Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Cal (UNLV Rebel Tournament)
MSU Softball Falls To No. 1 California and UNLV
2/20/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 20, 2005
CAL Final Stats
UNLV Final Stats
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Coming off two heart-pounding games Saturday, the Michigan State softball team dropped its final two games of the UNLV Rebel Tournament Sunday, Feb. 20, falling to No. 1 California in five innings, 13-0, and host-UNLV, 3-2. State dropped to 1-3 on the year while the Golden Bears improved to 4-0 and UNLV to 8-5.
California was ready for Michigan State and proved why it is No. 1 in the country early in the game. Christy McGrew started the game for the Spartans and she, along with freshman pitcher Abby Lincoln, could not contain Cal's offense early on. The Golden Bears picked up a run in the first and batted around in the next two innings, posting seven runs in the second and five in the third to take a 13-0 lead. Cal's starter Kristina Thorson was equally impressive, sitting down State's first seven batters before Meghan Darhower reached on an infield single in the third.
MSU threatened to get on the board in the fourth as Nikki Nicosia reached on an error and Dayna Feenstra smacked a double, putting runners on second and third with no outs. However, Thorson retired the next three batters to keep the Spartans scoreless.
McGrew did shutout the Bears in the fourth and fifth innings, but with Cal already having a lead greater than seven runs, the game was called after the fifth with California taking it, 13-0.
State then faced host-UNLV in the tournament's final game. Each team put runners in scoring position in the first, but it was the Rebels that initially got on the board. Even though MSU starter Rachel Turney struck out two batters in the inning and did not give up a hit, a bases-loaded walk gave UNLV a 1-0 lead. The Spartans responded with two in the second. Caitlin Mahoney got aboard by way of a HBP and Amy Szawara pelted a double to left field to put two runners on. Darhower hit a shot to the shortstop, Danielle Martinez, who threw home as pinch-runner Jessica LeFevre attempted to score. The throw hit the dirt and got away from catcher Maggie Liveri, enabling LeFever and Szawara to touch home.
Through 3 2/3 innings, Turney kept the ball on the infield, leaving UNLV hitless. But a key double to left by Marissa Nichols with two aboard ended the Rebel hitting drought as well as driving in the tying run, 2-2. UNLV then put a runner on third with two down in the sixth and finally managed to get its second hit off Turney, a single by pinch-hitter Brittany Meade, to take the lead.
Michigan State tried to answer in the top of the seventh. With runners at first and second and nobody out, Feenstra lined into a double play. Janette Hurtado then reached on a single, and with runners at the corners, Nicole Mercado popped up to the winning pitcher, Shannon Crisp, to end the game.
Turney completed the contest with UNLV with six IP and gave up only two earned runs on two hits. She struck out five on the day, giving her 16 total Ks for the weekend.
The Spartans will next travel to Columbus, Ga., Feb. 25-27, for the 24-team NFCA Leadoff Classic. One of the most prestigious softball tournaments in the country will have MSU and No. 14 Oklahoma, No. 18 Florida State and Lehigh in one pool. After MSU faces each team, all 24 schools will be separated into brackets based on their performances in pool-play. State's first game will be Feb. 25 at 2:30 p.m. against the Seminoles. Live stats for all of the tournament's games will be available at www.nfca.org.
1 2 3 4 5 R H ECalifornia 1 7 5 0 0 13 13 1Michigan State 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 3Records: Michigan State 1-2, California 4-0W: Kristina Thorson (2-0)L: Christy McGrew (0-1)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H EMichigan State 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 5 2UNLV 1 0 0 1 0 1 X 3 2 2Records: Michigan State 1-3, UNLV 8-5W: Shannon Crisp (1-0)L: Rachel Turney (1-2)
