Michigan State University
Penn State*
Spartan Softball Falls In Two Games At Penn State Sunday
4/18/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 18, 2004
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Freshman second baseman Nicole Mercado was 4-for-8 and extended her current hitting streak to 13 games in Michigan State softball's two games at Penn State Sunday as the Spartans fell to Penn State, 6-1 and 11-6. The Spartans are now 24-19 on the season, and 4-8 in the Big Ten, while Penn State moves to 17-24 overall and 3-5 in the league.
Freshman Dayna Feenstra was 3-for-5 at the plate for the Spartans on the day, as she scored two runs and drove in three.
In the first game, Michigan State scored one run in the top of the second inning, as Dayna Feenstra singled with one out. She advanced to second on a passed ball, and moved to third as Amy Szawara reached on an error. Angel Merren drove in Feenstra on a single to right field, and State ended the inning with the 1-0 lead. State had the opportunity to score in the top of the fifth, as it had runners on second and third, but Nicole Mercado was thrown out at home on a single from Elizabeth Peterson.
Penn State scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth, as State pitcher Christy McGrew gave up a leadoff single. Penn State right fielder Meghan Wolfer scored a wild pitch, and designated player Jen Williams came around to score on a double from Barbie Pierce. Pierce scored on the next play, a double from Destinie Chavez. The Spartans got out of the inning with a fly out to center field, and entered the top of the sixth trailing 3-1.
State did not score in the top of the sixth, but allowed three more Nittany Lion runs in the bottom of the inning, as Christy McGrew got the first out and then allowed a single. She hit the next batter, and loaded the bases with a single. Jessica Beech relieved McGrew with one out in the inning, and forced the second out of the inning at home on a fielder's choice. She gave up two singles, though, that brought around the three PSU runs, and the Spartans went into the top of the seventh trailing 6-1. State couldn't overcome the deficit, and lost the game by the same score.
Feenstra was 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Mercado was 2-for-4 at the plate. Angel Merren was also 2-for-3, and drove in the Spartans' only run of the game. McGrew took the loss (4-2), and threw 5.1 innings. She allowed six runs on nine hits and two bases on balls. She struck out four. Beech worked 0.2 innings and allowed two hits. PSU's Shana Riggleman (5-2) picked up the win, allowing one unearned run on eight hits. She struck out two Spartan batters.
The second game saw Penn State put five quick runs on the board and batted around as starting MSU pitcher Jackie Noble allowed three consecutive singles and a three-run double to start the game. She walked the next batter, and Beech came in to relieve her. Beech allowed a triple and a sacrifice fly to score two more Nittany Lions, and State took a 5-0 deficit into the bottom of the first inning.
The Spartans got two in the bottom of the first, as Mercado and Beech both singled. Peterson walked to load the bases, and Brittney Green walked to bring in Mercado. Beech scored on Feenstra's sacrifice fly to left field, and State ended the inning trailing 5-2. MSU allowed four Penn State runs in the top of the second inning, as the Nittany Lions rattled off two singles, a walk and two more singles to score three of its four runs. A sacrifice fly scored PSU's final run of the inning, and State trailed Penn State, 9-2. The Spartans did not allow PSU to score in the third inning, but put two runs of their own on the board in the bottom of the third.
Beech singled to start the third, and with two outs, Green reached on an error by the Penn State second baseman. Feenstra doubled to bring both Beech and Green across the plate, cutting the Penn State lead to 9-4. PSU added two more in the top of the fourth inning, and State countered with one run in the bottom of the fourth. Victoria Morache led off the inning with a single, and she scored on Beech's double to right field. Neither the Spartans nor the Nittany Lions would score again in the game, and the final score ended 11-6.
Beech was 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI in the second game, while Mercado was 2-for-4 with a run scored. Noble (0-2) took the loss in the game, as she allowed five runs on four hits and a walk. She did not record an out. Beech worked 7.0 innings in relief, and gave up six runs on nine hits and three bases on balls. She struck out nine. PSU's Missy Beseres picked up the win, and is now 8-14 on the year. She threw 4.1 innings in relief and allowed two runs on five hits and a walk. She struck out two Spartan batters.
The Spartans return home against Purdue Friday-Saturday, April 23-24. Friday's game begins at 4 p.m., while Saturday's game starts at noon. State faces Indiana in a doubleheader Sunday, April 25 at noon. All games are played at Old College Field on the Michigan State campus.
