Softball Falls in Game Two Against No. 18 Illinois

May 2, 2010

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State softball team (20-28, 4-12 Big Ten) closed out its season series against No. 18 Illinois with a 5-0 loss on Sunday, May 2 at Old College Field. With the win, the Fighting Illini improve to 37-5 overall and 10-2 in conference action. Junior Jessica Bracamonte led the Spartans at the plate going 2-for-3 on the day.

"I thought we made some good adjustments for Illinois today in the second game," said head softball coach Jacquie Joseph. "The problem we had was that we just didn't score any runs, which is the way it has been for us all season."

The Fighting Illini jumped out to a 3-0 lead with a three-run second inning. Danielle Vaji knocked a double to bring across Kelley Wedel and Audrey Gallien. Katie Lutes wound up also scoring on the play when the Spartan catcher was unable to cradle the throw from second, resulting in the ball reaching the backstop and Lutes bringing the score to 3-0.

Wedel led off the top of the fourth with a homer to left field on the first pitch of the inning. Hope Howell continued the offensive pressure on the Spartans with a double to bring across Vaji, bringing the score to 5-0.

Twice in the game - in the fourth and the seventh - the Spartans found themselves with a runner on third with one out, only to have the next to batters go down consecutively to end the inning.

In the fourth, Bracamonte led off the inning with a double to left center and then made her way to third after sophomore Lauren Kramer laid a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher.

The seventh saw a similar outcome when sophomore Ali Grant led off the final inning of the game with a double to left field. Grant would make her way to third when freshman Jayme O'Bryant grounded out to the shortstop.

Pepper Gay improves to 13-1 for Illinois in her complete game shut-out win. Gay ended the game with nine strikeouts while only walking two batters faced. Sophomore Lauren Kramer (15-16) took the loss for the Green and White. Kramer threw her 18th complete game of the season and struck out five batters.

Prior to the game senior Kelly Confer was recognized as the lone senior on the 2010 roster.

"It's great to honor your seniors every year, and Kelly has certainly been one of the best," Joseph said. "Kelly is definitely one of the most loyal Spartans and we are certainly going to miss her."

The Spartans will next play a home-and-home series against in-state rival Michigan. The weekend will begin on Saturday, May 8 with a 7 p.m. game in Ann Arbor. The following day, Sunday, May 9, the Spartans will host the Wolverines for a 1 p.m. match-up at Old College Field. Sunday's game will also be MSU's last home game of the season.