Michigan State University
12-26, 2-13
Illinois
25-21, 4-11
Softball History Made on Friday Night
4/21/2023 7:04:00 PM | Softball
History = Made ✅#GoGreen | #UNLEASH pic.twitter.com/Nxkr5X1nSV
— MSU Softball (@MSU_Softball) April 21, 2023
Spartan Stats
Sophomore Faith Guidry (3-10) started game one of the series for the Spartans pitching her seventh complete game of the season. Guidry allowed four earned runs on seven hits and two walks, striking out two.
Eight different Spartans had base hits in the game one of the series. Senior Jessica Mabrey, senior Brooke Snyder, sophomore Macy Lee, senior Kendall Kates, freshman Mandy Esman, senior Kennedy Wyllie, junior Alexis Barroso and senior Anna Fox all had knocks for MSU. Mabrey had the lone extra-base hit of the afternoon, a two-run home run to left field in the fifth. Snyder also had an RBI for the Spartans, while Mabrey, Wyllie and Fox scored the runs. Mabrey was the lone Spartan to reach base twice, walking in the seventh.
How It Happened
Illinois got the scoring started in the first inning with Kelly Ryono's solo home run over the center field fence.
The Spartans tied the game up in the top of the third after Snyder punched a ball through the left side of the infield for a single. Snyder's base knock scored Fox from second on the play, who singled earlier in the inning.
The game did not stay tied for long however as the Fighting Illini would tack on a pair of runs in the bottom of the third. A lead-off walk and a double put two runners in scoring position for Illinois, who scored on a ground out and a sacrifice fly.
Mabrey's two-out, two-run home run down the left field line in the top of the fifth tied the game for Michigan State once again, scoring Wyllie from third to knot the contest up at 3-3.
We've got a tie ball game in Champaign!
— MSU Softball (@MSU_Softball) April 21, 2023
Jessica Mabrey sends a two-run shot out to left field, knotting this one up 3-3 in the fifth!#GoGreen | #UNLEASH pic.twitter.com/GJ5xZSSiOb
Illinois assumed a lead once again in the home half of the fifth following an RBI double by Kailee Powell.
Singles by Esman and Barroso put runners on the corners in the top of the seventh as Michigan State looked to prolong the contest. Freshman Kayla Bane pinch ran for Barroso and swiped second base to put two in scoring position. Unfortunately for the Spartans, Illinois ace Sydney Sickels entered the circle and shut the door on the rally.
Up Next
Michigan State's series against the Fighting Illini continues Saturday, April 22 at Eichelberger Field. First pitch is set for 6:02 p.m. EDT on ESPNU. Erin Miller (analyst) and Matt Schumaker (play-by-play) will have the broadcast call for the Worldwide Leader in Sports.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Wiles, Lauren (6-5)
L: Guidry, Faith (3-10)
S: Sickels, Sydney (2)
Batting:
HR: Mabrey, Jessica 1
RBI: Mabrey, Jessica 2 ; Snyder, Brooke 1
SH: Barroso, Alexis 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mabrey, Jessica 1 ; Wyllie, Kennedy 1 ; Fox, Anna 1
SB: Bane, Kayla 1
CS: Bila, Hailey 1
Batting:
2B: Ryono, Kelly 1 ; Powell, Kailee 1 ; Rummell, Delaney 1
HR: Ryono, Kelly 1
RBI: Ryono, Kelly 1 ; Malott, Sydney 1 ; Powell, Kailee 2
SH: Malott, Sydney 1 ; Steiner, Avrey 1
SF: Powell, Kailee 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Meade, Stevie 1 ; Ryono, Kelly 3
