Offense propels Spartans past Badgers in Doubleheader Game 2

EAST LANSING, Michigan — Michigan State Softball split Friday’s B1G opener against Wisconsin, beating the Badgers in Game 2, 8-3, after losing Game 1 by a score 5-3 final at the Secchia stadium.

The Spartans go 10-13 overall at 1-1 in Big Ten action to start conference play.

First game

Spartan Stats
Sophomore Faith Guidry (2-3) made the start for Michigan State in Game 1, pitching her third straight full game of the season. Guidry allowed three earned runs (five total) on seven hits and four walks, gaining plenty of soft contact to limit the scoring despite 13 baserunners reaching.

Fifth-year Jessica Mabrey, sophomore Macy Lee and junior AJ Militello each had multi-hit games for the Spartans in Game 1, with Lee leading the offense with a pair of RBIs. Mabrey netted one for the Spartans with a pair of doubles.

Scoring Summary
MSU opened the scoring in the first inning when Lee tackled Mabrey on a short infield single. Wisconsin went on to score five unanswered runs, but starting in the third inning when Skylar Sirdashney scored on a double steal.

The Badgers extended their lead with Sirdashney’s two-run homer in fifth, as well as Rylie Crane’s single down the left-field line that scored a pair.

Michigan State looked to cut Wisconsin’s lead to the fifth when Mabrey and Lee each recorded RBI base hits.

second game

Spartan Stats
Sophomore Madison Taylor (2-3) tied the circle for Michigan State, allowing three earned runs in five innings of work. Taylor allowed five hits and two walks to Badger’s batters. Guidry came into the game in relief throwing a scoreless pair of innings to earn her first save of the season.

Four Spartans had two-hit performances with rookie Mandy Esman, junior Alexis Barroso, Lee and Militello each hitting twice for MSU. Esman scored twice with a pair of doubles, Militello had a hat-trick and Barroso hit his first home run of the season in the fifth inning. Lee, Esman and Barroso all finished Game 2 with a pair of RBIs.

Scoring Summary
Michigan State opened the scoring again in the first inning, taking a 2-0 lead over the Badgers after a pair of two-out RBIs by Esman and Barroso. MSU’s lead doubled in the third when Esman and Barroso again did the heavy lifting for the Spartans. Esman’s double on the left scored junior Collette Allen and Barroso reached on an error that scored Esman.

Wisconsin took the lead from Michigan State with a fourth inning three-run that saw Kayla Konwent hit a ball into the Red Cedar River in center field. Christaana Angelopulos threw a pair on a single to cross later in the inning.

The Spartans clawed back a run in the fourth to lead 5-3 when Mabrey put a ball into Wisconsin third baseman’s five holes to score Militello from third.

Barroso’s first home run of the season was deep in the left field line and provided the Spartans with extra cushion heading into the final innings.

Lee continued his stellar day for MSU with a two-RBI double from the left-field line in the sixth to give Michigan State an 8-3 advantage.

Following
Michigan State will wrap up its series against the Badgers on Sunday, March 26. The first pitch from the Secchia stadium is tentatively set for 1:00 p.m.

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