Michigan State University
Toledo
Spartan Softball Splits Day One At Hampton Inn Bama Bash
2/16/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 16, 2007
Michigan State vs. Toledo Box Score
Michigan State vs. No. 5 Alabama Box Score
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State softball team (1-1) won its fifth consecutive season-opener with a 13-9 victory versus Toledo (1-1) on Friday afternoon in the opening contest at the Hampton Inn Bama Bash. Despite a strong offensive showing with 13 hits against the Rockets, the Spartans managed just five hits in their second matchup of the day, suffering an 8-0, five-inning loss to No. 5 Alabama (7-0) in the nightcap.
In game one, sophomore catcher Kara Weigle turned in the top offensive performance with a career-best 4-for-5 effort at the plate, including two triples and one home run against the Rockets. The Naples, Fla., native also contributed four runs and six RBI, both career highs. Weigle tripled in her first at-bat to spark a three-run first inning for the Green and White. With two outs in the bottom of the third, she delivered an RBI triple to left field to extend the inning, and followed with her first career home run in the bottom half of the fourth, a grand slam over the left field wall for a 13-1 Spartan advantage. Her six RBI match the second-highest single-game total in Spartan history.
The teams combined for 20 walks in the contest, as the Spartan pitchers struggled with 13, and Rocket hurlers Hannah Rockhold and Stephanie Moore (0-1) allowed seven. In her first-career appearance in a Spartan uniform, freshman hurler Kelly Confer (1-0) allowed four hits and six runs, striking out four in 4.2 innings to earn her first collegiate victory. Relief pitchers Megan Hair and Lesley Noel each allowed one hit in a combined 2.1 innings in the circle.
Junior center fielder Nikki Nicosia tallied three hits, three runs and two stolen bases, while right fielder Nicole Mercado added three hits and two RBI versus the Rockets. Designated hitter Jessica LeFevre contributed a 1-for-3 effort, while third baseman Caitlin Mahoney tallied her first home run of the season, a two-RBI shot in the bottom of the third. Senior first baseman Dayna Feenstra drew a game-high three walks, and senior infielder Meghan Darhower added one RBI in the game.
State tallied three runs in each of the first three innings, before Weigle's fourth inning heroics gave the Spartans a dominating 13-1 advantage. Weigle scored her first run of the day on a throwing error by the Rocket third baseman, while Mahoney and Feenstra also crossed the plate in the first.
Nikki Nicosia singled and stole her first base of the season to begin the bottom half of the second. Nicosia scored on a Weigle single to left, and Weigle added State's second run of the inning on a Traci Nicosia single to center. Mercado singled to left, scoring pinch runner Abby Lincoln for a 6-0 Spartan lead.
Weigle's second triple of the day scored Nikki Nicosia in the bottom of the third, followed by Mahoney's home run over the left field wall for a dominating 9-0 Michigan State advantage.
Needing at least four runs in the top half of the fifth to hold the Spartans from a run-rule victory, Toledo rallied for six runs on four hits to force at least one more inning of play. Michigan State failed to extend its lead in the bottom of the fifth, as Rockhold held MSU to just one hit and no runs in the set.
Toledo added two runs in the top of the sixth, but Noel held the Rockets to just one hit, striking out two in the top of the seventh to secure the Spartan win.
The Spartan offense was silent in game two versus the Crimson Tide, as MSU tallied just five hits, led by a 2-for-2 performance from left fielder Traci Nicosia. Weigle, Darhower and Gina Mondo each contributed one hit for the Green and White.
Spartan pitcher Rachel Turney (0-1) made her first appearance of the season, allowing three hits and four earned runs in 3.1 innings pitched. Noel made her second relief appearance of the day, allowing three hits and four earned runs in 1.1 innings in the circle.
Alabama pitcher Chrissy Owens (4-0) held the Spartan bats to just four hits through the first three innings of play, before the Crimson Tide scored four runs on two hits and one error by the Spartan infield for a 4-0 lead in the bottom half of the third.
Looking for an offensive spark, Traci Nicosia hit a two-out double in the top of the fourth, however, the Alabama defense registered its third groundout of the inning to end the threat. With one out in the bottom of the fourth, Noel replaced Turney in the circle, holding the Crimson Tide to just one hit and no runs the remainder of the inning.
The Spartans drew two walks off of Owens in the fifth to threaten with one out, and runners on first and second. State hit into a fielder's choice for its second out, and Crimson Tide catcher Ashley Holcombe gunned down Nikki Nicosia's steal attempt to end the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth, Alabama had runners on first and second after an infield single and an errant pitch by Noel hit designated hitter Jordan Praytor. A sacrifice bunt and error in the Spartan infield allowed two runs to cross the plate for a 6-0 Crimson Tide advantage. Alabama drew a two-out walk, and second baseman Lauren Parker sent a two-run shot over the right field wall to close an 8-0, run-rule win for the home team.
Michigan State continues play at the Hampton Inn Bama Bash on Saturday versus Radford at noon (ET). Bracket play begins at 4 p.m.
