EAST LANSING, Mich. – Rutgers softball took the first two games of the series but the host Michigan State Spartans took the finale, 4-1, on Sunday afternoon at Secchia Stadium.

The loss dropped RU to 31-20 and 12-8 in Big Ten action.

Katie Wingert became Rutgers' career RBI leader in knocking in the Scarlet Knights' lone run of the contest.

 

Michigan State 4, Rutgers 1

• Katie Wingert collected her 146th career RBI to surpass Sharron Morris (1993-96) as the Scarlet Knight career leader in runs batted in. It marks Wingert's second career record having captured the home run record with her 41st career home run back on April 12 against Nebraska.
• Kyleigh Sand scored the run and finished the day 2-for-4.
• Mattie Boyd fell to 18-8 on the year tossing 2.1 innings allowing four hits and one strikeout. Morgan Smith threw the final 3.2 innings giving up four hits and no earned runs while striking out three.

• Michigan State held a 3-0 lead after three complete innings. The Spartans added a run in the first with Mik Anthony walking with the bases loaded. Alexis Ross reached on a bunt in the second and made her way to third with a pair of stolen bases before scoring on a Hannah Hawley sac fly to center. Britain Beshears notched a solo home run in the third.
• Rutgers kept the Spartans off the board in the fourth and fifth while both squads posted runs in the sixth.
• Kyleigh Sand reached on a bunt and scored RU's lone run of the contest. Sand came across home plate as Katie Wingert dropped the ball into shallow left-center to become RU's career RBI leader.
• The Spartans added its run off an infield miscue allowing Anna Fox to score from second base.
• Rutgers had an opportunity to tie the game in the top of the seventh as they loaded the bases with two outs. The Scarlet Knights had the go-ahead run at bat but MSU first baseman Beshears made a diving catch at first for the game.

• Rutgers went 2-1 agains the Spartans marking the fifth series win of the season along with Minnesota, Maryland, Wisconsin and Ohio State. The Scarlet Knights posted back-to-back 30-win seasons for the first time in program history in Friday's 3-0 victory and its 9-4 victory on Saturday gave RU the most Big Ten wins in school history with 12.  
• Leilani Chavez went 3-for-7 with a pair of runs scored.
• Kyleigh Sand hit .417 going 5-for-12 with her second home run of the season and four runs scored. In Saturday's win she became the single season runs scored leader and is now two runs away from becoming RU's career runs leader.
• Jillian Anderson posted a pair of RBIs going 3-for-8 during the series.
• Morgan Smith appeared inside the circle in all three contests registering a 0.66 ERA with a 1-0 record in 10.2 innings pitched. She gave up seven hits, only one earned run and struck out 10 while holding the Spartans to a .184 batting average. At the plate, she hit .300 with a double and RBI.

• Rutgers softball finishes out the regular season next weekend at home. The Scarlet Knights welcome Penn State on May 3-5 at the RU Softball Complex. Admission to all games at the Rutgers Softball Complex is free. Fans can click here to register for parking.