Michigan State University
Michigan
Softball Falls to Michigan in Double-Header
4/15/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 15, 2012
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The Michigan State softball team traveled to Ann Arbor, Mich. to complete the series against No. 20 Michigan with a double-header. The Wolverines defeated the Spartans 2-0 in the first game and MSU was unable to get a win as they fell 5-0 in the second game.
Michigan struck first with one run in the bottom of the first. With a runner on second, a single up the middle by Ashley Lane brought home the runner and put Michigan up 1-0. The Wolverines scored the final run in the third with an RBI double by Sara Driesenga.
Junior Shelby Wise was the starter for MSU and pitched for a total of 2.1 innings. It was her first start since March 4th, when she pitched for three innings against Stanford. Sophomore Cassee Layne and senior Rebecca Rogers also saw action.
The Spartan defense was led by the freshmen in the first game as three made outstanding plays. Both Stephanie Sanders and Kelsey Cleary made sliding catches in right field and Alyssa McBride caught a ball behind her while running back into left field. As a whole, the defense earned 18 putouts and forced Michigan to leave 11 runners on base.
On the offense, sophomore Sarah Bowling went 2-2 including a double to right center in the first inning. Freshman McKinzie Freimuth also had a successful day offensively, posting two singles in her three appearances at the plate.
The final game of the series didn't see a run until Michigan got on the board with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Back-to-back singles and a sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third and a deep single by Amy Knapp brought in both runs. Michigan extended their lead in the sixth with two homeruns. Driesenga scored first with a solo homer to center field and another long ball into right field by Lauren Sweet scored two more runs for Michigan.
The Michigan State offense had trouble getting going against Michigan's Haylie Wagner, who ranks 10th in the nation in wins. Senior Ali Grant tabbed one of MSU's two hits of the second game, which was a single to center field in the second inning. Junior Kylene Hopkins notched the second hit with a single in the top of the seventh.
Freshman Carly Nielsen started the second game and was in the circle for 5.1 innings. The right-hander was given the loss after allowing all five runs. Rogers relieved Nielsen in the sixth and pitched for the next .2 innings. Nielsen and Rogers each struck out one batter.
Michigan State will return to East Lansing, Mich. next weekend when they host Iowa in a three-game series. The Spartans and Hawkeyes will face off on Saturday (April 21) in a double-header at 1 p.m. ET that will be streamed live at BTN.com. Sunday's matchup is slated to begin at 12 p.m. and will be aired live on the Big Ten Network.
