Softball Welcomes Pair of Intrastate Foes for Mid-Week Contests
4/3/2023 12:01:00 PM | Softball
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Weather permitting, Michigan State softball will be back in action for two mid-week contests, facing Oakland on Tuesday, April 4 and Michigan on Wednesday, April 5. The Spartans return to the confines of Old College Field and Secchia Stadium for the first time since their B1G opening weekend against Wisconsin on March 24-26.
Michigan State enters the week with an overall record of 10-17 with a 1-5 mark in conference action.
Tuesday night's game against Oakland will be streamed on B1G+ while Wednesday night's game against Michigan will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network. Links to live stats and streaming available here.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (weather permitting)
Tuesday, April 4
vs. Oakland – 5:00 p.m. EDT
Wednesday, April 5
vs. Michigan – 5:00 p.m. EDT
ABOUT OAKLAND
Oakland is 7-10 this season as weather has caused five cancelations for the Golden Grizzlies. Lauren Karn is in her sixth season as head coach at Oakland and has revitalized the program, leading the Golden Grizzlies to an NCAA regional appearance in 2022 following a Horizon League championship. Oakland has back-to-back seasons of 26 wins and sub-20 losses.
Michigan State is 25-7 all-time against the Golden Grizzles, who own a one-win streak over the Spartans following a 10-5 win at Secchia Stadium on April 5, 2022.
Four batters are hitting over .310 for Oakland led by Allisa DiPrima and Jen Krizka who are each hitting over .350. DiPrima leads the team with a .353 average while Krizka boasts a team-high 1.219 OPS (on base + slugging). Krizka has the team's only two home runs of the season and has driven in 10 runners.
Oakland's pitching staff is led by Sydney Campbell who has a 1.81 ERA and 1.10 WHIP along with a 6-4 record in the circle. Campbell has struck out 39 batters in 65.2 innings pitched. Batters hit .254 against Campbell. Oakland's pitching staff owns a combined 4.15 ERA.
ABOUT MICHIGAN
Michigan is 17-14 and 3-3 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 the Michigan State alum's retirement after the 2022 season.
Michigan State is 29-96 all-time against the Wolverines who last defeated MSU by a final score of 3-0 on April 19, 2022.
Former Big Ten Player of the Year Lexie Blair is hitting a team-high .384 for the Wolverines this season and is joined by Ellie Sieler (.329) as the two players hitting over .300 for Michigan. Keke Tholl brings power to the lineup with seven home runs and a team-best 23 RBIs. Michigan is hitting .267 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 1.82 ERA in 104 innings pitched. Derkowski has 126 strikeouts and a 1.04 WHIP as opponents hit .201 against her. Jessica LeBeau is Michigan's #2 starter with a 3.15 ERA in 80 innings of work.
LAST WEEK REWIND
Michigan State traveled to Maryland last weekend where the team was defeated by scores of 3-0, 11-0 and 8-0 for a Terrapin sweep. Jessica Mabrey had a 15-game on-base streak broken at Maryland on April 2.
LOOKING FORWARD
Iowa will play at Secchia Stadium for the first time since 2012 when they arrive to play the Spartans this upcoming weekend April 7-9. Michigan State has not played a traditional B1G series against the Hawkeyes since 2014 in Iowa City.
Michigan State enters the week with an overall record of 10-17 with a 1-5 mark in conference action.
Tuesday night's game against Oakland will be streamed on B1G+ while Wednesday night's game against Michigan will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network. Links to live stats and streaming available here.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (weather permitting)
Tuesday, April 4
vs. Oakland – 5:00 p.m. EDT
Wednesday, April 5
vs. Michigan – 5:00 p.m. EDT
ABOUT OAKLAND
Oakland is 7-10 this season as weather has caused five cancelations for the Golden Grizzlies. Lauren Karn is in her sixth season as head coach at Oakland and has revitalized the program, leading the Golden Grizzlies to an NCAA regional appearance in 2022 following a Horizon League championship. Oakland has back-to-back seasons of 26 wins and sub-20 losses.
Michigan State is 25-7 all-time against the Golden Grizzles, who own a one-win streak over the Spartans following a 10-5 win at Secchia Stadium on April 5, 2022.
Four batters are hitting over .310 for Oakland led by Allisa DiPrima and Jen Krizka who are each hitting over .350. DiPrima leads the team with a .353 average while Krizka boasts a team-high 1.219 OPS (on base + slugging). Krizka has the team's only two home runs of the season and has driven in 10 runners.
Oakland's pitching staff is led by Sydney Campbell who has a 1.81 ERA and 1.10 WHIP along with a 6-4 record in the circle. Campbell has struck out 39 batters in 65.2 innings pitched. Batters hit .254 against Campbell. Oakland's pitching staff owns a combined 4.15 ERA.
ABOUT MICHIGAN
Michigan is 17-14 and 3-3 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 the Michigan State alum's retirement after the 2022 season.
Michigan State is 29-96 all-time against the Wolverines who last defeated MSU by a final score of 3-0 on April 19, 2022.
Former Big Ten Player of the Year Lexie Blair is hitting a team-high .384 for the Wolverines this season and is joined by Ellie Sieler (.329) as the two players hitting over .300 for Michigan. Keke Tholl brings power to the lineup with seven home runs and a team-best 23 RBIs. Michigan is hitting .267 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 1.82 ERA in 104 innings pitched. Derkowski has 126 strikeouts and a 1.04 WHIP as opponents hit .201 against her. Jessica LeBeau is Michigan's #2 starter with a 3.15 ERA in 80 innings of work.
LAST WEEK REWIND
Michigan State traveled to Maryland last weekend where the team was defeated by scores of 3-0, 11-0 and 8-0 for a Terrapin sweep. Jessica Mabrey had a 15-game on-base streak broken at Maryland on April 2.
LOOKING FORWARD
Iowa will play at Secchia Stadium for the first time since 2012 when they arrive to play the Spartans this upcoming weekend April 7-9. Michigan State has not played a traditional B1G series against the Hawkeyes since 2014 in Iowa City.
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