Michigan State University
Toledo
Spartans Sweep Toledo In Doubleheader Action
3/7/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 7, 2006
PLANT CITY, Fla. -
MSU vs. Toledo Game One Final Stats
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MSU vs. Toledo Game Two Final StatsDownload Free Acrobat Reader
The Spartan softball team continued action from Plant City, Fla. Tuesday afternoon with a doubleheader vs. Mid-American Conference foe Toledo. State improved to 9-3, with 8-5 and 5-1 victories against the Rockets from the Randy Larson Four Plex in Plant City. Gina Mondo went 3-4 in game one of the afternoon, adding five RBI, while freshman pitcher Megan Hair recorded one save and one win on the day.
Gina Mondo kicked off the Spartan top of the third with a double ripped to the center field fence, advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt by left fielder Amy Szawara. Nikki Nicosia would place a bunt down the first base line, scoring Mondo from third. Toledo would answer in the bottom half of the inning, scoring two runs on the Spartan defense to take the 2-1 advantage.
Green and White catcher Caitlin Mahoney would draw her first walk of the day in the top of the fourth, later replaced by pinch runner Jessica LeFevre on the bases. Feenstra continued to stay hot at the plate, smashing a double to the center field fence, advancing LeFevre to third. State's second baseman Gina Mondo sent a two-RBI single to center, scoring LeFevre and pinch runner Abby Lincoln from second, as MSU regained the 3-2 upperhand.
State added one run in the top of the fifth, behind a Nikki Nicosia walk and Nicole Mercado. Traci Nicosia would single to left, scoring sister Traci from third. Toledo rally behind a double by Stong and single from Van Vossan to threaten with a runner at third. A ground ball to Mondo would score Stong from third, as UT neared the lead at 4-3.
After a Meghan Darhower double and Weigle walk, Mondo would post her first career home run edging the Spartan lead to 7-3 in the top of the sixth. Scoring continued for MSU in the seventh, with a standup double from Feenstra to the center field fence. After an advance to third, Feenstra would score on a wild pitch by the Rockets bettering the MSU lead to 8-5.
Freshman pitcher Megan Hair would enter the game in the bottom of the seventh with runners in scoring position for UT. Hair would walk in a runner from third, before a wild pitch would add Toledo's second run of the inning. With runners again on second and third, Hair would force a pop fly to the shortstop, ensuring the 8-5 Spartan victory.
Mondo led the Spartan offense with a 3-4, five RBI effort in game one, while both Nikki Nicosia and Feenstra went 2-4 at the plate.
Lesley Noel took the mound for the Spartans in game two looking for her third win of the year. Toledo struck first, as UT's McCauley sent a bomb over the left field fence, giving UT the 1-0 edge in the top of the second. Mondo singled to start the Spartan third, advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Nikki Nicosia. A hard-hit single to center from Nicole Mercado scored Mondo, as State evened the score at 1-1.
Feenstra would knock a double to the right field fence in the bottom of the fourth as Darhower stepped to the plate with a runner in scoring position. Lincoln pinch ran for Feenstra and would advance to third on a Darhower single. A wild pitch would score Lincoln, as MSU regained the 2-1 advantage.
With the bases loaded in the Spartan sixth, a wild pitch would score Darhower from third, and an error by the pitcher gave State the 5-1 upperhand. In relief for the second consecutive game, Hair would hold the Rocket bats silent to secure the UT sweep with a 5-1 victory.
State recorded eight hits in game two, against six by the UT offense, while Toledo committed two errors against just one by the Spartan defense.
State returns to action when it heads to the USF-Adidas Spring Break Invitational March 9-12 in Clearwater, Fla. MSU faces Georgia Tech at 1 p.m.
