Michigan State University
Purdue
Spartans Drop Conference Doubleheader To Purdue
4/9/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 9, 2009
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State softball team suffered a doubleheader sweep by Purdue in conference action Thursday afternoon at Old College Field. Purdue shut out the Spartans 12-0 in game one, and recorded an 8-3 win in the nightcap. Freshman Brett Williams led MSU in the second game, notching her first career home run in the fifth inning.
Purdue (20-12, 5-3 Big Ten) struck early in game one, posting two runs on two hits in both the first and second innings, including a two-run homer to left center by Katie Mitchell in the first.
The Spartans (13-20, 0-7 Big Ten) lost momentum in the third inning when sophomore Heidi Purtzer was injured at the plate and left the game. Williams tried to rally the team with a single up the middle after freshman Melanie Bensema drew a walk, but Purdue's Suzie Rzegocki retired the next two Spartan batters to end the inning and strand both on base.
MSU's starting pitcher Lauren Kramer held the Boilermakers scoreless in the third, but a six-run outburst in the fourth inning allowed Purdue to pull away. The Spartans notched a hit in the fourth and two in the fifth, but left runners on base, while Purdue added two runs in the top of the fifth for its fourth Big Ten win.
Kramer pitched three innings in the loss and struck out two, while Megan Hair pitched 2/3 of an inning and freshman Rebecca Rogers pitched the final 1 1/3 innings, posting one strikeout.
The Boilermakers bats came alive early in the second game, with seven runs scored on six hits in the first inning. Kramer also started the second game in the circle for the Spartans, holding Purdue scoreless in the second and third innings to give MSU a chance to rally.
MSU found the scoresheet in the third inning, scoring one run. Bensema opened the inning with a double to center field, and freshman Lori Padilla reached on an error with one out, while Bensema advanced to third. Sophomore Lindsey Hansen then hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Bensema.
Purdue added a run in the fourth off a sacrifice fly from Beth Cinadr, and the Spartans responded with another run in the fifth off William's homer to left center.
The Boilermakers attempted to end the game in the sixth with three hits to load the bases, but Kramer posted two strikeouts in the inning and stranded the three on base with a fielder's choice.
The Spartans added a run in the sixth, but that was as close as they got, falling 8-3 to Purdue in the second game of the doubleheader. Kramer notched a single to center field with one out in the sixth and sophomore Jessica Bracamonte doubled down the right-field line to put runners on second and third. Freshman Ali Grant was hit by a pitch to load the bases and a wild pitch by Purdue's Dana Alcocer sent one run across the plate. MSU had the chance to add another run off a sacrifice fly by sophomore Karen Fox, but Bracamonte was ruled as leaving the base early for two outs to end the inning.
Kramer pitched the complete game for the Spartans in the nightcap, striking out four through seven innings.
MSU continues a six-game home stand this weekend with a two-game series against Indiana. The two teams meet on Saturday, April 11 and Sunday, April 12 with both games beginning at noon. Both games will also be televised live by the Big Ten Network.
