Friday, March 7
Oxford, Ohio
4 PM
Michigan State University
at
Miami (Ohio)
Photo by: Erica Lee
Spartan Softball Preps for Four-Game Weekend
3/5/2025 11:35:00 AM | Softball
EAST LANSING, Mich. - After a week off of competition, Michigan State softball heads to Oxford, Ohio for a pair of games against each of Miami and Northern Kentucky this weekend. Action gets underway on Friday, March 7 with a 4:00 p.m. game against Miami. Play resumes for MSU on Saturday, March 8 with 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. games against Northern Kentucky and Miami, respectively. The Spartans conclude play in Oxford with a 12:00 p.m. game against NKU on Sunday, March 9.
All games will be streamed on Chatterbox Sports (subscription required). Live stats will be provided on MiamiRedhawks.com.
It's the final non-conference tune-up for the Spartans, who head to Oklahoma City for a four-game Big Ten slate against Minnesota and Northwestern on March 13-16. Tickets are on sale now.
The Opponents
Miami is 5-13 following a 1-3 weekend in Minneapolis at the USBS Gopher Classic. The Redhawks defeated North Dakota State (9-1) but fell to St. Thomas (10-9, 10-2) and Minnesota (9-6). Miami is 0-3 against B1G opponents this season falling to Maryland and Minnesota at the Kajikawa Classic to open the season. MSU is 13-1 all-time against Miami, winning the last meeting, 12-1, in Oxford on March 16, 2019. The Spartans are 6-1 on the road against Miami in a series that dates back to 1982.
The Redhawks are led by first-year head coach Mandy Gardner-Colegate who spent the previous two seasons as the pitching coach at Iowa. Despite their record, Miami is hitting .281 as a team led by a .358 batting average from Kaylee Oh and a .357 batting average by Shelby Kunkel. Jenna Golembiewski already has six home runs to her name to lead the team, followed by five from Kunkel. Madilyn Reeves leads the Redhawks in innings pitched (57.2) posting a 5.83 ERA.
NKU is 7-8 after a 1-4 weekend at the Governors Classic hosted by Austin Peay last week. The Norse were defeated by #22 FAU (11-2, 10-1) and Austin Peay (8-0, 3-2), but took down Morehead State (10-5). MSU is 1-1 all-time against the Norse, splitting a pair of games at Texas A&M during the 2023 season. Michigan State took game one, 4-3, in eight innings before falling 3-1 in the rematch.
Northern Kentucky is led by first-year head coach Morgan Gerak, a former Northwestern Wildcat. She's assisted by former Michigan Wolverine, Lexie Blair. The Norse are led offensively by Campbell Beatty, who leads the team with a .404 batting average. Olivia Pastin is hitting .360 with a team-best 1.031 OPS, two home runs and 13 RBI. Brooklyn Ballis is the team-leader in innings (47.0) along with a 4.47 ERA in eight starts and five complete game efforts.
Stellar Schuler
Freshman Jacey Schuler has been the ace in the circle for MSU through the first three weeks of competition owning a 2.15 ERA, 4-2 record and .230 batting average against through 39.0 innings. Over her last five starts Schuler is 4-1 with a 0.87 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and a .203 batting average against in 32.1 innings of work. Schuler has thrown three complete games, including a complete game shutout over receiving votes Omaha on Feb. 23.
On Feb. 14, Schuler tied the program's freshman record for strikeouts in a game with 12 against Longwood, matching Stefanie Noffsingers mark from 1995.
Prolific Pop
Michigan State has made tremendous strides in the power-hitting department since the addition of assistant coach Bethaney Wells in 2024. MSU finished the 2024 season with the third-most single season home runs in program history (50), the most by the team since 2017 when it hit 66. The Spartans finished 2024 ranked #44 in the country in home runs per game with 0.98 (50 in 51 games).
That trend has continued in 2025 with MSU ranking #26 nationally in home runs per game with 15 in 12 games thus far. Five Spartans have multiple home runs to their name this season (Hawley, Beshears, Greer, Doloszycki, Allen). Hawley, Beshears and Greer lead the team with three each.
Helpful Smile in Every Aisle
Sophomore Kendall Smiley is the Spartans' most prolific hitter over the last seven games (two weeks of play) hitting .450 (9-for-20) with two triples, a double and five runs scored. Smiley is tied for the team lead in multi-hit performances this season with three (Kaelin Cash, 3). As a team the Spartans are hitting .306 over the past seven games due in part to Smiley's performance.
Spartans Knock Off Omaha at Roadrunner Classic
Michigan State went 1-3 at the Roadrunner Classic hosted by UTSA on Feb. 20-23, knocking of receiving votes Omaha in the weekend finale, 3-0. The Spartans were defeated by UTSA (7-4), Akron (2-1) and Incarnate Word (6-4) in close contests.
Six Spartans hit .300 or better on the weekend. Collette Allen hit .500 in limited opportunities, including a home run against the Roadrunners. Hannah Hawley, Kaelin Cash and Kendall Smiley all hit .333. Hawley posted three RBIs on the weekend with a team-best five hits, including a homer. Cash hit a solo home run against UTSA. Ava Coffinger and Jenae Wash hit .333, both going 2-for-6 in two starts apiece.
