Michigan State University
Detroit
Spartans Split Non-Conference Doubleheader At Detroit
4/3/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 3, 2007
DETROIT, Mich. - The Michigan State softball team (19-17) split a non-conference doubleheader at Detroit (7-15), dropping a 5-4 decision in game one, and winning game two, 13-8. Caitlin Mahoney matched the second-highest single-game total in Spartan history with six RBI in the game-two victory.
Junior Lesley Noel made the start for the Spartans in the circle in game one, allowing five hits and three earned runs in 3.0 innings. Senior hurler Rachel Turney (6-8) tossed 3.0 innings in relief, allowing two hits and one earned run in the loss.
Kara Weigle tallied one run, one hit and one RBI to lead the Spartans at the plate. Traci Nicosia added one hit and one RBI, while Dayna Feenstra and Meghan Darhower each contributed one hit in the loss.
Titan pitcher Kelli Short (3-6) allowed four hits and four earned runs in the complete-game effort.
Nikki Nicosia was hit by Short to lead off the first, before advancing to third on a stolen base and error by the Titan catcher. Nicosia scored on a fielders choice by the Detroit second baseman for a 1-0 Spartan upperhand.
The Spartans added three runs in the second behind an error in the field and back-to-back RBI doubles by Weigle and Traci Nicosia. Nicosia's double was her team-leading ninth of the season. Detroit answered in the bottom half of the frame on a solo home run by catcher Courtney Gill to pull within three at 4-1.
Detroit loaded the bases on three consecutive singles in the third, and scored two runs as the result of a wild pitch by Noel and sac fly by Adrienne Baran.
Short downed the side in order in the fourth, and the Titans added two runs in the bottom half of the frame behind consecutive singles, and a two-run double from left fielder Jacqueline Nortman for the deciding 5-4 advantage.
State scored four runs on five hits, committing one error in the loss. Detroit scored five runs on seven hits and committed two miscues in the field.
Michigan State tallied a season-high 17 hits in game two, including a game-best four from Mahoney. She was perfect at the plate (4-for-4), adding two runs and six RBI. Traci Nicosia and LeFevre each contributed three hits, while Nikki Nicosia added two hits and two runs.
Freshman hurler Kelly Confer (3-0) made her third start of the season for the Spartans, allowing eight hits and four earned runs in the complete-game win.
Baran suffered the loss for the Titans, giving up seven hits and seven earned runs in 2.2 innings in the circle.
Nikki Nicosia and LeFevre tallied consecutive singles to start the first inning of game two for the Green and White. Nikki Nicosia scored on a single by sister Traci, and Mahoney followed with a three-run home run for an early 4-0 MSU upperhand. Mahoney's blast was her team-leading fifth of the year.
Detroit scored one run in the bottom half of the first after consecutive throwing errors in the Spartan infield to near the MSU lead at 4-1.
In the Spartan third, Weigle singled and Traci Nicosia walked, and the duo followed with a double steal to put runners on second and third. Baran tallied her third strikeout of the game for the second out of the inning, but Mahoney followed with a two-run double to left, and scored on a double by Darhower for a commanding 7-1 MSU lead.
Detroit pulled within three in the bottom of the third on a bases clearing throwing error in the Spartan infield. State answered in the fourth, scoring three runs on three hits, including a two-run homer by Feenstra, her fourth of the year.
With a runner on second and one out in the fifth, Detroit added two runs on a home run to center field by Gill to pull within four at 10-6, but State extended its lead to 11-6 in the sixth on an RBI single from Mahoney.
Detroit added two in the sixth, but Confer helped her own cause with a solo shot in the seventh, and Nikki Nicosia scored on a sacrifice fly by Weigle for the deciding 13-8 MSU advantage.
State scored 13 runs on 17 hits, committing three errors in the field. Detroit tallied eight runs on eight hits and two errors in the loss.
Michigan State hosts visiting Ohio State on Friday in its Big Ten home opener at Old College Field at 4 p.m. Game two of the series will be played on Saturday at 1 p.m.
