Michigan State University
IPFW
Noel Tosses No-Hitter In Doubleheader Sweep Against IPFW
4/18/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 18, 2007
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Behind Lesley Noel's first career no-hitter, the Michigan State softball team swept visiting IPFW, 12-0 (5) and 8-0 (6), on Wednesday at Old College Field. State improves to 22-20, while the Mastodons fall to 5-19 for the year. Noel's no-hitter marks the 21st in MSU history and third this year, as senior Rachel Turney and sophomore Megan Hair have each recorded a no-hitter this season. Sophomore second baseman Gina Mondo hit her first career grand slam, and tallied a combined nine RBI in two starts against the Mastodons.
Noel allowed just two IPFW baserunners, while striking out four in the complete-game gem. She improved her record to 5-4 for the season.
IPFW hurler Jenna Connelly (0-1) allowed 12 hits and four earned runs, while striking out seven in 5.0 innings of work in the circle.
Mondo paced the Spartan offense with a 2-for-2 performance at the plate, including one double and her first home run of the season. She also matched a career high with five RBI. Catcher Kara Weigle and outfielders Traci Nicosia and Nicole Mercado each contributed two hits, while shortstop Meghan Darhower scored three runs for the Green and White.
The Spartans scored at least one run in all five innings of play. In the first, Nikki Nicosia reached on an infield single, and advanced to third on a stolen base and errant throw by the Mastodon catcher. She scored on an RBI single by sister Traci for the early 1-0 MSU upperhand.
State scored four runs on four hits in the second behind a three-run homer by Mondo and RBI single by designated player Jessica LeFevre. Mondo tallied a two-run double in the third, and State put the game out of reach with five runs in the fourth behind an RBI-triple by Darhower and three IPFW errors in the field. Darhower's triple was her first of the season.
State committed just one error, and scored 12 runs on 12 hits, while IPFW committed five miscues in the field.
Freshman hurler Kelly Confer made the start in the circle in game two, allowing two hits, while striking out three in 5.0 innings. Reliever Megan Hair tallied two strikeouts in 1.0 innings to earn her first save of the season.
IPFW's Katie Aspegren (1-10) allowed eight hits and eight earned runs in the loss.
Mondo delivered another solid game at the plate, contributing four RBI on the first grand slam of her career. Darhower turned in a 2-for-2 performance, including her second home run of the season, while Nikki Nicosia added one double and one RBI, and Mercado chipped in a double and two runs. Weigle tallied her team-leading 41st RBI of the season in the bottom of the fifth to clinch the sweep for the Spartans.
State scored its first run of the contest on Darhower's home run in the second, and she extended the Spartan lead to 2-0 with an RBI double in the fourth.
Mercado scored on an RBI single by Nikki Nicosia in the fifth, and State exploded for five runs on three hits in the bottom half of the sixth behind Mondo's grand slam and a sacrifice fly by Weigle for the deciding 8-0 advantage.
State scored eight runs on nine hits, while IPFW managed two hits in the loss.
Michigan State resumes Big Ten Conference play this weekend when it travels to Indiana on Friday at 4 p.m. Game two of the series is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m. MSU concludes weekend action at Purdue on Sunday in a doubleheader scheduled to begin at noon.
