Michigan State University
Southern Illinois
Green And White Drop Two At NFCA Leadoff Classic
2/24/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 24, 2006
COLUMBUS, Ga. -
Michigan State vs. SIU Box Score
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Despite a complete game from pitcher Rachel Turney, the Spartans (4-2) dropped consecutive games to No. 12 Georgia and Southern Illinois, Friday afternoon at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga. Traci Nicosia led the Spartans in game one, going 2-4 at the plate scoring one run, while Nicole Mercado led the way with two hits and two runs in the late day match-up with SIU. MSU continues action Saturday morning at 10 a.m. vs. Seton Hall.
A Nicole Mercado single would start the Spartan offense in the top of the first vs. the No. 12 Georgia Bulldogs. Mercado would advance to second on a groundout to the second baseman by Traci Nicosia and score State's first run of the day on a throwing error by the Bulldog third baseman. Georgia would test MSU pitching ace Rachel Turney in the bottom of the first, as Kellie Middleton began the inning with a double to right centerfield. UGA would sac bunt the runner to third before Turney would post her first strikeout of the afternoon, and force a groundout ending the Bulldog threat.
MSU would threaten again in the bottom of the second as a Meghan Darhower single and Caitlin Mahoney double would put runners on second and third. After a Kara Weigle groundout and Nikki Nicosia walk, Green and White right fielder Nicole Mercado would step to the plate with the bases loaded where she would send a high fly ball to leftfield ending the Spartan threat.
The Bulldogs would score their first run to take the lead in the bottom of the second inning, when pitcher Kasi Carroll would help her own cause, knocking an RBI single to score Georgia's first run. The scoring continued in the second, when Bulldog leftfielder Courtney Knight hit a two-RBI triple extending the lead to 3-1. Traci Nicosia would single to center in the Spartan top of the third, followed by an Elizabeth Peterson double as MSU would again have runners on second and third. Gina Mondo would take first on a fielder's choice as Nicosia would score to near the lead at 3-2. Darhower would send a high fly ball to left field, scoring Peterson to even the score at 3-3.
State would again threaten the Bulldog defense in the top of the fifth. MSU found the bases loaded after a Feenstra single, Peterson hit-by-pitch and Mondo single. Darhower would step to the plate and take a pitch off the hands, scoring pinch runner Megan Hair from third, as the Spartans re-took the lead at 4-3. Georgia would go down 1-2-3 in both the fourth and fifth innings, as Turney would hold the Spartan lead.
Georgia would hold the Green and White bats silent in the top of the sixth, however an Ashley Godfrey single and RBI would again tied the score at 4-4. A Peterson foul-out, and strikeouts from Mondo and Mahoney in the top of the seventh, would give Turney the ball for the Bulldog part of the seventh. A groundout and bunt by the UGA offense, followed by a Turney strikeout forcing the game into extra innings.
With Caitlin Mahoney on second in the international tie breaker rule situation, MSU was unable to gain ground, as the Bulldogs would take the field in the bottom of the eighth. With UGA's Cantillo on second, a McCallister bunt and Spartan throwing error, would score Cantillo giving the Bulldogs the extra inning victory.
Offensively for State in the first match up of the day, Traci Nicosia went 2-4 at the plate scoring one run, while Meghan Darhower added two RBI. Turney allowed six hits, walking two batters.
State continued afternoon play against Southern Illinois, who entered the weekend receiving votes in the most recent ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 Poll. Freshman pitcher Megan Hair took the mound for the Spartans in game two, holding the Salukis' bats silent through the top of the third inning after four consecutive strikeouts, and a Jayme Wamsley groundout to third.
The Spartans made a mark on the scoreboard first, when Nicole Mercado would double to begin the bottom half of the fourth. Peterson would add her second hit of the game, scoring Mercado as MSU took the 1-0 advantage. Mahoney would single advancing Peterson to second, however the Salukis' would get their second out of the inning, a force at third after Feenstra reached on a fielder's choice.
Hair would hit two straight Salukis batters in the top of the sixth, followed by a Becky Wegmann single scoring Tiffanie Dismore to even the contest at 1-1. After an error by the Spartan infield, Wegmann would advance to third, as another Salukis baserunner would cross the plate. After a Katie Wagner double would add two more runs to the SIU lead, a Crystal Stein double would score Wagner extending the advantage to 5-1.
Mercado would double in the bottom of the sixth, as MSU looked to rally for the come-from-behind victory. State's Traci Nicosia would send a ground ball to right field before an error by the SIU first baseman would advance Nicosia to second and score Mercado. Mahoney would single scoring Nicosia as State neared the score at 5-3. A Feenstra lineout and Mahoney pickoff at first would end the Spartan threat, as MSU entered the seventh inning down 5-3.
SIU would continue the offensive tear in the top of the seventh after loading the bases against Spartan reliever Rachel Turney. Southern would land a single in the centerfield grass, adding another run to its lead.
State entered the bottom of the seventh needing three runs to force extra innings, however the SIU defense was able to hold its lead, as the Salukis took the 6-3 win.
"I was very disappointed with our mental preparation for our games today," Spartan head coach Jacquie Joseph said. "We need to regain our focus and prepare very well for our games tomorrow."
For the Spartans in game two, Nicole Mercado tallied two runs and two hits in three at bats, while leftfielder Elizabeth Peterson added two hits at the plate. Hair allowed eight hits, walking one batter with five strikeouts in her second appearance of 2006.
The Spartans continue action at the NFCA Leadoff Classic tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. vs. Seton Hall.