Freshman Jacey Schuler turned in another strong weekend in the circle going 1-1 in two complete games, pitching her first career complete game shutout against Omaha. Schuler posted a 0.54 ERA over 13.0 innings, striking out 8 and allowing opposing hitters to bat just .216.
All games will be streamed on Chatterbox Sports (subscription required). Live stats will be provided on MiamiRedhawks.com.
It's the final non-conference tune-up for the Spartans, who head to Oklahoma City for a four-game Big Ten slate against Minnesota and Northwestern on March 13-16. Tickets are on sale now.
The Opponents
Miami is 5-13 following a 1-3 weekend in Minneapolis at the USBS Gopher Classic. The Redhawks defeated North Dakota State (9-1) but fell to St. Thomas (10-9, 10-2) and Minnesota (9-6). Miami is 0-3 against B1G opponents this season falling to Maryland and Minnesota at the Kajikawa Classic to open the season. MSU is 13-1 all-time against Miami, winning the last meeting, 12-1, in Oxford on March 16, 2019. The Spartans are 6-1 on the road against Miami in a series that dates back to 1982.
The Redhawks are led by first-year head coach Mandy Gardner-Colegate who spent the previous two seasons as the pitching coach at Iowa. Despite their record, Miami is hitting .281 as a team led by a .358 batting average from Kaylee Oh and a .357 batting average by Shelby Kunkel. Jenna Golembiewski already has six home runs to her name to lead the team, followed by five from Kunkel. Madilyn Reeves leads the Redhawks in innings pitched (57.2) posting a 5.83 ERA.
NKU is 7-8 after a 1-4 weekend at the Governors Classic hosted by Austin Peay last week. The Norse were defeated by #22 FAU (11-2, 10-1) and Austin Peay (8-0, 3-2), but took down Morehead State (10-5). MSU is 1-1 all-time against the Norse, splitting a pair of games at Texas A&M during the 2023 season. Michigan State took game one, 4-3, in eight innings before falling 3-1 in the rematch.
Northern Kentucky is led by first-year head coach Morgan Gerak, a former Northwestern Wildcat. She's assisted by former Michigan Wolverine, Lexie Blair. The Norse are led offensively by Campbell Beatty, who leads the team with a .404 batting average. Olivia Pastin is hitting .360 with a team-best 1.031 OPS, two home runs and 13 RBI. Brooklyn Ballis is the team-leader in innings (47.0) along with a 4.47 ERA in eight starts and five complete game efforts.
Stellar Schuler
Freshman Jacey Schuler has been the ace in the circle for MSU through the first three weeks of competition owning a 2.15 ERA, 4-2 record and .230 batting average against through 39.0 innings. Over her last five starts Schuler is 4-1 with a 0.87 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and a .203 batting average against in 32.1 innings of work. Schuler has thrown three complete games, including a complete game shutout over receiving votes Omaha on Feb. 23.
On Feb. 14, Schuler tied the program's freshman record for strikeouts in a game with 12 against Longwood, matching Stefanie Noffsingers mark from 1995.
Prolific Pop
Michigan State has made tremendous strides in the power-hitting department since the addition of assistant coach Bethaney Wells in 2024. MSU finished the 2024 season with the third-most single season home runs in program history (50), the most by the team since 2017 when it hit 66. The Spartans finished 2024 ranked #44 in the country in home runs per game with 0.98 (50 in 51 games).
That trend has continued in 2025 with MSU ranking #26 nationally in home runs per game with 15 in 12 games thus far. Five Spartans have multiple home runs to their name this season (Hawley, Beshears, Greer, Doloszycki, Allen). Hawley, Beshears and Greer lead the team with three each.
Helpful Smile in Every Aisle
Sophomore Kendall Smiley is the Spartans' most prolific hitter over the last seven games (two weeks of play) hitting .450 (9-for-20) with two triples, a double and five runs scored. Smiley is tied for the team lead in multi-hit performances this season with three (Kaelin Cash, 3). As a team the Spartans are hitting .306 over the past seven games due in part to Smiley's performance.
Spartans Knock Off Omaha at Roadrunner Classic
Michigan State went 1-3 at the Roadrunner Classic hosted by UTSA on Feb. 20-23, knocking of receiving votes Omaha in the weekend finale, 3-0. The Spartans were defeated by UTSA (7-4), Akron (2-1) and Incarnate Word (6-4) in close contests.
Six Spartans hit .300 or better on the weekend. Collette Allen hit .500 in limited opportunities, including a home run against the Roadrunners. Hannah Hawley, Kaelin Cash and Kendall Smiley all hit .333. Hawley posted three RBIs on the weekend with a team-best five hits, including a homer. Cash hit a solo home run against UTSA. Ava Coffinger and Jenae Wash hit .333, both going 2-for-6 in two starts apiece.
Freshman Jacey Schuler turned in another strong weekend in the circle going 1-1 in two complete games, pitching her first career complete game shutout against Omaha. Schuler posted a 0.54 ERA over 13.0 innings, striking out 8 and allowing opposing hitters to bat just .216.
Players Mentioned
UTL
/ Softball
3B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
3B/C
/ Softball
P/UTL
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
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