Michigan State University
Illinois
Softball Falls in Game Two at Illinois, 3-2
3/27/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 27, 2011
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Michigan State softball team (18-13, 0-2 Big Ten) suffered a 3-2 loss to Illinois in game two of its season series on Sunday, March 27 in Champaign, Ill. Today's contest marked MSU's final game prior to its home opener on Wednesday, March 30 against Western Michigan. Junior Brett Williams went 1-for-2 at the plate with an RBI and a walk.
After three scoreless innings on both sides, Illinois was the first on the board in the bottom of the fourth when Danielle Zymkowitz singled to drive home Ashley Conrad, giving the Fighting Illini a 1-0 lead.
Jessica Davis pushed the Illini lead to 2-0 in the fifth when she singled up the middle to bring home Nikki Simpson. Audrey Gallien came to bat as the next batter with the bases loaded and drew a walk to score Hollie Pinchback for the second run of the inning, handing Illinois a 3-0 advantage.
Senior Lindsey Hansen put the Spartans on the board for the first time in the top of the sixth. Hansen singled up the middle to drive home junior Lori Padilla. Williams would step to the plate with the bases loaded and managed to draw a walk to score sophomore Kylene Hopkins, bringing MSU within one at 3-2.
The Spartans were unable to take advantage of senior Karen Fox reaching base as the second batter in the seventh inning. Fox would reach as far as second base, but MSU would end the game with a ground out to second.
Jackie Guy earned the win for Illinois within the circle, improving to 6-5 this year. Guy allowed no runs on three Spartan hits and struck out five batters. Pepper Gay earned her first win of the season in 3.0 innings of work. Gay allowed two runs, one earned, on two hits.
Freshman Cassee Layne dropped to 7-9 this season with her second loss to the Fighting Illini. In 29 batters faced, Layne gave up seven hits while allowing three earned runs. Layne threw one strikeout in 5.1 innings of work.
MSU returns to East Lansing, Mich., for the first time this season when it hosts Western Michigan on Wednesday, March 30. Action is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. ET, and will mark the inaugural game inside the new Secchia Stadium.
