Friday, February 17
Elon, N.C.
4:30 pm
Michigan State University
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Photo by: Andy Mead/YCJ
Spartans Shut Out Elon in Return to Action
2/17/2023 7:15:00 PM | Softball
ELON, N.C. – Michigan State softball returned to the diamond on Friday, Feb. 17 with a 7-0 victory over Elon at Hunt Softball Park. MSU used a pair of home runs to its advantage with freshman Mandy Esman and junior AJ Militello each hitting their first of the season over the left field fence.
With a win over the Phoenix on Friday night, Michigan State improves to 4-2 on the season.
In addition to the home runs from Esman and Militello, the Spartans got strong offensive performances from senior Kennedy Wyllie and sophomore Macy Lee. Wyllie had three hits on the night, including an RBI triple. Lee joined Wyllie and Militello with a multi-hit performance and an RBI.
Sophomore Ashley Miller earned her third win of the season in the circle, striking out 10 Elon batters in a complete game effort. It's Miller's eighth career complete game shutout and her second of the season.
As the first batter of the weekend, Esman sent the second pitch she saw over the fence down the left field line to give MSU an early advantage.
Militello boosted the Spartan lead in the top of the fourth with a towering two-run home run over the left field fence that scored freshman Hailey Bila who pinch ran for Wyllie.
Wyllie's stand-up triple in the fifth inning provided Michigan State with a four-run cushion. Senior Jessica Mabrey extended the inning with an RBI single to right that plated Wyllie. A single through the left side of the infield by Lee pushed Mabrey across home for the Spartans' third run of the frame.
Senior Kendall Kates used an infield grounder to drive in junior Collette Allen from third in the sixth inning. Allen doubled earlier in the inning in her first Spartan and NCAA Division I at-bat.
Up Next: The Spartans return to action on Saturday, Feb. 18 for a pair of games against Fordham and Saint Francis at the Elon Phoenix Invitational. Michigan State will face Fordham first at 9:30 a.m. before meeting Saint Francis at 5:00 p.m.
With a win over the Phoenix on Friday night, Michigan State improves to 4-2 on the season.
In addition to the home runs from Esman and Militello, the Spartans got strong offensive performances from senior Kennedy Wyllie and sophomore Macy Lee. Wyllie had three hits on the night, including an RBI triple. Lee joined Wyllie and Militello with a multi-hit performance and an RBI.
Sophomore Ashley Miller earned her third win of the season in the circle, striking out 10 Elon batters in a complete game effort. It's Miller's eighth career complete game shutout and her second of the season.
As the first batter of the weekend, Esman sent the second pitch she saw over the fence down the left field line to give MSU an early advantage.
Militello boosted the Spartan lead in the top of the fourth with a towering two-run home run over the left field fence that scored freshman Hailey Bila who pinch ran for Wyllie.
Wyllie's stand-up triple in the fifth inning provided Michigan State with a four-run cushion. Senior Jessica Mabrey extended the inning with an RBI single to right that plated Wyllie. A single through the left side of the infield by Lee pushed Mabrey across home for the Spartans' third run of the frame.
Senior Kendall Kates used an infield grounder to drive in junior Collette Allen from third in the sixth inning. Allen doubled earlier in the inning in her first Spartan and NCAA Division I at-bat.
Up Next: The Spartans return to action on Saturday, Feb. 18 for a pair of games against Fordham and Saint Francis at the Elon Phoenix Invitational. Michigan State will face Fordham first at 9:30 a.m. before meeting Saint Francis at 5:00 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Miller, Ashley (3-2)
L: Cherry, Taylor (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Allen, Collette 1
3B: Wyllie, Kennedy 1
HR: Esman, Mandy 1 ; Militello, AJ 1
RBI: Esman, Mandy 1 ; Kates, Kendall 1 ; Wyllie, Kennedy 1 ; Mabrey, Jessica 1 ; Militello, AJ 2 ; Lee , Macy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Esman, Mandy 1 ; Dumas, Zaquai 1 ; Wyllie, Kennedy 1 ; Bila, Hailey 1 ; Mabrey, Jessica 1 ; Militello, AJ 1 ; Allen, Collette 1
SB: Mabrey, Jessica 1 ; Fox, Anna 1
HBP: Mabrey, Jessica 1
Base Running:
SB: Seering, Allee 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
1B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball2B
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballC
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