Michigan State University
Eastern Michigan
Softball Suffers 6-3 Loss to EMU
4/11/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 11, 2012
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State softball team played host to Eastern Michigan on Wednesday (April 11) at Secchia Stadium. Five runs in the first inning for EMU was too much for the Spartans to overcome as they fell to the Eagles 6-3. MSU is currently 11-27 overall and 0-9 in Big Ten action.
"I thought we could have hit better and capitalized more so we could have scored more runs," said head coach Jacquie Joseph. "But when we have a bad first inning like that, we have to get out of the mindset of `here we go again'. We showed glimpses of what we are capable of, but we have to figure out how to put all those glimpses together."
There were runners on first and third in the top of the first when an error by the Spartan shortstop allowed the first run of the game. Another score came off a double by Nellie Coquillard and another double, this time by McKenna Russ, put EMU up 3-0. With Russ on second, Amanda Stanton homered to left field, posting two RBI and two more runs for the Eagles.
Michigan State got on the board in the bottom of the second with one run. Sophomore designated hitter Sarah Bowling got the offense going with a single to left field. Next up was junior Jayme O'Bryant, who reached on an error by the third basemen, advancing Bowling to second. Freshman Kelsey Cleary laid a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position and an error on the EMU shortstop gave way to the first run for MSU.
Eastern Michigan extended its lead in the fourth inning with a solo homerun to center field by Kaylee Tolliver.
The Spartans responded in the next half-inning with a longball of their own. Leading off the inning was O'Bryant, who shot her first homer of the year into center field, making the score 6-2. Michigan State threatened again in the fifth, posting another run. Senior Lori Padilla reached first after beating out a bunt and was moved to third off a double by junior Kylene Hopkins. A sacrifice fly by senior Brett Williams scored the third run for MSU as Padilla came home. It proved to be the final run of the outing as neither school scored in the last two innings and Michigan State fell 6-3.
Starting in the circle for the Spartans was sophomore Cassee Layne. The right-hander was given the loss after allowing five runs to EMU. Freshman Carly Nielsen relieved Layne in the second inning and pitched for the remainder of the game. The newcomer only allowed one run while striking out three batters.
Michigan State will remain at home on Saturday (April 14) at 1 p.m. ET for the first game of a home-and-home series with Michigan. The rivalry will continue on Sunday (April 15) with a double-header beginning at 1 p.m. in Ann Arbor, Mich.
