Michigan State University
Wisconsin
Softball Christens New Stadium with 8-0 Win Over Wisconsin
4/2/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 2, 2011
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State softball team (19-13, 1-2 Big Ten) opened the new Secchia Stadium on Saturday, April 2 with an 8-0 win over Wisconsin, a game which lasted only five innings. With Spartan great Gloria Becksford throwing out the ceremonial first pitch, the Green and White used a six-run fifth inning to end the game in the bottom half of the inning.
"The first game of a new stadium is one that goes down in the record book," said MSU head coach Jacquie Joseph. "You hate to say it's a must win, but with a new stadium it is pretty critical to win and I was proud of the way the kids played today."
Freshman Cassee Layne pitched her sixth complete game shutout of the season, allowing one hit while striking out three batters. Layne moved her overall record to 8-9 on the season while walking four batters in 5.0 innings of work.
After a scoreless first inning by both teams, Wisconsin put the first hit on the board when Whitney Massey singled through the left side to reach first base in the third. UW would fail to score Massey as it would see a fielder's choice and grounder to the shortstop to end the inning.
Although MSU netted two hits in the second inning, the scoring did not get started until the bottom of the third. Junior Brett Williams drove in the first two runs of the game with a single to right, scoring seniors Lindsey Hansen and Jessica Bracamonte.
"Today we started pretty slow, we were strong, but yet we weren't on the scoreboard. It was important for us to score first today, and then I thought we got better as the game went along," said Joseph.
The defense stood strong behind Layne all game, recording 11 assists and only one error. Layne was effective on the rubber as she jammed eight Badger batters into infield groundouts. The first three batters of the game all hit the ball back to Layne for outs.
The Spartans opened the floodgates in the bottom of the fifth with six runs. Each of MSU's runs in the inning were recorded with two outs on the board. Junior Ali Grant knocked in the first two runs of the inning with a single to right to score Williams and Hansen.
With the bases loaded, sophomore Mary Kate DiVirgilio served as a pinch hitter for MSU and drew a walk to score Grant. DiVirgilio battled back after being in a 0-2 deficit for the walk. Senior Jessica Bracamonte knocked in the next two runs with a single to drive in sophomore Kylene Hopkins and senior Heidi Purtzer.
Hansen ended the game with a single through the left side to score junior Lori Padilla, who returned to the game to run for DiVirgilio, for the sixth run of the inning, giving MSU a 8-0 advantage.
Wisconsin's Cassandra Darrah is now 10-5 on the season with today's loss to MSU. Darrah recorded five strikeouts in 4.2 innings of work, and posted eight walks while allowing eight earned runs on nine hits.
The Spartans look for the series sweep over Wisconsin tomorrow (April 2) when they welcome the Badgers for a 1 p.m. game at Secchia Stadium. All Michigan State Federal Credit Union members will receive two tickets to the game when they show proof of membership at the gate.
"Tomorrow is critical, it may be more critical than today. You hate to say that, but it is what it is and we need to hold home court on Sunday," added Joseph.
