Michigan State roundup: Softball tops Toledo in home return

In Michigan State's return to Secchia Stadium after a 17-day absence due to flooding, the Spartans took a 13-7 win over Toledo on a rainy Wednesday afternoon.

MSU is now 5-0 at home this season.

Ebonee Echols had her first career two-double game (her sixth and seventh of the season) and Kaitlyn Eveland went 4-for-4 with five RBI to help the Spartans (22-17) snap a five-game skid. Jordan Watson tossed her first career complete game, surrendering nine hits and striking out three in improving to 6-3 on the year.

MSU had four players attain career bests - in addition to Echols, Eveland established new career highs in hits (4) and RBI (5), Kelly Zackrison had a career-best three hits, and redshirt junior Lindsey Besson was hit three times in the batter's box, tying the school record set by Sandy Lewis on March 2, 2002, against North Carolina.

On Tuesday, the Spartans lost to No. 19 Michigan 3-1 in Ann Arbor. 

Michigan opened up a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth on a fielder's choice and an error, and MSU got a single from McKenzie Long in the top of the fifth to immediately cut the deficit in half. A pair of errors led to a third UM run in the fifth for the Wolverines to re-establish the two-run advantage.

Both teams left double-digit runners - the Spartans stranded 11, while MSU's pitchers left 10 Wolverine batters.

Long had two hits for the Spartans. Bridgette Rainey turned in a strong relief effort, going 2 2/3 innings and allowing just two hits and one unearned run, striking out four. Starter Kristina Zalewski took the loss (2-6) after allowing five hits and two runs (one earned) in 3 1/3 innings.

WOMEN'S GOLF

Burnham named Big Ten Golfer of the Week

Michigan State junior Sarah Burnham has been named the Big Ten Golfer of the Week, announced by the conference office on Wednesday.

Burnham finished second at the Lady Buckeye Invitational last weekend as the Spartans won the team title.

Burnham fired a three-round total of 218 (72-73-73) to finish 2-over-par and second overall in the 75-player field at Ohio State’s Scarlet Course. The second-place finish was the second for Burnham this season.

The Spartans’ team title was their first of the season and first since 2014.

It marks the fourth time in her career Burnham has been named Big Ten Golfer of the Week and second this season as she garnered the honor Sept. 29, 2016, after finishing as the runner-up at the Mary Fossum Invitational.

WOMEN'S SOCCER

Spartans to host Mexico U20 national team in exhibition

The Michigan State women’s soccer team will host the Mexico U20 National Team in an exhibition spring game at DeMartin Stadium at 1:30 p.m. Friday.

Admission to the game is free and the spectators should park in the public pay lots throughout campus.

Last year, the two teams met for a fundraising match at the Hope Soccer Complex. The match ended in a 1-1 draw and Kristelle Yewah netted the lone Spartan goal.

Michigan State wraps up its slate of exhibition games Sunday when it travels to Toledo for a 1 p.m. match at the Scott Park Complex.

WRESTLING

Ex-MSU wrestler Bradley inducted into hall of fame

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Former Michigan State wrestler Mike Bradley will be inducted into the Michigan Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Bradley will be receiving the Lifetime Service Award.

Bradley is one of nine inductees for this year’s awards banquet which will be held Sunday, May 21 at Weber’s Inn in Ann Arbor. The luncheon will begin at 1 p.m. with the awards ceremony beginning at 2 p.m.

A native of Ypsilanti, Michigan, Bradley was a two-time Michigan High School Athletic Association state champion wrestler, as well as an all-state football player at Ypsilanti High School from 1962-64, before coming to Michigan State.

As a Spartan wrestler, Bradley was an All-American at 177 pounds in 1967 as the NCAA runner-up and was a three-time Big Ten champion at 177 pounds from 1966-68, finishing his MSU career with a 55-7 record. He was also the 1967 Midlands Champion and wrestled at the 1968 East/West All-Star Dual meet. Bradley is also a member of the Michigan State Wrestling Alumni Association.

In 1971, Bradley was an alternate on the United States Pan-American Games squad, before finishing second at the 1972 U.S. Olympic Trials. Bradley was the World Team Trials Champion and finished fifth at the World Games in Moscow.

In addition to wrestling as a Spartan, Bradley was also on the 1966 MSU football team, playing offensive line for the 1966 Big Ten and national champion Spartans.

After his time at MSU, Bradley became a teacher and wrestling coach at Ypsilanti High School from 1969-79, before becoming a graduate assistant coach for Michigan State. In 1980, Bradley was head coach at Lincoln University in Missouri, where he coached for two seasons before returning to Michigan to be an assistant coach at Eastern Michigan from 1982-1993. Bradley then became assistant coach at Pinkney High School from 1994-99.

Additionally, Bradley has been involved with Washtenaw Family Courts Programs from 1990-2010, as well as remaining active with local and state wrestling programs.

Fans interested in attending the banquet can contact Mike DeGain of the Michigan Chapter NWHOF at 586-489-7164 or Ggrappler@aol.com.

- MSU Athletic Communications