Spartans Down EMU, 9-1, in Five Innings

April 24, 2018

SPARTAN SYNOPSIS

Michigan State snapped a three-game skid with a 9-1 run-rule victory over Eastern Michigan on Tuesday at Secchia Stadium.

The Spartans (17-24) opened up a 5-0 lead in the first inning and added to the advantage in the second and third frames.

Freshman Caitie Ladd went 3-for-3 with a double; Ebonee Echols scored twice and went 2-for-2 with an RBI. Lexi White hit her first home run of the season to finish with four RBI on the day after a bases-loaded walk.

Bridgette Rainey brought a no-hitter into the fourth inning, and finished with a five-inning complete game two-hitter. She struck out seven and walked two, allowing the one earned run.

The game was the final one in the series between the two schools. Eastern Michigan announced earlier this season that the program would be discontinued after the 2018 season. The two teams commemorated the final game of the series after the conclusion of the game, when the Spartan program presented the EMU players and coaches with a token of acknowledgement.

MSU continues a six-game homestand when Central Michigan visits on Wednesday, with a 4 pm first pitch. Rutgers comes in for a three-game Big Ten Series that starts on Friday.

TOP PERFORMERS

Caitie Ladd had a double among her three hits on the day, scoring twice.

Lexi White had four RBI on the day with a three-run homer and a bases-loaded walk.

Bridgette Rainey earned the victory with a five-inning two-hit performance, striking out seven.

QUOTABLE
"Today's game was bittersweet in many ways. The game gave us a great chance to get back on track, and I liked the way that Bridgette [Rainey] was in control from the first pitch and we swung the bats really well. On the flip side, it was sad to say goodbye to an in-state rivalry that I've been involved in for many years. We wanted to acknowledge it in a respectful way, and to come together postgame as members of the softball community instead of opposing teams in different uniforms. We wish the coaches and the players the best over the final weeks of their season and in their future endeavors."

Head Coach Jacquie Joseph

STATS AND STORYLINES

Caitie Ladd laced a one-out double to dead center to start the first-inning rally, and Ebonee Echols followed with a single up the middle that scored Ladd from second. Carrasco doubled to center to score Echols, and EMU made a pitching change to bring on Trisha Trujillo. Trujillo walked Kaitlyn Eveland and then gave up a three-run homer to Lexi White, her first of the season, to give the Spartans a 5-0 lead. She retired the next two batters to get out of the inning,

The Spartans loaded the bases in the second, and back-to-back walks to Eveland and White brought home two more runs to give the Spartans a 7-0 lead. Eastern Michigan made a second pitching change, going to Nicole Miranda, who got the final out of the inning without any further damage.

Katie Quinlan legged out an infield single to start off the third inning, and then motored around to score on a Lea Foerster double to make it 9-0. Caitie Ladd followed with an infield single, and a four-pitch walk to Echols loaded the bases for MSU with one out - but EMU got out of the jam and kept the Spartans from adding to the lead.

The no-hitter was broken up in the top of the fourth when Amanda Akels singled through the left side. Arielle Anderson laid down a sac bunt to move punch runner Alex Peters to second, and then Peters came home on a double to right center by Lauren Holdsworth.

The Eastern MIchigan and MSU softball teams commemorated the end of their long-standing in-state rivalry.

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Team Stats

Caitie Ladd

Ebonee Echols

Lea Foerster

Kelcey Carrasco

Players Mentioned

Ebonee Echols

Kaitlyn Eveland

Lea Foerster

Caitie Ladd

Katie Quinlan

Bridgette Rainey

Lexi White