Michigan State University
Florida Gulf Coast
Softball Falls To Florida Gulf Coast In Extra Innings
2/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 22, 2009
FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Michigan State softball team concluded play at the FGCU Spring Break Invitational Sunday afternoon, falling 6-5 in extra innings to Florida Gulf Coast. Freshman Melanie Bensema and sophomore Heidi Purtzer led the Spartans with two RBIs each.
Florida Gulf Coast opened the game with one run in the first and two in the second for an early 3-0 lead.
MSU came back in the third, scoring five runs to claim the lead. Sophomore Jessica Bracamonte started off the inning by drawing a walk, and advanced to second off a sacrifice bunt by senior Kara Weigle. Sophomore Lindsey Hansen singled up the middle to send Bracamonte across the plate. Senior Gina Mondo then singled to advance Hansen to third, and Bensema hit a single through the right side with two outs to send both Hansen and Mondo home. Purtzer came up to the plate next, sending Bensema and Ali Grant around the bases for a 5-3 lead.
The Eagles came back and added a run in the fourth to cut Michigan State's lead to 5-4, and then tied the game in the bottom of the seventh inning after a single up the middle from Courtney Platt that sent Jenks home and put the game in extra innings.
Freshman Lori Padilla recorded Michigan State's only hit in the ninth, but the Spartans were unable to score after grounding into a double play.
Florida Gulf Coast started the bottom of the ninth inning with a double to left center from Jessica Paez, and Samantha Waldron singled to deep right center to send Paez home for the game winner.
Junior Kelly Confer started the game for MSU, recording three strikeouts in three innings. Freshman Lauren Kramer took over in the fourth inning, holding the Eagles scoreless in just over an inning. Senior Megan Hair replaced Kramer with two outs in the fifth after Kramer was struck in the thigh by a line drive.
The Spartans travel to Birmingham, Ala., for the Magic City Classic next weekend. MSU opens play on Saturday, Feb. 28 with Samford at 11 a.m. and Pittsburgh at 3 p.m. The Spartans face Northern Illinois at 11 a.m. and host UAB at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 1 to conclude the tournament.
