Softball Sweeps Home Opener Against Loyola-Chicago

April 6, 2005

EAST LANSING, Mich. - As opening day hit Old College Field, the Michigan State softball team capitalized by winning its first home doubleheader against Loyola-Chicago, 2-0 and 4-1. The Spartans improved to 11-18-1 as Loyola dropped to 8-17. Tuesday's doubleheader was originally scheduled for March 26, but was postponed due to field conditions at Loyola.

The wins mark Head Coach Jacquie Joseph's 500th career victory, which combines her years as head coach at State and, before that, at Bowling Green. She is the 37th active coach to achieve the feat in NCAA Division I and ranks third in the Big Ten behind Iowa's Gayle Belvins (1,038 wins) and Michigan's Carol Hutchins (910).

Christy McGrew (3-5) started on the mound for the Spartans and racked up six strikeouts against the Ramblers. McGrew also pitched a complete game allowing only two hits as the Spartans' defense was solid, as they did not allow a single run.

In the first inning, Traci Nicosia hit a hard triple to left-center but was stuck on base after Loyola's Katie Schupbach struck out sophomore Dana Rosenblatt at the plate to end the inning.

At the top of the second, Loyola had its first hit as Nora Schober singled to third base. Schober was able to sneak past the Spartans with a steal at second, but was left on base after McGrew struck out the next two Ramblers.

The fourth inning would be the highlight for the Spartans, as Amy Szawara brought in both Elizabeth Peterson and Caitlin Mahoney to put the Green and White up by two.

Freshman Lesley Noel (1-2) led the Spartans with three strikeouts against the Ramblers in the second game, allowing only one run. The complete-game victory marked the first win of Noel's collegiate career.

Loyola's only run came in the first after O'Gean singled, stole second and advanced to third after Kristen Cefalu grounded out at first. After a passed ball at the plate, Loyola capitalized on the slip to score on the Spartans in the first.

The Spartans quickly answered back in the second with four runs as Dayna Feenstra started off with a solo homer over the right-field fence. With the score tied at 1-1, Peterson managed to line a single to right field and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Caitlin Mahoney followed with a double, Szawara singled and Meghan Darhower singled as well to round out the scoring.

After two and a half innings, the Spartans maintained their 4-1 lead with Mahoney up to bat. With a full count, Mahoney blasted one to the shortstop to get on base. Heidi Charon pinch-ran for the Spartan catcher. With a sacrifice bunt, Hurtado advanced Charon, who would eventually be left on base after Darhower popped out to center.

Katie Duffy started out the fourth for the Ramblers with a bunt, matched with a nicely executed play by Darhower at third to Feenstra for the out. Spartan defense would prevail as Hurtado grabbed O'Gean's hit to lob it over to Feenstra to end the half.

Traci Nicosia hit a strong single to third and would advance off of pinch-hitter Dana Rosenblatt's short hit to third. With two outs and an outside pitch, Feenstra took the walk to put two on base for MSU. With two outs and runners on second and third, MSU was in scoring position as Peterson approached the plate, but struck out swinging, leaving both on base.

Miller started off strong for Loyola with a line drive up the middle. Soon, bases were loaded as Noel struck out O'Gean for the first out. Cefalu grounded out to Noel for the double play as Noel went to Mahoney, who threw to Peterson to end the inning.

With a careful eye, Mahoney walked to start off the bottom of the fifth as Hurtado popped out to second. With one out, Szwara dropped one in left field to advance Mahoney and to get on base. Darhower captured a frozen rope down into center to load the bases for Mercado. However, Mercado lined out and Traci Nicosia flied out as Sarah Lamkin made the grab in right to end the inning.

In the sixth and on a 3-2 pitch, Victoria Morache kept her patience and took the walk as Feenstra made the sacrifice bunt towards first to advance Morache, who then stole third. After being hit by a pitch, Peterson split the base runners as Mahoney also walked. With the bases loaded, O'Gean grabbed Hurtado's ball for the double play to save Loyola. The Ramblers would escape another inning without giving up more runs.

With the Spartans ahead, the game ended with a ground out and two pop-ups.

Next, Michigan State will travel to Eastern Michigan on Wednesday, April 6, at 4 p.m. The Spartans return home to host Ohio State on Friday, April 8, at 4 p.m. and Saturday, April 9, at 1 p.m.