Michigan State University
Purdue*
Purdue Claims Doubleheader Sweep Over MSU Softball Sunday
4/3/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 3, 2005
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - A powerful Purdue line-up was no match for Michigan State as the Boilermakers swept the Spartans in a softball doubleheader Sunday, April 3, 11-1 and 7-2. The losses came a day after MSU completed a two-game sweep of Indiana. State fell to 9-18-1 and 2-2 in conference play while Purdue went to 22-12 and 2-0 in the Big Ten.
In the first game, Purdue jumped on MSU starter Christy McGrew in the first inning for two runs. Shelli Messer and Andrea Hillsey both roped singles up the middle and with two outs, Tricia Lilley placed a two-run triple into the gap in right-center. State finally put some pressure on in the third by getting two aboard with the help of a single by Nicole Mercado and an error by Messer at third off the bat of Victoria Morache. But Boilermakers' starter Brooke Baker induced Janette Hurtado to hit into a fielder's choice for the third out.
Purdue increased its lead to 4-0 in the fourth inning. Lilley was hit by a McGrew pitch and was sacrificed over by Erika Peterson. After Katie Fortune flied out to right to put two away, Lauren Devich walked and both advanced on a wild pitch. Pinch-hitter Kristen Schnell then drove them in with a single to left-center.
Some key base running by one of MSU's fastest players, Jessica LeFevre, got the Spartans closer in the fifth. Caitlin Mahoney led-off with a single and LeFevre entered the game as a pinch-runner for the 20th time this season. A sacrifice bunt by Amy Szawara moved the freshman speedster to second and then she traveled to third on an infield ground out. Mercado was then issued a walk and on the play, LeFevre stole home for Michigan State's first run of the game.
Abby Lincoln relieved McGrew in the bottom of the fifth in what was her first appearance since March 12. Three quick ground outs later and the score remained, 4-1, heading into the sixth. However, two Boilermaker singles to open their half of the frame forced Lincoln to hit the bench in favor of fellow freshman Lesley Noel, who had been absent from the circle since March 9. Although the first batter she faced, Fortune, grounded a single into the outfield, center fielder Nikki Nicosia picked up her seventh assist of the year on the play by throwing out Lilley at home. Unfortunately, Purdue recorded four more hits in the inning, capped off by a grand slam by DaQueta Johnson, to give the Boilermakers the 11-1 six-inning win.
In the second game, Rachel Turney took the circle for the Spartans and immediately got out of a jam in the top of the first. After a pop-up, Staci Falzon laced a triple to center for Purdue's first runner. Andrea Hillsey grounded out to short but Johnson walked to put runners at the corners. Just like she has done all year, Turney used the strike out to escape trouble, fanning Lilley for the third out.
Unfortunately, Purdue did go out in front in the fourth inning, 2-0, notching two doubles in the stanza along with a sacrifice bunt and a fielder's choice. State went to work in its half of the fourth against pitcher Diana LaRiva. With one away, Dayna Feenstra connected for her team-leading sixth double of the year and was replaced at second by pinch-runner Heidi Charon. Elizabeth Peterson reached first after being hit by a pitch but Morache was out No. 2 after swinging at strike three. Two outs, though, has been when the Spartan bats have come to life lately and Mercado tied the game up with her second triple in her last three games, scoring Charon and Peterson to tie the game at 2-2.
The Boilermakers came right back with four in the fifth, all with two down, to take the lead for good. Purdue used three singles, two HBP and a walk for a 6-2 advantage. The outburst marked the first time this season that Turney gave up more than three runs in a game.
Michigan State attempted to climb back when it returned to the plate, but with two on and one out, Purdue kept the Spartans at bay. The Boilermakers added a run in the seventh to wrap up the scoring.
Nikki Nicosia was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate in the second game. The three hits marked a new career high for the freshman outfielder.
After its first three home games were postponed, Michigan State is set to host Loyola-Chicago in a make-up doubleheader Tuesday, April 5. The games are set to begin at 3 p.m. at Old College Field.
Game One 1 2 3 4 5 6 R H EMichigan State 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 0Purdue 2 0 0 2 0 7 11 12 2Records: MSU 9-17-1, 2-1 Big Ten PUR 21-12, 1-0 Big TenW: Brooke Baker (11-8)L: Christy McGrew (2-5)
Game Two 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H EPurdue 0 0 0 2 4 0 1 7 10 0Michigan State 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 7 0Records: MSU 9-18-1, 2-2 Big Ten PUR 22-12, 2-0 Big TenW: Melissa Burns (5-2)L: Rachel Turney (7-10)
