Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
LSU (NFCA Leadoff Classic)
No. 10 LSU Blanks Spartan Softball, 6-0
2/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 26, 2005
COLUMBUS, Ga. - Michigan State suffered another tough loss to a ranked opponent Saturday, Feb. 26, at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, falling in the bronze bracket to No. 10 LSU, 6-0. The Spartans drop to 1-7 on the year while the Tigers jump to 9-3.
Louisiana State was the first team that threatened to score in the game, as it recorded two singles in the second. Michigan State starter Lesley Noel kept the game scoreless by forcing Andrea Smith to ground out with two away. The Tigers got another runner in scoring position in the third when Camille Harris reached second with two outs. Noel escaped again, getting Quinlan Duhon to hit a tapper to the right of the mound to end the inning, the third straight frame that Noel got a third out by way of a grounder to the pitching circle.
Victoria Morache led off the bottom of the third with an infield single to the shortstop. Meghan Darhower moved her to second with a sacrifice bunt, but Nikki Nicosia popped up and Nicole Mercado struck out to leave Darhower on base. Noel came back out in the fourth and notched her first perfect inning in a Spartan uniform, sitting down the five through seven hitters in order.
Senior second baseman Janette Hurtado came within feet of her first career home run in the fourth, blasting one deep to left field only to see Duhon make the catch up against the fence. When LSU came to the plate in the fifth, a two-out error by shortstop Traci Nicosia allowed Lauren Castle to get aboard and Harris singled to center to allow Castle to reach third. Vanessa Solo drove in Castle to help the Tigers take a 1-0 lead, however an excellent throw by Nicosia on the play in right to Darhower at third retired Harris who attempted to advance from first.
In the sixth, LSU opened the frame by putting runners on second and third with nobody out. Freshman Abby Lincoln came in to relieve fellow classmate Noel on the mound and immediately got Erika Sluss to ground out and Leslie Klein to hit into a fielder's choice. With two down, LSU blew the game open, scoring five runs for a 6-0 advantage. The Spartans could not recover and the Tigers moved on in bracket play with a 6-0 victory.
Michigan State meets with Florida Atlantic Sunday, Feb. 27, at 9 a.m. as the two teams do battle in consolation play. If MSU wins, it will play at 1 p.m. against either Texas State or Georgia Tech for the bronze bracket consolation title.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H ELSU 0 0 0 0 1 5 0 6 10 0Michigan State 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 2Records: MSU 1-7, LSU 9-3W: Megan Jolly (3-2)L: Lesley Noel (0-1)
