Michigan State University
Purdue
Softball Succumbs to Purdue
3/24/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 24, 2012
Game #1 Box Score|Game #2 Box Score
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Michigan State softball team opened Big Ten action with a double-header against Purdue on Saturday (March 34). Two fourth-inning setbacks proved to be the deciding factor for the day as the Spartans fell to the Boilermakers 10-6 and 8-4.
MSU went up by one in the first inning to start the day. Senior Lori Padilla led off by reaching on an error by the second basemen and advancing to second on the throw. Junior Kylene Hopkins followed up with a single to second base, which was enough for Padilla to score.
Michigan State extended its lead to two in the third with a two-out rally. After the first two Spartan batters were out, junior Mary Kate DiVirgilio got on base with a single to center field. Redshirt freshman Stephanie Sanders earned an RBI in the next at-bat as she doubled to right center, brining DiVirgilio home.
Sophomore Cassee Layne, who was the starting pitcher for the Spartans, kept the Boilermakers scoreless until the bottom of the third. Tori Chiodo was walked and advanced to second when Molly Garst singled to first base. In the next at-bat, Andie Varsho laid a sacrifice bunt, moving both runners into scoring position. A fly out by Lindsey Rains gave way to the first run of the day for Purdue.
The Spartans stumbled in the fourth, giving up eight runs to the Boilermakers. Erika Petruzzi kicked off the offense with a double to left center, then was able to score when Maia Monchek singled to right center. Up next was Chiodo, who singled to left center and the bases loaded when Garst sent a single to second base. Two runners crossed home plate as Varsho singled to left center and advanced on the throw. Later in the inning with the bases still loaded, Danielle Fletcher was walked and Garst scored. In the next at-bat Ashley Courtney tripled to right field, paving the way for three additional runs for Purdue. The scoring ended when Ashley Burkhardt singled up the middle, brining home Courtney.
MSU narrowed the gap in the next two innings, scoring two runs in both the fifth and six. Freshman McKinzie started the inning by reaching on a fielding error then advanced to second on a bunt by Padilla. A double by Hopkins put up both runs for the Green and White, allowing Freimuth and Padilla to score. In the sixth inning, senior Melanie Bensema pinch hit for junior Jenny Ramsaier and reached first base on a fielder's choice. Sophomore Sarah Bowling scored the next two runs and earned two RBI when she homered into center field.
The scoring was capped in the bottom of the sixth, as Purdue scored the final run of the game. In the first at-bat, Rains doubled to left center and advanced to third base on a wild pitch. The Boilermakers made it 10-6 when Fletcher ground out to the shortstop, allowing Rains to score.
The Spartans took the lead early in the second game, posting three runs in the first two innings. Hopkins began the offense for MSU with a single up the middle and advanced to second when DiVirgilio ground out to first base. A single from Sanders was enough for Hopkins to cross home plate safely. Junior Jayme O'Bryant was the first batter in the second inning and got on base with a single to the shortstop. Freshman Kelsey Cleary pinch ran for O'Bryant and advanced to second, then third, on two wild pitches. In the next at-bat, McBride hit into a fielder's choice, but a throwing error by the third basemen allowed Cleary to score. McBride advanced to third on a single by Ramsaier, then stole home for the third run for MSU.
The Boilermakers tied it up with two runs in the third, but MSU responded to retake the lead in the fourth. Ramsaier reached first base with a single through the left side and advanced to second when Freimuth grounded out. Runners were on first and second, after Padilla was walked, when Hopkins singled to left field, brining home Ramsaier.
MSU faltered in the fourth again, allowing Purdue to score five runs. The bases were loaded when Garst singled to left center, brining home one run. Next up was Varsho, who doubled to center field, allowing two runners to cross home plate. The bases reloaded with a walk and a single, then a single by Petruzzi scored the final two runs of the inning for the Boilermakers. With runners on first and second in the bottom of the sixth, Courtney sent a double to right field, allowing the final run of the day for Purdue.
Freshman Carly Nielsen and senior Rebecca Rogers split the pitching responsibilities in the second game, each throwing for three innings.
Michigan State will stay in West Lafayette, Ind. to conclude action with the Boilermakers on Sunday (March 25) at 1 p.m. ET.
