Friday, April 7
Caledonia, Mich.
11:00 am
Michigan State University
vs
Iowa
Softball Series Versus Iowa Relocated
4/6/2023 9:52:00 AM | Softball
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State's upcoming B1G softball series against Iowa has been relocated to Caledonia, Michigan due to flooding at Old College Field and Secchia Stadium.
The Spartans will take on the Hawkeyes for a three-game series from the Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex on the campus of Davenport University.
Live streaming of the games will no longer be available for the series this weekend due to the venue change. Fans can find live stats links on MSUSpartans.com.
UPDATE (4/8/23 6:45 p.m.) - Water has receded at Secchia Stadium and Old College Field, which will allow Michigan State softball to complete the final two games of its series against Iowa at home. First pitch is still slated for 11:00 a.m. Admission is free, concessions will be unavailable.
UPDATED SCHEDULE
Friday, April 7 – Caledonia, Mich. – Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex
11:00 a.m. – vs. Iowa
Sunday, April 9 – East Lansing, Mich. – Secchia Stadium at Old College Field
11:00 a.m. – vs. Iowa (doubleheader)
ABOUT IOWA
Iowa enters the weekend 22-15 overall and 4-4 in the Big Ten with victories over Northwestern, Nebraska and a pair of wins over Penn State. The Hawkeyes are coached by Renee Gillispie who is in her fifth season at the helm.
Michigan State is 33-75 all-time against Iowa, last defeating the Hawkeyes in 2021, 1-0, in Leesburg, Florida. The Spartans have not played a traditional B1G series against the Hawkeyes since 2014 in Iowa City. Iowa had not played at Secchia Stadium since 2012, a streak that will continue thanks to the change in venue.
Iowa ranks No. 73 nationally in batting average (.290), No. 45 in ERA (2.38), No. 147 in fielding percentage (.961), No. 81 in on-base percentage (.367) and No. 117 in slugging percentage (.401).
Nia Carter is one of the top hitters in the country so far this season ranking No. 14 in DI with a .449 batting average and ranking second in the nation in total hits with 57. Carter boasts a .507 on-base percentage with 16 walks to just five strikeouts. Four other Hawkeyes batters are hitting over .300 this season led by Tristin Doster's .355 average. Denali Loecker leads the team in home runs (7) and RBIs (31).
Iowa is led by Breanna Vasquez in the circle, who owns a 1.96 ERA through 93 innings pitched. Opponents are hitting just .185 off Vasquez this season. Jalen Adams and Denali Loecker are close behind with 2.07 and 2.08 ERA's respectively. Loecker ranks No. 7 nationally in saves with four.
MICHIGAN GAME RESCHEDULED
Michigan State's home portion of this season's home-and-home with the Wolverines was postponed until April 12 at 5:00 p.m. It will be the first meeting between first-year head coaches Sharonda McDonald-Kelley and Bonnie Tholl.
SPARTANS DOWN OAKLAND
Spartan softball got back into the win column on Tuesday night, defeating Oakland University by a final score of 4-3 at Secchia Stadium. Early offense proved to be the difference for MSU as the Spartans scored four runs in the first inning. Sophomore Madison Taylor allowed just one earned run in the circle through six innings of work and junior Ashley Miller earned her third career save.
LOOKING FORWARD
Michigan State remains at home throughout next week with five scheduled home contests. The Spartans open the week with a pair of 5:00 p.m. mid-week games starting with Notre Dame on Tuesday, April 11, followed by Michigan on Wednesday, April 12.
The Spartans are scheduled to play a three-game B1G series against Minnesota at Secchia Stadium April 14-16.
The Spartans will take on the Hawkeyes for a three-game series from the Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex on the campus of Davenport University.
Live streaming of the games will no longer be available for the series this weekend due to the venue change. Fans can find live stats links on MSUSpartans.com.
UPDATE (4/8/23 6:45 p.m.) - Water has receded at Secchia Stadium and Old College Field, which will allow Michigan State softball to complete the final two games of its series against Iowa at home. First pitch is still slated for 11:00 a.m. Admission is free, concessions will be unavailable.
UPDATED SCHEDULE
Friday, April 7 – Caledonia, Mich. – Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex
11:00 a.m. – vs. Iowa
Sunday, April 9 – East Lansing, Mich. – Secchia Stadium at Old College Field
11:00 a.m. – vs. Iowa (doubleheader)
ABOUT IOWA
Iowa enters the weekend 22-15 overall and 4-4 in the Big Ten with victories over Northwestern, Nebraska and a pair of wins over Penn State. The Hawkeyes are coached by Renee Gillispie who is in her fifth season at the helm.
Michigan State is 33-75 all-time against Iowa, last defeating the Hawkeyes in 2021, 1-0, in Leesburg, Florida. The Spartans have not played a traditional B1G series against the Hawkeyes since 2014 in Iowa City. Iowa had not played at Secchia Stadium since 2012, a streak that will continue thanks to the change in venue.
Iowa ranks No. 73 nationally in batting average (.290), No. 45 in ERA (2.38), No. 147 in fielding percentage (.961), No. 81 in on-base percentage (.367) and No. 117 in slugging percentage (.401).
Nia Carter is one of the top hitters in the country so far this season ranking No. 14 in DI with a .449 batting average and ranking second in the nation in total hits with 57. Carter boasts a .507 on-base percentage with 16 walks to just five strikeouts. Four other Hawkeyes batters are hitting over .300 this season led by Tristin Doster's .355 average. Denali Loecker leads the team in home runs (7) and RBIs (31).
Iowa is led by Breanna Vasquez in the circle, who owns a 1.96 ERA through 93 innings pitched. Opponents are hitting just .185 off Vasquez this season. Jalen Adams and Denali Loecker are close behind with 2.07 and 2.08 ERA's respectively. Loecker ranks No. 7 nationally in saves with four.
MICHIGAN GAME RESCHEDULED
Michigan State's home portion of this season's home-and-home with the Wolverines was postponed until April 12 at 5:00 p.m. It will be the first meeting between first-year head coaches Sharonda McDonald-Kelley and Bonnie Tholl.
SPARTANS DOWN OAKLAND
Spartan softball got back into the win column on Tuesday night, defeating Oakland University by a final score of 4-3 at Secchia Stadium. Early offense proved to be the difference for MSU as the Spartans scored four runs in the first inning. Sophomore Madison Taylor allowed just one earned run in the circle through six innings of work and junior Ashley Miller earned her third career save.
LOOKING FORWARD
Michigan State remains at home throughout next week with five scheduled home contests. The Spartans open the week with a pair of 5:00 p.m. mid-week games starting with Notre Dame on Tuesday, April 11, followed by Michigan on Wednesday, April 12.
The Spartans are scheduled to play a three-game B1G series against Minnesota at Secchia Stadium April 14-16.
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Softball
LHP
/ SoftballA 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