Michigan State University
18-24
Central Michigan
19-21
Foerster, Carrasco Homer In 8-1 Win Over Central Michigan
4/25/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Box Score | PDF Box: MSU 8, CMU 1 
SPARTAN SYNOPSIS
Michigan State took a second straight non-conference victory at home, an 8-1 win over in-state rival Central Michigan.
MSU (18-24) recorded a season-best 13 base hits in the game. The Spartans blew open a 4-1 game in the sixth inning, where both Lea Foerster and Kelcey Carrasco hit two-run homers. Each had a double earlier in the game as well, and Carrasco added a single for a 3-for-3 day at the plate.
Kristina Zalewski tossed a complete game, her 13th of the season. She struck out nine batters in the game, pushing her over 600 in her career - just the second player in program history with 600 strikeouts. She is second in school history in that category, behind Jessica Beech (2001-04) who had 659.
The Chippewas did manage eight hits on the day, but none of them were extra-base hits. Both Sara Hansen and Shaidan Knapp had two hits for the visitors, who fall to 19-21 overall with the midweek loss.
MSU has a home game on Tuesday vs. Michigan, a 3 pm first pitch that will air live on the Big Ten Network.
TOP PERFORMERS
- Lea Foerster went 2-for-3 with a double, home run, and two RBI.
- Kelcey Carrasco was 3-for-3 with a single, double, and home run for two RBI.
- Kristina Zalewski threw a complete game, striking out nine without a walk and scattering eight hits.
QUOTABLE
"I thought we started slow today - an error almost right off the bat led to their first run, and then Kristina Zalewski had to work out of a jam after the bases were loaded with no outs. We then left the bases loaded in the first, which has also been our achilles heel. However, I thought we settled in really well. Any day you have 13 base hits against a solid team, you are doing something right. Over the last couple of weeks, we've been able to start practicing outside in `normal' temperatures, and we're seeing some real improvment that it's hard to get when you practice indoors or in 30 degrees. Its all good signs as we head into a really important weekend series against Rutgers ."
Head Coach Jacquie Joseph
STATS AND STORYLINES
- Central Michigan got on the board early on a single by leadoff hitter Lacy Tolfree, who drew a throwing error as she stole second that allowed her to come all the way around to score the first run of the game. Zalewski then gave up three straight hits to load the bases, but got out of it with a pair of ground ball outs and a fly to left to end the inning.
- In the top of the third inning, Kristina Zalewski recorded her 600th career strikeout, just the second pitcher in program history to reach that plateau.
- In the bottom of the third, MSU got a single from Caitie Ladd and a one-out double down the left field line from Kelcey Carrasco that left runners in scoring position. Kaitlyn Eveland singled to right on the first pitch she saw to bring home Ladd and tie the game. With Lexi White at the plate, the Spartans executed a double steal, bringing inch runner Summer Callahan across the plate with a go-ahead score.
- In the bottom of the sixth, MSU got a pair of two-run homers from Lea Foerster and Carrasco to double the lead. Both balls were no-doubters off the bat - Foerster's to right, and Carrasco's to left.
- Foerster's double in the fourth inning was her 17th of the season and 70th of her career. She is not only the MSU career leader in this category, but also in the Big Ten. Her 31st career home run moved her into a tie for third place in the MSU annals.
- With 607 career strikeouts to her credit, Kristina Zalewski is just 52 behind all-time leader Jessica Beech. Today was her 49th career victory, which ranks fourth all-time among MSU pitchers.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Zalewski, Kristina (10-10)
L: HOWELL, Samantha (2-2)
Base Running:
RUNS: TOLFREE, Lacy 1
SB: TOLFREE, Lacy 1
HBP: UNDERWOOD, Erika 1
Batting:
2B: Foerster, Lea 1 ; Ladd, Caitie 1 ; Carrasco, Kelcey 1
HR: Foerster, Lea 1 ; Carrasco, Kelcey 1
RBI: Foerster, Lea 2 ; Carrasco, Kelcey 2 ; Eveland, Kaitlyn 1 ; Long, McKenzie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Foerster, Lea 1 ; Ladd, Caitie 1 ; Echols, Ebonee 2 ; Carrasco, Kelcey 2 ; Callahan, Summer 1 ; Baccay, Melanie 1
SB: Callahan, Summer 1 ; Eveland, Kaitlyn 1
CS: Quinlan, Katie 1
HBP: Carrasco, Kelcey 1
