EAST LANSING— Michigan State is back in action as they head down to Athens, Georgia for the Red & Black Showcase hosted by Georgia on Feb. 14-16.  

The other teams participating in Athens include No. 10 Georgia, Michigan, Western Carolina and Longwood. The Spartans are set to take on Longwood for their first game of the showcase. 

MSU will look for a bounce-back week on their road trip down south after starting the season 1-4 last week at the Candrea Classic at the University of Arizona.  

The Spartans ended last week’s Classic in the win column against Western Michigan 9-1, after dropping its first four games including an 8-0 loss in six innings to Western the game prior. Freshman pitcher Jacey Schuler earned the win and her first of the season. Giving up one run in the first inning and striking out five Broncos.  

MSU junior Britain Beshears led the team over the past weekend with 12 total bases, six RBIs and two home runs. She has a .333 batting average which is second on the team. Beshears will be the player to watch at the plate on Friday morning and for the weekend as well. 

For the Longwood Lancers, they come off a five-game weekend in the 39th Annual Louisiana Classic in Lafayette, Louisiana. They sit at 2-3 with losses against No. 1 Texas, Seton Hall and host Louisiana and with both wins against George Mason. 

MSU’s biggest challenge at the plate against Longwood will be junior Sophia Knock, who was named Preseason Big South Player of the Year. She leads in every category for the team in batting statistics including a .500 batting average, two home runs, and 14 total bases. She hit two home runs in the team’s most recent win against George Mason, including a go-ahead three run home run in the seventh inning. 

Longwood will look to make a statement in Athens. Both the Spartans and Lancers look to keep their winning ways going. 

The first pitch is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Friday at Jack Turner Softball Field in Athens, Georgia.