Michigan State University
Cal State Fullerton
UNLV, Cal State Fullerton Hold Off Spartans in Palm Springs
2/23/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 23, 2008
UNLV Box Score
Cal State Fullerton Box Score
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. - Michigan State softball (4-2) suffered its first losses of the season as the Spartans dropped two games at the Palm Springs Classic Friday. No. 21 UNLV defeated the Spartans 6-3 through drizzling rain, while No. 23 CSF held off an incredible Spartan comeback attempt to tally a 14-10 win. Michigan State will continue tournament action Saturday at 4 p.m. against Oregon and 6:30 p.m. against No. 14 Hawai'i.
CSF jumped out to a 6-2 lead after four innings in the evening game before MSU's bats came alive for a seven-run bottom-of-the-fifth inning, taking an incredible 9-6 lead to fluster the Titans. The Titans had just substituted Ari Cervantes on the mound when Kara Weigle cranked out an RBI single - allowing Lindsey Hansen and Gina Mondo to cross the plate - and kicked off the scoring drive. Bianca Mejia was next to bat in runs, and soon after Caitlin Mahoney drove in Mejia before the Titans were forced to return Jessica Doucette to the mound. But Doucette stuttered from the rubber and walked the next three batters, giving the Spartans the final three runs of the inning, and two-run advantage.
Previously, Traci Nicosia started the offensive surge in the fourth with a two-run homer, her first of the season and fifth of her career.
Cal State Fullerton battled back with four runs in the sixth, but Traci Nicosia singled to right field allowing Mejia to score, who drew a walk at the plate. Michigan State cut the lead and evened the score at 10-10 heading into the seventh. Nicosia finished the game with at team-high three RBI and three hits. As a team, MSU posted nine hits.
The Titans would put up four runs in the seventh and halted the Spartans offensively to clinch the 2 hour-50 minute game, 14-10.
In Friday's first game - which was delayed about an hour for rain - Michigan State struggled early against UNLV. The Rebels took a 4-0 lead as MSU approached the plate at the bottom of the third. After a pop out, Jessica LeFevre, Nikki Nicosia and Kara Weigle all singled, loading the bases for Mejia. After a line-drive out to the pitcher, Caitlin Mahoney cranked out a fly ball to left field; Mahoney rounded first and arrived safely at second after UNLV's left fielder dropped the high shot, and the hit cleared the bases to put the Spartans on the board, cutting the Titans lead to 4-3.
The Spartans' offense would sputter after the promising third inning, while the Rebels tacked on two insurance runs in the seventh. Michigan State finished the game with six hits, lead by Nikki Nicosia, who had two.
