Sunday, February 16
Athens, Ga.
10:30 AM
Michigan State University
3-5
9
vs
1
Western Carolina
1-6
1
2
3
4
5
6
R
H
E
Western Carolina
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
3
0
Michigan State
1
0
0
2
0
6
9
10
0
Photo by: Erica Lee
Softball Run Rules Western Carolina in Six
2/16/2025 4:51:00 PM | Softball
ATHENS, Ga. – After day two of the 2025 Red & Black Showcase was canceled due to inclement weather, Michigan State softball returned to the diamond at Jack Turner Softball Stadium on Sunday morning where it defeated Western Carolina by run rule in six innings, 9-1.
A win improves Michigan State's record to 3-5 on the season while Western Carolina falls to 1-6. The Spartans head south to San Antonio next week for the Roadrunner Classic hosted by the University of Texas at San Antonio. Action gets underway against host UTSA at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 20.
MSU got another gem in the circle from freshman Jacey Schuler (3-1) on Sunday, tossing the first official complete game of her career going six innings and allowing just three hits and one earned run. Schuler struck out three. On the weekend Schuler posted an impressive 1.08 ERA alongside a 0.78 WHIP over 13 innings of work.
It was a whole team offense effort by the Spartans who got hits from nine different players, including a multi-hit performance by sophomore Kendall Smiley for the second time this weekend. Senior Collette Allen, junior Kaelin Cash and Smiley all tallied extra-base hits, with Allen's fourth inning two-run homer breaking a 1-1 tie. Allen, Smiley and Schuler each recorded two RBI.
Smiley's first inning triple set herself up to score on a wild pitch one batter later giving MSU a 1-0 lead. Western Carolina struck back in the second inning however when back-to-back doubles tied the game at 1-1. Schuler struck out the final two batters of the second swinging to get out of the jam.
After a scoreless third by both teams, Michigan State got back on the board in the fourth when a single by senior Mik Anthony set up Allen for a go-ahead two run home run to right. Anthony's single extended her reached base streak to 10 games dating back to the 2024 season.
An uneventful fifth inning led to a more than eventful sixth in which MSU poured in six runs to end things by run rule.
A lead-off double by Cash and a single by sophomore Hannah Greer put runners on the corners, and an Allen walk loaded the bases for Schuler. Schuler called her own number and laced a single up the middle to bring Greer and pinch running junior Hailey Bila around to score. Allen later scored on an RBI single to center from senior Macy Lee who got the day off behind the plate.
Junior Hannah Hawley drew a walk to reach base for the second time on Sunday, which loaded the bases back up for Smiley. Hawley was one of three Spartans to draw a walk joining Allen and junior Britain Beshears. Smiley kept her impressive weekend going with a two-RBI single up the middle that scored Schuler and freshman Ava Coffinger. Over three games Smiley hit .625 (5-for-8) with a double, two triples and three RBI.
Needing just one more run to end the game leading 8-1, Beshears singled to right field scoring Hawley from second base.
It was a successful weekend for the Spartans who went 2-1, including wins over Longwood and Western Carolina. As an offense MSU hit .343 along with a .410 on-base percentage. Schuler stole the show in the circle going 2-0 while holding opposing batters to a .133 batting average.
A win improves Michigan State's record to 3-5 on the season while Western Carolina falls to 1-6. The Spartans head south to San Antonio next week for the Roadrunner Classic hosted by the University of Texas at San Antonio. Action gets underway against host UTSA at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 20.
MSU got another gem in the circle from freshman Jacey Schuler (3-1) on Sunday, tossing the first official complete game of her career going six innings and allowing just three hits and one earned run. Schuler struck out three. On the weekend Schuler posted an impressive 1.08 ERA alongside a 0.78 WHIP over 13 innings of work.
It was a whole team offense effort by the Spartans who got hits from nine different players, including a multi-hit performance by sophomore Kendall Smiley for the second time this weekend. Senior Collette Allen, junior Kaelin Cash and Smiley all tallied extra-base hits, with Allen's fourth inning two-run homer breaking a 1-1 tie. Allen, Smiley and Schuler each recorded two RBI.
Smiley's first inning triple set herself up to score on a wild pitch one batter later giving MSU a 1-0 lead. Western Carolina struck back in the second inning however when back-to-back doubles tied the game at 1-1. Schuler struck out the final two batters of the second swinging to get out of the jam.
After a scoreless third by both teams, Michigan State got back on the board in the fourth when a single by senior Mik Anthony set up Allen for a go-ahead two run home run to right. Anthony's single extended her reached base streak to 10 games dating back to the 2024 season.
An uneventful fifth inning led to a more than eventful sixth in which MSU poured in six runs to end things by run rule.
A lead-off double by Cash and a single by sophomore Hannah Greer put runners on the corners, and an Allen walk loaded the bases for Schuler. Schuler called her own number and laced a single up the middle to bring Greer and pinch running junior Hailey Bila around to score. Allen later scored on an RBI single to center from senior Macy Lee who got the day off behind the plate.
Junior Hannah Hawley drew a walk to reach base for the second time on Sunday, which loaded the bases back up for Smiley. Hawley was one of three Spartans to draw a walk joining Allen and junior Britain Beshears. Smiley kept her impressive weekend going with a two-RBI single up the middle that scored Schuler and freshman Ava Coffinger. Over three games Smiley hit .625 (5-for-8) with a double, two triples and three RBI.
Needing just one more run to end the game leading 8-1, Beshears singled to right field scoring Hawley from second base.
It was a successful weekend for the Spartans who went 2-1, including wins over Longwood and Western Carolina. As an offense MSU hit .343 along with a .410 on-base percentage. Schuler stole the show in the circle going 2-0 while holding opposing batters to a .133 batting average.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Schuler, Jacey (3-1)
L: Fulton (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Dirks 1 ; McPherson 1
RBI: McPherson 1
SH: Butler 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dirks 1
SB: Bell 1 ; Marks 1
Batting:
2B: Cash, Kaelin 1
3B: Smiley, Kendall 1
HR: Allen, Collette 1
RBI: Smiley, Kendall 2 ; Beshears, Britain 1 ; Allen, Collette 2 ; Lee , Macy 1 ; Schuler, Jacey 2
SH: Smiley, Kendall 1 ; Greer, Hannah 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hawley, Hannah 1 ; Smiley, Kendall 1 ; Bila, Hailey 1 ; Anthony, Mik 1 ; Greer, Hannah 1 ; Allen, Collette 2 ; Coffinger, Ava 1 ; Schuler, Jacey 1
SB: Coffinger, Ava 1 ; Schuler, Jacey 1
HBP: Allen, Collette 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
UTL
/ Softball
2B
/ Softball1B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball3B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
SS
/ Softball3B/C
/ Softball
P/UTL
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballA Road Less Traveled | Spartans All-Access
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Tuesday, February 11
Spartans All-Access: Jenae Wash
Thursday, April 11
Spartans All-Access: Coach Sharonda McDonald-Kelley
Thursday, April 20