Michigan State University
Oregon
Softball Stumbles Against Oregon and No. 14 Hawai'i
2/23/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 23, 2008
Box Score vs. Oregon
Box Score vs. #14 Hawai'i
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. - Michigan State softball (4-4) suffered two losses Saturday afternoon at the Palm Springs Classic in Palm Springs, Calif., dropping to 4-4 overall this season. Oregon picked up game one's win, 3-1, before No. 14 Hawai'i tallied a victory in the second game, 6-1. Freshmen Lindsey Hansen and Heidi Purtzer were responsible for the two runs scored for Michigan State.
In the day's first game, Oregon took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on back-to-back RBI hits before Michigan State could retire the inning. After a scoreless second and a fruitless top of the third for Oregon, the Spartans went to work on offense, tallying one run to cut the lead in half for the Ducks.
Kristen Aidem grounded out to lead off the inning, but Traci Nicosia delivered in the No. 1 spot with a solid double down the left-field line. Sister Nikki Nicosia smacked a rocket single to the pitcher, arrived safely at first and advanced Traci to third to put the Spartans in scoring position. Hansen stepped up to the plate and came up with MSU's biggest hit against Oregon - an RBI single to right field; Nikki Nisocia advanced to second while Traci scored.
Oregon tacked on an additional run in the sixth to close out the game 3-1. Hansen's RBI proved to be the only run for MSU.
Opening the afternoon contest against Hawai'i, Nikki Nicosia doubled with one out in the first and advanced to third on Hansen's fly ball to right field. With Nicosia in scoring position, the Spartans had the opportunity to strike first for the first time in four games, but couldn't convert as MSU struck out for the final out.
Hawai'i proceeded to post two runs in the bottom of the first but MSU showed signs of life with a one-run second inning. With one out, Gina Mondo fueled the drive with a double to right center, giving MSU a chance to put runs on the board. MSU's next at bat yielded a pop out, giving the Spartans two outs, but Purtzer stood strong in the batter's box and roped an RBI single, scoring Mondo, and Purtzer advanced to second on the throw. Unfortunately, Hawai'i halted the offensive drive, allowing MSU only the one run.
Purtzer's RBI would hold out to be the only run batted in for Michigan State, as Hawai'i wrapped up the game 6-1.
Michigan State will close out the Palm Springs Classic Sunday against Massachusetts at 9 a.m. Live scoring will be available at www.msuspartans.com.
