Northwestern Takes Game One of Three-Game Set

Friday, April 17

7 PM CT/6 PM CT

Michigan State University

15-26, 2-13

Northwestern

21-19, 9-7

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Michigan State	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2
Northwestern	2	5	1	2	X	10	8	1

4/17/2026 8:57:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State dropped its first game of a three-game B1G road series at Northwestern on Friday, falling 10-0 at The Ball Park at Rosemont. Michigan State falls to 15-26 (2-14 B1G) on the season, while Northwestern moves to 21-19 (9-7 B1G).

Marina Mason earned the win in the circle for the Wildcats, claiming her eleventh win of the season, while starter Alex Starr was tabbed with the loss, her third of the year.

Kendall Smiley led the Spartan offense going 1-for-2, while Zoie Bernard, Britain Beshears and Hannah Hawley each reached base for the Green & White.

The Spartans loaded the bases in the top of the first inning when Beshears reached base on a walk, advancing Hawley Hawley (who reached on a hit-by-pitch) to second, and Bernard (who reached on a fielding error) over to third base. Smiley battled in a full count at-bat and eventually grounded into a fielder's choice back at the pitcher, who fired a throw home to get the force out at the plate and end the inning.

Northwestern scored two runs in the bottom of the first and then added five runs to the ledger in the bottom of the second to inflate the lead. In the bottom of the third, Northwestern would push across one, and finished off its scoring with two runs in the bottom of the fourth.

Smiley singled in the fourth as she looked to spark a late rally, but Kirsten Caravaca and Hannah Greer were denied base hits on consecutive diving-catch line-drive outs to end the top of the fourth.

The teams meet again on Saturday afternoon in a 2 pm ET (1 pm CT) first pitch .