Michigan State University
Wright State
Spartans Split In Final Day At IU Softball Classic
3/26/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 26, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Spartan softball team concluded action at the IU Softball Classic Sunday afternoon, falling 4-2 to Western Kentucky, followed by a 5-1 victory over Wright State. State improved its record to 18-9, while pitcher Rachel Turney pitched her team-leading 11th complete game of the season, en route to the 5-1 win over WSU. Gina Mondo led the Spartan offense with two hits, including her second home run of the season, adding two RBI in the loss to WKU. Kara Weigle and Caitlin Mahoney paced MSU at the plate vs. the Raiders, each adding one double and one RBI in the win.
Hilltopper pitcher Adrienne Lathrop held MSU scoreless through the first six innings, before a Dayna Feenstra double began the MSU half of the seventh. With two outs, and pinch runner Abby Lincoln on second, Mondo would hit a fly ball over the left field fence to near the WKU lead at 4-2. A Dana Rosenblatt groundout to the shortstop would end the Spartan rally.
In the loss, MSU managed to out-hit WKU 5-4, however three walks by the Spartan pitching staff and one error by the Green and White defense, gave Western Kentucky the deciding 4-2 upperhand.
Held scoreless through the first two innings vs. Wright State, MSU opened scoring in the top of the third, when after a Megan Darhower walk, Nicole Mercado would send an RBI-single to left field, giving State the 1-0 advantage. Weigle would double to score Mercado, followed by a steal and Mondo hit-by-pitch, as Rosenblatt stepped to the plate with runners on first and third. Smart base running by MSU saw a double steal, as Mondo stole second and Weigle stole home for the 3-0 lead. Rosenblatt would single to center scoring Mondo for the 4-0 advantage.
Both MSU and Wright State would add one run in the sixth, however Turney and the Spartan defense would secure the 5-1 victory, forcing two groundouts and a third-out fly ball to left field in the seventh.
Turney improved to 9-4 for the year, holding the Raiders to just two hits, compared to seven hits by State at the plate.
"I am disappointed we couldn't sweep this weekend, and I am worried about our inconsistencies," Spartan head coach Jacquie Joseph said. "We are very excited to play in our home opener this Tuesday vs. Eastern Michigan."
Michigan State will host Eastern Michigan in the 2006 home opener, Tuesday, March 28 at Old College Field. Game time is slated for 3 p.m.
