EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State softball will celebrate its six-person senior class following Sunday's game as the Spartans prepare to host Rutgers for MSU's final B1G home series of the season on April 26-28 at Secchia Stadium. Game one of the three-game series is set for 3:00 p.m. on Friday, April 26.
All games will be streamed live via B1G+. Fans can listen in on the action via the Spartan Media Network on MSUSpartans.com.
Among those seniors to be honored prior to Sunday's 1:00 p.m. game include AJ Militello, Anna Fox, Liv Grey, Jenae Wash, Alexis Ross and Ashlyn Roberts.
ABOUT RUTGERS
Rutgers is 29-19 overall and 10-7 in B1G play this season. The Scarlet Knights rank No. 90 in the latest NCAA RPI with their best win coming against Nebraska (9-3).
Rutgers ranks #58 nationally in batting average (.299), #85 in ERA (3.06), #137 in fielding (.963), #59 in home runs per game (.90), #44 in OBP (.389), #22 in scoring (6.21) and #61 in SLG (.464).
Morgan Smith plays both ways with a 3.59 ERA in 113.0 innings pitched. Smith is dangerous with the bat, ranking #35 nationally in average (.422), #28 in hits (62), #4 in home runs (19), #65 in OBP (.489), #3 in RBI (64) and #6 in SLG (.925). Smith has walked 25 times with just 10 strikeouts.
Mattison Boyd leads the B1G in starts (24) and complete games (17), while ranking #3 in ERA (2.19), #1 in innings (156.1) and #7 in strikeouts (134). Opponents hit .211 against her.
Kyleigh Sand is #58 nationally in average (.409), #13 in hits (65), #53 in OBP (.495) and #10 in runs per game (1.17). Sand has drawn 29 walks to just eight strikeouts. Katie Wingert has hit 12 home runs this season (4 in B1G play).
SPARTANS TAKE ONE AGAINST ILLINOIS
Michigan State went 1-2 against Illinois over the weekend, taking game two of the series in dramatic fashion, 6-5.
MSU's offense hit .284 over the weekend led by junior Mik Anthony who hit .750 (3-for-4) with a pair of walks to reach base at a .833 clip. Sophomore Britain Beshears hit .500 with two homers and a team-high six RBI.
Sophomore Hannah Hawley hit .429 with three hits, three walks and two hit by pitches. Senior Jenae Wash hit .375 and homered. Sophomore Sydney Doloszycki hit an even .300 and tripled twice.
Junior Madison Taylor led the pitching staff with a 3.71 ERA over 11.1 innings. Opponents hit .261 against her in her two appearances.
PLAYOFF PICTURE
The 2024 B1G Softball Tournament is being hosted at Iowa this season, May 8-11.
12 of the 14 teams in the B1G make the tournament. Michigan State is fighting for a spot in the tournament over the final three weeks of the season with a 3-14 record in conference play.
Team Conference Record
#11 Illinois 5-11
#12 Iowa 4-13
Maryland 4-13
MSU 3-14
Release courtesy of MSU Athletics.
All games will be streamed live via B1G+. Fans can listen in on the action via the Spartan Media Network on MSUSpartans.com.
Among those seniors to be honored prior to Sunday's 1:00 p.m. game include AJ Militello, Anna Fox, Liv Grey, Jenae Wash, Alexis Ross and Ashlyn Roberts.
ABOUT RUTGERS
Rutgers is 29-19 overall and 10-7 in B1G play this season. The Scarlet Knights rank No. 90 in the latest NCAA RPI with their best win coming against Nebraska (9-3).
Rutgers ranks #58 nationally in batting average (.299), #85 in ERA (3.06), #137 in fielding (.963), #59 in home runs per game (.90), #44 in OBP (.389), #22 in scoring (6.21) and #61 in SLG (.464).
Morgan Smith plays both ways with a 3.59 ERA in 113.0 innings pitched. Smith is dangerous with the bat, ranking #35 nationally in average (.422), #28 in hits (62), #4 in home runs (19), #65 in OBP (.489), #3 in RBI (64) and #6 in SLG (.925). Smith has walked 25 times with just 10 strikeouts.
Mattison Boyd leads the B1G in starts (24) and complete games (17), while ranking #3 in ERA (2.19), #1 in innings (156.1) and #7 in strikeouts (134). Opponents hit .211 against her.
Kyleigh Sand is #58 nationally in average (.409), #13 in hits (65), #53 in OBP (.495) and #10 in runs per game (1.17). Sand has drawn 29 walks to just eight strikeouts. Katie Wingert has hit 12 home runs this season (4 in B1G play).
SPARTANS TAKE ONE AGAINST ILLINOIS
Michigan State went 1-2 against Illinois over the weekend, taking game two of the series in dramatic fashion, 6-5.
MSU's offense hit .284 over the weekend led by junior Mik Anthony who hit .750 (3-for-4) with a pair of walks to reach base at a .833 clip. Sophomore Britain Beshears hit .500 with two homers and a team-high six RBI.
Sophomore Hannah Hawley hit .429 with three hits, three walks and two hit by pitches. Senior Jenae Wash hit .375 and homered. Sophomore Sydney Doloszycki hit an even .300 and tripled twice.
Junior Madison Taylor led the pitching staff with a 3.71 ERA over 11.1 innings. Opponents hit .261 against her in her two appearances.
PLAYOFF PICTURE
The 2024 B1G Softball Tournament is being hosted at Iowa this season, May 8-11.
12 of the 14 teams in the B1G make the tournament. Michigan State is fighting for a spot in the tournament over the final three weeks of the season with a 3-14 record in conference play.
Team Conference Record
#11 Illinois 5-11
#12 Iowa 4-13
Maryland 4-13
MSU 3-14
Release courtesy of MSU Athletics.
