Michigan State University
UConn
Green And White Hurlers Split At FAU
3/17/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 17, 2006
BOCA RATON, Fla. - The Spartan softball team (13-7) began play at the Florida Atlantic Parents' Weekend Tournament Friday morning, with a 3-2 loss vs. Chattanooga, followed by a 3-1 victory over UConn. Spartan pitching ace Rachel Turney improved her record to 7-3 for the year, allowing just one earned run vs. the Huskies. At the plate, Nikki Nicosia added three hits for the day, while Dana Rosenblatt posted her first double and RBI of the year.
Jessica LeFevre walked to start the Spartan half of the third, advancing to second on her second stolen base of the season. LeFevre would reach third on a wild pitch by UTC's JayCee Cook, as Traci Nicosia stepped to the plate for State's first RBI opportunity of the day. Nicosia would reach first on a fielder's choice, however the Lady Mocs second baseman gunned down a running LeFevre at the plate.
After a past ball by UTC's Ashleigh Bull, runners stood at second and third with two outs for LeFevre at the plate in the top of the fourth. LeFevre would walk to load the bases for shortstop Traci Nicosia, forcing Lady Mocs head coach Frank Reed to bring in relief pitcher Brittney Whittier. Nicosia would fly out to the right fielder, as the game remained scoreless through the top half of the inning.
UTC would see runners on second and third after a throwing error by the Spartan infield in the bottom of the fifth. Lady Mocs batter Ashley Cutticchia dropped a single into right field, scoring Carey Cooper from third, as Chattanooga took the first lead of the game, 1-0. The Mocs would extend the lead to 2-0, before a pop up to the Spartan second baseman would end the fifth.
The Spartans would rally to even the score, when in the top of the sixth, a single by Gina Mondo and error by the UTC second baseman would put runners on first and third. A sac bunt by Caitlin Mahoney would score Mondo from third, as MSU neared the lead at 2-1. Consecutive walks by LeFevre and Traci Nicosia would put runners on first and second for Nikki Nicosia who would reach on an infield single. With two outs and the bases loaded, Meghan Darhower would draw her first walk of the day, evening the score at 2-2.
Despite the strong comeback from the Spartan offense, UTC would take the 3-2 victory on a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Cooper posted her first career home run for the win.
Offensively, State was led by Mondo with a 2-3 performance at the plate, while the trio of Darhower, Nicoel Mercado and Nikki Nicosia each added one hit. Starting pitcher Megan Hair recorded three strikeouts, allowing six hits, while reliever Lesley Noel allowed one hit in the loss.
Scoring started in game two in the top half of the third inning when UConn managed one run off of Spartan pitcher Rachel Turney to take the 1-0 upperhand. State would add one run in the bottom of the fourth after pinch hitter Dana Rosenblatt tallied her first RBI of the year, scoring the designated hitter Kara Weigle scored from second.
After an Amy Szawara bunt, pinch hitter Mercado would knock her first triple of the season, scoring Rosenblatt and Szawara, as State took the deciding 3-1 advantage. Turney would hold the Huskies through the top of the seventh inning with just one run, as the Spartans would improve to 13-7 with the victory.
Turney improves to 7-3 for the year, as she allowed just four hits and one earned run for the day. Nikki Nicosia and Weigle both went 2-3 at the plate, while Rosenblatt and Mercado added one and two RBI respectively.
"The first game today we let slip away - we still haven't been beaten yet," Spartan head coach Jacquie Joseph said." The second match-up we played well in all three phases of the game, we played our first errorless game, and we had key hits when we needed them."
Michigan State continues action tomorrow when it faces North Carolina at 9 a.m. and UMass at 11 a.m. from the FAU Softball Complex.
