Spartans Fall to Gophers, 9-4, in Series Finale

April 19, 2015

East Lansing, Mich. -- A pair of big, late innings sinking MSU was once again the story, as No. 13 Minnesota swept Michigan State in the season series with a 9-4 victory in the series finale on Sunday at Secchia Stadium. The Spartans (16-29) took a 4-3 lead in the fifth, but saw a sharp-hitting Gopher lineup tack on three runs in each the sixth and seventh innings to pull away for a big win.

Gopher ace Sara Groenewegen went the distance, posting 15 strikeouts and scattering six hits; she helped her own cause with a 3-for-4 effort (including a triple) at the plate with an RBI. Spartan freshman Bridgette Rainey - who earned three starts this week and two in the series - struck out three and allowed 12 hits, walking just four in a complete game. The Gophers stranded 12 batters on the day, as Rainey consistently came up with big pitches to work her way out of a jam.

Ellie Stoffer had a pair of doubles and three RBI on the day, while Lea Foerster contributed three hits.

The Gophers got the first run of the game in the top of the first, as Sam Macken reached on a bunt single, Sara Groenewegen was hit by a pitch, and then Danielle Parlich reached on an infield error that allowed Macken to come around to score. Hannah Granger reached on a fielder's choice to leave runners at the corners, but Taylor LeMay grounded out to short to end the inning.

Kaitlyn Richardson led off the top of the second with a double down the right field line, and Rainey hit Erica Meyer and Paige Palkovich back-to-back to load the bases with none out. Kayla Wenner delivered a bloop single to shallow right, followed by a Tyler Walker sacrifice fly to left that pushed Minnesota's lead to 3-0. Groenewegen flew out to left and Parlich grounded out to first to get MSU out of the inning.

In the top of the third, LeMay earned a one-out walk and Richardson followed with an infield single to get a pair on with one out. Meyer chopped at a 2-2 pitch that rolled no more than a foot in front of the plate, but she legged it out for a single to load the bases, and Paige Palkovich hit into a fielder's choice to third, as Jacquie Reiser threw home to get the force and save a run from scoring. With two out and the bases loaded, Tyler Waker fell behind in the count 1-2, and then got caught looking at a called strike three to get Rainey out of the inning.

The Spartans rallied to knot the score in the third inning. Kujawa led off with a single, and came around to score on a double to the gap in right center by Foerster, her second hit of the day. Groenewegen walked Long, struck out Heath, then gave up a double to Ellie Stoffer that rolled to the wall in left center, delivering two runs to the plate and tying the game at three. Luna popped up to strand Sanders, but the Spartans got themselves back in the game.

A leadoff walk by Macken and chopper up the middle by Groenewegen once again put a pair of runners on with one out in the top of the fourth inning for the Gophers, Parlich grounded out to second to move the runners over, but Rainey got Granger to pop up to second for the second out of the inning. LeMay came to the plate and swung at the first pitch, grounding out to Sanders at first to strand a pair of runners.

Rainey once again worked herself out of a jam in the fifth, hitting Richardson to lead off the inning before allowing a one-out single to Palkovich. She then got Walker to pop out to Stoffer behind the plate and the got Macken looking at a called third strike to leave two more Gopher runners.

MSU tried to rally in the fifth as Sanders led off by reaching on an error by the third baseman. Groenewegen got Foerster swinging - the first time this weekend the Gopher ace was able to retire the freshman - and got Long looking to get to two outs. After fouling off three of pitches - one sailed long but just into foul territory in deep left - Heath then saw three straight balls to walk on a full count. Stoffer, who drove in a pair in the third inning , delivered a double to shallow left, and Sanders made it under the tag at home to give the Spartans a 4-3 lead. Groenewegen got Luna to strike out to end the inning.

The Gopher pitcher led off the sixth and helped her own cause, singling to right. Parlich delivered a second straight hit to the right side, moving Groenewegen to third with no outs. A double into the gap in left center by Granger eluded a diving Foerster, plating two runs to allow the Gophers to pull ahead 5-4. After Wenner moved to third on a passed ball, a sac fly by Richardson brought her home to make it a 6-4 ballgame. Meyer popped out to first for the second out, and Rainey got Palkovich looking at a called third strike, the third time on the day Rainey got a called third strike to get out of an inning.

A pair of impressive defensive plays by the Golden Gophers gave MSU a pair of quick outs in the top of the sixth, as both the shortstop Walker and left fielder Palkovich made diving catches on Reiser and McBride, respectively. Groenewegen struck out Kujawa to quickly end the inning.

The Gophers sent across another run in the top of the seventh, as Groenewegen smacked a triple to deep right, scoring pinch runner Erika Rozell; Parlich followed with a shot over the right-field fence to push the lead to 9-4. Rainey got out of the inning, but it was a much larger mountain to climb for MSU in its final at-bat.

Groenewegen got Sanders swinging for the first out of the inning, but Foerster legged out an infield single for her third hit of the day and sixth of the series. The freshman stole second on a wild pitch, but had to stay there when Long flew out to center. Heath looked at a called third strike to end the game.

MSU has another five-game week on tap, heading to Michigan for a Tuesday night game to kick off the week on the Big Ten Network.

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Team Stats

Lea Foerster

Ellie Stoffer

Kassidy Kujawa

Stephanie Sanders

Players Mentioned

Lea Foerster

Bridgette Rainey

Jacquie Reiser

Ellie Stoffer