EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State softball will conclude its regular season in Bloomington, Indiana this weekend with a three-game series against the Indiana Hoosiers at Andy Mohr Field. MSU opens the weekend on Friday, May 5, taking on the Hoosiers at 6:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday's games will be streamed live on B1G+, while Sunday's game will be broadcast nationally on BTN. Sloane Martin (play-by-play) and Elise Menaker (analyst) will be featured on Sunday's broadcast. Links to live stats and streaming available here.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (subject to change)
Friday, May 5
at Indiana – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 6
at Indiana – 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 7
at Indiana – 12:00 p.m.
ABOUT INDIANA
Indiana enters the weekend at 37-15, the most wins by a Hoosier team since the 2011 squad went 37-18. The Hoosiers have a chance to share the Big Ten regular season title with a sweep and an 0-3 weekend by Northwestern. Indiana ranks No. 31 in the most recent NCAA RPI.
The Hoosiers boast one of the most potent offenses in the country ranking No. 17 in batting average (.320), No. 5 in doubles (86), No. 11 in home runs per game (1.33), No. 6 in on-base percentage (.428), No. 6 in scoring (6.87), No. 6 in slugging percentage (.557) and No. 11 in walks (185).
As a freshman, Teryn Kern is one of the best players in the country ranking No. 30 in batting average (.423), No. 1 in home runs (21), No. 4 in on-base percentage (.595), No. 4 in RBIs (62), No. 4 in slugging percentage (.992) and No. 4 in total bases (129).
As a team Indiana has six players hitting .330 or better, including two hitting over .400 as the season comes to a close. Taylor Minnick is second on the team in batting at .403, while Sarah Stone is second on the team in RBIs with 56. Five Hoosier starters boast an OPS over 1.000.
Brianna Copeland leads the Hoosier pitching staff with a 3.10 ERA over 131.0 innings pitched. Copeland owns a 1.37 WHIP as opponents are hitting .264 against her thus far. The offense has helped Copeland out to the tune of an 18-2 record while she's in the circle.
Heather Johnson is second on the team in innings pitched (98.1) and ERA (3.49), while Macy Montgomery is the third starter racking up 67.0 innings of work to the tune of a 4.91 ERA.
Michigan State is 57-74 all-time against the Hoosiers and 26-32 when playing in Bloomington. The Spartans are 1-9 against Indiana in the last 10 meetings, but won the most recent contest on May 2, 2021 by a final score of 2-0. All 10 of those most recent meetings were against current IU head coach Shonda Stanton.
Two first innings runs were scored on an error in the last MSU/IU contest leading to Michigan State's 2-0 victory. Current Spartans Alexis Barroso and Kennedy Wyllie combined for three hits in that game with Wyllie going 2-for-3 at the dish. Junior pitcher Ashley Miller earned the win in the circle pitching 5.2 innings of relief allowing four hits and striking out four in a combined shutout.
GUIDRY SPINS NO HITTER
Sophomore Faith Guidry tossed the 24th no hitter in program history on Saturday, April 29 in Michigan State's 4-0 win over Purdue in game two of a three-game series. Guidry became the 18th different pitcher to throw a no hitter in the Green & White and is the first Spartan to hold an opponent hitless since junior Ashley Miller did it last season against Akron on Feb. 13, 2022. Senior Kendall Kates was the catcher behind the plate during both of those outings.
Guidry struck out five Purdue batters to tie her season-high in punch-outs, walking two and allowing one runner on due to an error to closely miss the perfect game bid. Guidry now has eight complete games and two shutouts on the season after having never pitched a complete game in her collegiate career previously. It was the fifth time Purdue had been no hit in 2023.
ESMAN STAYS HOT
Over the last 10 games, freshmen Mandy Esman has been on a roll hitting a team-best .387 (12-for-31) with four doubles. Esman has been one of Michigan State's best hitters during Big Ten play hitting .288 in 20 conference games. Esman's four extra-base hits are tied for the team-best over that stretch.
B1G TOURNAMENT SCENARIOS
Michigan State needs to go 3-0 against Indiana this weekend for a chance at making the 2023 B1G Tournament.
The Spartans would need help however, needing Illinois to go 0-3 and Purdue to go 1-2 or worse this weekend.
