded Michigan in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament as Kristina Zalewski tossed a three-hit shutout.
WEEKEND REWIND - SPARTANS TAKE ONE FROM MINNESOTA
Michigan State got back into the win column this past weekend breaking a seven-game losing skid with a 3-2 win over Minnesota in the second half of Saturday's doubleheader.
The Spartans battled back from a 2-0 deficit after senior Brooke Snyder's two-RBI double in the third inning tied the game. An hour-long rain delay prolonged the game, before a seventh inning Golden Gopher error spelled victory for MSU. Sydney Strelow's fielding error allowed for freshman Mandy Esman to score for the second time.
Sophomore Faith Guidry controlled the circle for MSU allowing just one earned run in a complete game effort, her fourth of the season/career.
LOOKING FORWARD
Michigan State has just two B1G series remaining after this week, welcoming Purdue to East Lansing April 28-30 and visiting Indiana May 5-7 to wrap the regular season.
Tuesday night's game will be televised nationally on Big Ten Network with Jennie Ritter and Lisa Byington calling the action. Fans can also listen in live via the Spartan Media Network where MSU student Owen Oszust will fill in for the voice of Michigan State softball, Jeremy Otto. Links to live stats and streaming available here.
ABOUT MICHIGAN
Michigan is 22-16 and 8-5 in Big Ten play under first year head coach Bonnie Tholl. Tholl spent 29 years as Carol Hutchins' top assistant and takes over the program following Hutchins' retirement after the 2022 season. The Wolverines have won five of their last six games and are 5-1 at home this season.
Former Big Ten Player of the Year Lexie Blair is hitting a team-high .352 for the Wolverines this season and is joined by Ellie Sieler (.308) as the two players hitting over .300 for Michigan. Blair has 11 doubles on the season as well as one triple, good for second on the team in extra-base hits (12). Keke Tholl brings power to the lineup with seven home runs and a team-best 29 RBIs. Tholl leads the team with 13 extra-base hits. Michigan is hitting .263 as a team with a .327 on-base percentage.
Lauren Derkowski is making the most of her increased playing time this season leading the Wolverine pitching staff with a 1.66 ERA in 143.1 innings pitched. Derkowski has 170 strikeouts and a 0.97 WHIP as opponents hit .183 against her. Against Purdue, Derkowski tossed consecutive no-hitters with a combined 20 strikeouts. Jessica LeBeau is Michigan's #2 starter with a 3.06 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 87.1 innings.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE WOLVERINES
Michigan State was defeated by Michigan at home on April 12, falling to the Wolverines by a 5-2 tally. MSU led 2-0 through three innings, but a three-run fourth inning was more than Michigan would need to earn victory.
Michigan State was able to capitalize on a Michigan mistake to take a 1-0 lead following a fielding error in the second inning, later scoring on a fielder's choice in the third.
THE SERIES
Michigan State trails the all-time series against Michigan, 29-97. The Wolverines have won seven straight against MSU.
Michigan State's last victory over Michigan came on May 12, 2017 by a score of 7-0. The Spartans upset No. 1-seeded Michigan in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament as Kristina Zalewski tossed a three-hit shutout.
WEEKEND REWIND - SPARTANS TAKE ONE FROM MINNESOTA
Michigan State got back into the win column this past weekend breaking a seven-game losing skid with a 3-2 win over Minnesota in the second half of Saturday's doubleheader.
The Spartans battled back from a 2-0 deficit after senior Brooke Snyder's two-RBI double in the third inning tied the game. An hour-long rain delay prolonged the game, before a seventh inning Golden Gopher error spelled victory for MSU. Sydney Strelow's fielding error allowed for freshman Mandy Esman to score for the second time.
Sophomore Faith Guidry controlled the circle for MSU allowing just one earned run in a complete game effort, her fourth of the season/career.
LOOKING FORWARD
Michigan State has just two B1G series remaining after this week, welcoming Purdue to East Lansing April 28-30 and visiting Indiana May 5-7 to wrap the regular season.
Players Mentioned
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