Michigan State University
14-25, 1-11
Penn State
30-8, 9-2
Softball Battle Penn State Close in Game Two
4/13/2024 7:24:00 PM | Softball
MSU recorded eight hits on the day led by a pair from sophomore Hannah Hawley. All nine Spartan starters reached base and seven starters tallied base knocks.
The Spartans move to 14-25 (1-11 B1G) with the loss while Penn State improves to 30-8 (9-2 B1G).
Junior Madison Taylor (2-10) pitched her third complete game in her last four starts for MSU, striking out three in six innings. Taylor allowed five earned runs on six hits.
Hawley led the Spartans with a 2-for-4 effort at the plate that included a lead-off home run in the first inning. Sophomore Britain Beshears and senior Jenae Wash each doubled as MSU posted three extra-base hits on the day. Junior Macy Lee, sophomore Sydney Doloszycki, and seniors Collette Allen and Anna Fox all singled. Junior Mik Anthony and senior Alexis Ross reached via walk.
With Hawley's home run the Spartans have two hitters with double-digit home runs this season for the first time since 2017 (Beshears, Hawley). Michigan State had four batters reach double figures in 2017 (Lea Foerster, Kelcey Carrasco, Sarah Gutknecht, Kaitlyn Eveland).
Michigan State started game two on the right foot, quickly scoring two runs in the top of the first. Hawley led-off the game with a home run on the second pitch she saw. Beshears just missed a homer to right-center, doubling off the wall to score sophomore Hailey Bila who pinch ran for Lee.
Hannah Hawley starting us off on the right foot with a lead-off homer in game two!#GoGreen | #SpartanUp pic.twitter.com/5v87QOe2y2
— MSU Softball (@MSU_Softball) April 13, 2024
Brit keeps us on a roll with a double off the wall in right-center that scores Hailey Bila!
— MSU Softball (@MSU_Softball) April 13, 2024
We lead 2-0 in the first.#GoGreen | #SpartanUp pic.twitter.com/IvZjwXasuW
The Nittany Lions were quick to knot things up at 2-2 using a two-run homer in the home half of the first. After Taylor pitched a scoreless second, Penn State took a 3-2 lead on a solo shot to right in the third.
Base hits by Wash and Fox to lead-off the fourth put two runners in scoring position for MSU, but an untimely double play ended the Spartan scoring threat.
PSU extended its advantage to 5-2 using a two-run single with two down in the bottom of the fourth.
Both sides traded runs in the fifth frame as Michigan State used a two-out Nittany Lion error to cut the lead to 5-3. Hawley didn't give up on the play and scored from second on a ground ball between first and second base. Penn State gained the run back in the home half on a sacrifice fly.
Alexis Ross showing off the arm to turn two in the bottom of the sixth!#GoGreen | #SpartanUp pic.twitter.com/rL2yTdh65v
— MSU Softball (@MSU_Softball) April 13, 2024
UP NEXT
Michigan State wraps up its three-game series against the Nittany Lions on Sunday, April 14 at 1:00 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Mady Volpe (8-4)
L: Taylor, Madison (2-10)
S: Bridget Nemeth (4)
Batting:
2B: Beshears, Britain 1 ; Wash, Jenae 1
HR: Hawley, Hannah 1
RBI: Hawley, Hannah 1 ; Beshears, Britain 1
SH: Anthony, Mik 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hawley, Hannah 2 ; Bila, Hailey 1
SB: Hawley, Hannah 1 ; Fox, Anna 1
Batting:
2B: Kaitlyn Morrison 1
HR: Maddie Gordon 1 ; Gaby Garcia 1
RBI: Maddie Gordon 1 ; Haylie Brunson 1 ; Gaby Garcia 2 ; Brooke Klosowicz 2
SH: Gianna Poletti 1
SF: Haylie Brunson 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Maddie Gordon 2 ; Kaitlyn Morrison 1 ; Gaby Garcia 1 ; Emily Maddock 1 ; Audree Mendoza 1
SB: Maddie Gordon 1
HBP: Liana Jones 1
