Softball Dedicates Secchia Stadium on Big Ten Network

May 14, 2011

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State softball team celebrated its dedication of Secchia Stadium on Saturday afternoon in East Lansing. Head coach Jacquie Joseph and the Spartans welcomed Ambassador Peter F. and Joan P. Secchia along with other special guests for a ceremony at Old College Field.

Following the ceremonial first by Secchia, the Spartans faced Michigan in the annual clash in East Lansing.

The Wolverines wound up winning the second game of the weekend series to conclude the regular season, 8-0. MSU ends the year with an overall record of 27-27, going 6-14 in conference games.

Michigan struck first with Bree Evans leading off the game on a single to left in the opening inning. Evans wound up crossing home after Amanda Chidester lined a single past sophomore Jenny Ramsaier at second for the opening run of the contest.

MSU hoped to respond in the bottom of the first with senior Lindsey Hansen reach base as the first Spartan. After falling behind in the count, Hansen battled back to draw a full-count walk and proceeded to steal second with a 0-2 count to junior Ali Grant. Michigan State was unable to record any additional base runners as the next two batters went down in order.

A six run second inning for UM put the contest out of reach for the Green and White. Marley Powers led off the inning with a single to left field. After Amy Knapp struck out looking, Evans returned to the plate and ripped a triple down the right field line to bring in Powers from first. A hard shot by Lindsay Doyle to third allowed Evans to cross home for the second time. Doyle moved into scoring position following a wild pitch.

The Wolverines found themselves in a first and second situation after Dorian Shaw drew her second walk of the game. Chidester drove in Doyle from second with a single to right center. Ashley Lane cleared the bases with a three run homer over the fence in right center field to bring the score to 7-0 at the end of two innings.

Junior Lauren Kramer came in to pitch for MSU in the top of the third and proceed to get the first three batters she faced to knock into back-to-back-to-back fielder's choices to end the inning.

Michigan activated the run rule in the top of the fourth with another run to its total score. Powers hit a screamer past Kramer up the middle in the circle to score home Shaw from third. Shaw led off the fourth with a walk.

The Spartans' top scoring opportunity occurred in the bottom of the fourth when they placed two runners on base. Kramer helped her own cause with a walk while junior Brett Williams reached base on a dropped shallow pop up by Lane at second. With MSU already with two outs, Williams continued rounded first to reach second safely on the play, giving the team a second and third opportunity. Sophomore Kylene Hopkins made good contact with the ball, however it was lined right at Knapp at short.

Kramer kept the Wolverines off the board in the top of the fifth before the final three batters went down in order to close out the bottom of the fifth for MSU.

Jordan Taylor kept the Spartans in check as she recorded her eighth no-hitter in her career with her complete-game shutout. In 5.0 innings of work, Taylor struck out six batters faced while walking two. Taylor improves her record to 29-3 on the season.

Freshman Cassee Layne earned the start for the Green and White, and dropped to 15-16 this season. In 1.1 innings within the circle, Layne allowed six earned runs on six hits, striking out two batters faced. Sophomore Shelby Wise pitched 0.2 innings, prior to being relieved on the rubber by Kramer for the final 3.0 innings of action. Wise allowed one earned run on one hit while Kramer struck out three and allowed one runs on two hits.

Today's game marked the end of the career for seniors Jessica Bracamonte, Karen Fox, Lindsey Hansen and Heidi Purtzer.