Michigan State University
Illinois-Chicago
Nikki Nicosia's Gram Slam Downs Flames, 7-1
3/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 9, 2008
CLEARWATER, Fla. - With a 200-foot rocket over the right-field fence, senior Nikki Nicosia blasted a grand slam in the bottom of the fourth to propel the Spartans to a 7-1 victory over Illinois-Chicago at the USF/Under Armour Invitational Sunday morning. The grand slam is the second for the Spartans in three games. Michigan State (10-9 overall) is 4-0 heading into its final pool-play game this afternoon at 1:30 p.m. against Hofstra.
Undefeated on the weekend, MSU is in a three-way tie with Hofstra and South Florida for the tournament championship. Should Michigan State defeat Hofstra in the afternoon game and USF loses, the Spartans will claim the tournament title. If both MSU and USF win this afternoon, the championship team will be determined by runs scored, where the Spartans currently hold the advantage over the Bulls.
In the bottom of the fourth this morning, Kristen Aidem evened the score at 1-1 with UIC after the Flames scored in the second inning. Aidem bunted Gina Mondo home from third, and arrived safely at first to load the bases for Nicosia. On the 1-1 count, Nicosia blasted the ball over the right-field fence, driving in Aidem, Jessica LeFevre and Traci Nicosia. The dinger is the first home run for Nicosia this year, and the fifth of her career.
With a hefty 5-1 lead, the Spartans tacked on two additional runs in the bottom of the fifth; Mondo scored on a wild pitch, and LeFevre scored from third after a fielding error by the first baseman on Aidem's at bat.
From the mound, Megan Hair (2-0) earned the win, pitching four innings with three strikeouts. Lesley Noel finished the game, taking over in the fifth, striking out one while facing 11 batters.
