Michigan State University
Massachusetts
No. 24 Massachusetts Defeats Spartan Softball, 9-6
2/25/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 25, 2001
COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Michigan State softball team fell to No. 24 Massachusetts, 9-6, Sunday morning (Feb. 25) in the consolation round of the bronze medal bracket at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. MSU (0-10) finishes the tournament 0-5, while the Minutewomen improve their season record to 4-6.
UMass jumped out to an early lead, scoring four runs in the first two innings on four hits. Keri DeJong (Jr., Portage, Mich.) started on the mound for the Spartans, but Becky Gray (Jr., Burr Oak, Mich.) relieved her in the second inning.
Massachusetts increased the lead to seven after a three-run homer over the left field fence in the bottom of the fifth by Jamie Cahalan. Cahalan finished the game 2-for-3 with five RBI.
Michigan State rallied for four runs in the sixth on six hits, including four consecutive singles. Brittney Green (Fr., Simi Valley, Calif.), Demita Clark (Sr., Detroit, Mich.) and Jessica Beech (Fr., Okemos, Mich.) all had RBI singles in the inning.
UMass quieted the rally with two more runs in the bottom half of the sixth on a double by Anna Percy.
The Spartans answered with two runs in the seventh, trimming the score to 9-6, but could not come any closer. Shealee Dunavan (Sr., Yorba Linda, Calif.) and Amanda Melton (Jr., Saugus, Calif.) each scored runs in the inning.
Kaila Holtz pitched a complete game for UMass, allowing six runs on 10 hits. DeJong (0-1) took the loss for the Spartans.
Dunavan went 2-for-3 with a double in the game. With her six hits this weekend, she moves into fourth place all-time at MSU with 196 career hits. She is 67 hits away from tying the record held by Keri Lemasters.
Michigan State returns to action Monday, March 5, when they face Temple and Central Michigan on their spring trip in Tampa, Fla.
Game Summary R H EMSU 000 004 2- 6 10 1UMASS 220 032 x- 9 9 3
WP: Holtz-UMASSLP: DeJong-MSU (0-1)
