Softball Braves Weather to Win Senior Weekend Opener

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Despite a constant drizzle throughout the evening the Michigan State softball program came away winners on Friday night at Secchia Stadium, taking down Purdue by a final score of 9-8. The Spartans held off a four-run seventh inning rally by the Boilermakers to earn the one-run victory.

Spartan Stats
Michigan State's offense was clicking on all cylinders on Friday night scoring nine runs, a team best in Big Ten play this season. MSU had just six hits in the contest but showed patience drawing six walks.

Senior Jessica Mabrey and freshman Mandy Esman led the Spartans with two hits each, with Mabrey hitting her seventh home run of the season. Seniors Brooke Snyder and Kendall Kates each doubled during Friday's action. Snyder led the team with three RBIs while Esman drove in a pair. Kates, Mabrey and freshman Britain Beshears each drove in one. Senior Kennedy Wyllie reached base twice drawing two walks.

Sophomore Faith Guidry (4-11) earned the win in the circle striking out five batters in four innings of work. Junior Ashley Miller earned her first save of the season pitching the final three innings of the contest and striking out four.

How It Happened
Purdue opened a 2-0 lead over the Spartans in the first inning using a two-run home run by Alex Echazarreta.

Michigan State wasted no time getting on the board in the home half of the first however, taking a 3-2 lead. Esman started things off in the inning singling home Snyder who reached on a fielder's choice. Beshears then tied the game up at 2-2 with a sacrifice fly to right. Kates used a two-out double to plate Esman and give MSU its first lead of the game.

Kendall Kates comes through with a two-out RBI double to give us a 3-2 lead in the first inning! A great start to her senior weekend!#GoGreen | #UNLEASH pic.twitter.com/XfuInphIDB
— MSU Softball (@MSU_Softball) April 28, 2023

The Spartans expanded their advantage in the second when Mabrey blasted her seventh home run of the season to the opposite field. Esman continued her strong performance using a single to right to drive in Snyder who reached on an error.

Almost missed first base 😅 but Jessica Mabrey goes oppo 🌮 to extend the Michigan State lead to 4-2 in the second inning!#GoGreen | #UNLEASH pic.twitter.com/XJD4Q4yRH0
— MSU Softball (@MSU_Softball) April 28, 2023

Purdue pulled back within one run of Michigan State in the fourth after a pair of singles led to two Boilermaker runs.

A four-run fifth inning provided MSU with just enough insurance on Friday night after three consecutive Spartan walks loaded the bases for Mabrey. Mabrey reached on a fielder's choice after a Boilermaker miscue extended the inning. With two outs, Snyder roped a bases clearing double into left-center to make Purdue pay.

Brooke Snyder clears the bases with a two-out double to put MSU up 9-4 in the fifth inning! All of our seniors making a major impact tonight!#GoGreen | #UNLEASH pic.twitter.com/Eu2keUJ7rM
— MSU Softball (@MSU_Softball) April 28, 2023

The Boilermakers would attempt to rally in the seventh after a three-run home run and an RBI double brought Purdue back within one of MSU. Milled induced a groundout into the 3-4 hole to end the game.

Up Next
Michigan State returns to Secchia Stadium on Saturday, April 29 for an 11:00 a.m. game against Purdue. MSU will honors its four-player senior class prior to the game as Jessica Mabrey, Brooke Snyder, Kendall Kates and Kennedy Wyllie will play their final home games this weekend.

Next Event

Team Stats

Jessica Mabrey

Mandy Esman

Brooke Snyder

Kendall Kates

Players Mentioned

Britain Beshears

Mandy Esman

Faith Guidry

Kendall Kates

Jessica Mabrey

Ashley Miller

Brooke Snyder

Kennedy Wyllie

Players Mentioned

Britain Beshears

Mandy Esman

Faith Guidry

Kendall Kates

Jessica Mabrey

Ashley Miller

Brooke Snyder

Kennedy Wyllie