Michigan State University
Wisconsin
Badgers Hand Spartans First Conference Loss Of The Year
4/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 14, 2006
MADISON, WIS. - The Spartan softball team suffered a 5-3 loss, its first in Big Ten play, against Wisconsin on Friday. State falls to 28-13, 6-1 Big Ten, while the Badgers improve to 17-15, 3-4 in conference play. Rachel Turney started in the circle for MSU, allowing five hits and three earned runs in the loss, while Meghan Darhower paced the Spartans at the plate, going 2 for 4 with one RBI. UW's Eden Brock pitched a complete-game, allowing eight hits and one earned run in the win.
After consecutive hits by UW at the plate, an infield error by the Spartan defense loaded the bases in the bottom half of the second. Turney forced a pop fly to the second baseman, but Wisconsin drew a bases loaded walk for an early one run lead. Badger center fielder Sam Polito reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a throwing error by the Spartan infield, as two more runs crossed the plate for a 3-0 Wisconsin advantage.
A Badger miscue allowed Dana Rosenblatt to reach first in the third inning, where pinch runner Amy Szawara replaced her on the bases. After advancing to second on an infield groundout, Szawara took third base on a wild pitch by Brock. MSU failed to take advantage of the scoring opportunity, as UW earned back-to-back outs ending the Spartan threat.
Wisconsin loaded the bases for the second consecutive inning in the bottom of the third. The Spartan defense held strong, turning its fourth double play of the season, forcing out Joey Daniels at the plate and Lynn Anderson at first base. With two outs in the fourth, the Badgers managed to extend the lead to 5-0, behind an RBI-single from Athena Vasquez, and RBI-triple from Daniels.
State platted its first run of the contest when Gina Mondo scored on a throwing error by Brock in the top of the fifth. With two outs in the inning, Meghan Darhower singled to left, scoring Nikki Nicosia, nearing the Badger lead at 5-2.
Needing three runs to tie in the top of the seventh, Nikki Nicosia led-off the inning with an infield single. After two consecutive outs, Caitlin Mahoney blasted an RBI-double to the center field fence scoring Nicosia. Despite the comeback effort, Brock forced a ground out to the short stop, securing the 5-3 Badger victory.
Turney allowed five hits and three earned runs in the loss while Spartan reliever Megan Hair faced eight batters in the contest, allowing no hits in 2.1 innings from the circle. State out-hit Wisconsin, 8-5, marking the sixth time this season MSU has lost when posting more hits than its opponent.
Darhower led the Green and White offense with two hits while Nikki Nicosia scored two runs, adding one hit at the plate. Mahoney and Mondo each registered one double for the day, adding one RBI and one run, respectively.
"We didn't play as well as we should have to get the win tonight," MSU head coach Jacquie Joseph said. "If we want to continue to improve in conference play, we really need to focus on all three components of our game (pitching, offense and defense) working together."
State faces Wisconsin in the series finale, Saturday at noon (CDT). The Spartans continue Big Ten action vs. Iowa, Sunday in a doubleheader scheduled for noon (CDT).