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Friday and Saturday's games will be streamed live on B1G+, while Sunday's game will be broadcast nationally on BTN. Sloane Martin (play-by-play) and Elise Menaker (analyst) will be featured on Sunday's broadcast. Links to live stats and streaming available here.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (subject to change)
Friday, May 5
at Indiana – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 6
at Indiana – 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 7
at Indiana – 12:00 p.m.
ABOUT INDIANA
Indiana enters the weekend at 37-15, the most wins by a Hoosier team since the 2011 squad went 37-18. The Hoosiers have a chance to share the Big Ten regular season title with a sweep and an 0-3 weekend by Northwestern. Indiana ranks No. 31 in the most recent NCAA RPI.
The Hoosiers boast one of the most potent offenses in the country ranking No. 17 in batting average (.320), No. 5 in doubles (86), No. 11 in home runs per game (1.33), No. 6 in on-base percentage (.428), No. 6 in scoring (6.87), No. 6 in slugging percentage (.557) and No. 11 in walks (185).
As a freshman, Teryn Kern is one of the best players in the country ranking No. 30 in batting average (.423), No. 1 in home runs (21), No. 4 in on-base percentage (.595), No. 4 in RBIs (62), No. 4 in slugging percentage (.992) and No. 4 in total bases (129).
As a team Indiana has six players hitting .330 or better, including two hitting over .400 as the season comes to a close. Taylor Minnick is second on the team in batting at .403, while Sarah Stone is second on the team in RBIs with 56. Five Hoosier starters boast an OPS over 1.000.
Brianna Copeland leads the Hoosier pitching staff with a 3.10 ERA over 131.0 innings pitched. Copeland owns a 1.37 WHIP as opponents are hitting .264 against her thus far. The offense has helped Copeland out to the tune of an 18-2 record while she's in the circle.
Heather Johnson is second on the team in innings pitched (98.1) and ERA (3.49), while Macy Montgomery is the third starter racking up 67.0 innings of work to the tune of a 4.91 ERA.
Michigan State is 57-74 all-time against the Hoosiers and 26-32 when playing in Bloomington. The Spartans are 1-9 against Indiana in the last 10 meetings, but won the most recent contest on May 2, 2021 by a final score of 2-0. All 10 of those most recent meetings were against current IU head coach Shonda Stanton.
Two first innings runs were scored on an error in the last MSU/IU contest leading to Michigan State's 2-0 victory. Current Spartans Alexis Barroso and Kennedy Wyllie combined for three hits in that game with Wyllie going 2-for-3 at the dish. Junior pitcher Ashley Miller earned the win in the circle pitching 5.2 innings of relief allowing four hits and striking out four in a combined shutout.
GUIDRY SPINS NO HITTER
Sophomore Faith Guidry tossed the 24th no hitter in program history on Saturday, April 29 in Michigan State's 4-0 win over Purdue in game two of a three-game series. Guidry became the 18th different pitcher to throw a no hitter in the Green & White and is the first Spartan to hold an opponent hitless since junior Ashley Miller did it last season against Akron on Feb. 13, 2022. Senior Kendall Kates was the catcher behind the plate during both of those outings.
Guidry struck out five Purdue batters to tie her season-high in punch-outs, walking two and allowing one runner on due to an error to closely miss the perfect game bid. Guidry now has eight complete games and two shutouts on the season after having never pitched a complete game in her collegiate career previously. It was the fifth time Purdue had been no hit in 2023.
ESMAN STAYS HOT
Over the last 10 games, freshmen Mandy Esman has been on a roll hitting a team-best .387 (12-for-31) with four doubles. Esman has been one of Michigan State's best hitters during Big Ten play hitting .288 in 20 conference games. Esman's four extra-base hits are tied for the team-best over that stretch.
B1G TOURNAMENT SCENARIOS
Michigan State needs to go 3-0 against Indiana this weekend for a chance at making the 2023 B1G Tournament.
The Spartans would need help however, needing Illinois to go 0-3 and Purdue to go 1-2 or worse this weekend.
Softball to Wrap Regular Season at Indiana - Michigan State University Athletics
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State softball will conclude its regular season in Bloomington, Indiana this weekend with a three-game series against the Indiana
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