EAST LANSING-Michigan State softball returns to East Lansing as they host their home opener against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies Tuesday night.
The Spartans are looking to improve their fortunes, as they currently sit at 8-12 on the year and 1-3 in conference play. Their last series was a sweep at the hands of Northwestern in Oklahoma City.
Freshman outfielder Ava Coffinger leads all qualified hitters with a .346 batting average, while junior third baseman Hannah Hawley leads the Spartans in home runs with five.
Hawley also leads the team in hits with 20 and shares the lead for most runs scored. Hawley, junior outfielder Sydney Doloszycki, and junior first baseman Britain Beshears lead the team with 13 runs scored.
Hawley also leads the Spartans with a 1.124 OPS, so Hawley has been a huge contributor at the plate for the Spartans so far.
On the mound, it’s been freshman pitcher Jacey Schuler who has been the backbone of the Spartans pitching staff so far.
Schuler leads all qualified pitchers with a 3.00 ERA, while also leading the team in strikeouts with 51. Schuler also leads the team in wins with five and has thrown three complete games this season. Schuler has been impressive, but the Spartans will need the rest of the pitching staff to step up.
It’s been a difficult start for Oakland, as they come into this matchup with a 6-13 record and sit at 1-2 in conference play. The Golden Grizzlies lost two out of three to Robert Morris in their previous series and look to turn their fortunes around.
Senior utility player Madi Herrington leads all qualified hitters on the team with a .298 batting average and an OPS of .830. Herrington also leads Oakland in RBI with nine. Sophomore outfielder Brooklyn Plitz leads the team with 15 hits, while also leading the Golden Grizzlies with nine runs scored.
On the mound, it’s been a struggle for Oakland. Sophomore pitcher Alyssa Balcom leads the pitching staff with a 4.12 ERA, while also racking up four wins to lead the team. Freshman Kenna Bommarito leads the Golden Grizzlies with 36 strikeouts, and also has two saves, the most of anybody on the team. Balcolm and Bommarito have also each thrown two complete games to lead Oakland.
First pitch is set for 5 p.m. Tuesday at Secchia Stadium, and the game will be streamed on BIG+.
