Michigan State University
North Carolina
Michigan State Tops No. 25 UNC, Falls To UMass
3/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 18, 2006
BOCA RATON, Fla. - The Michigan State softball team started the day with a 5-3 victory vs. No. 25 North Carolina, before falling 2-1 vs. UMass, at day two of the FAU Parents' Weekend Tournament in Boca Raton. The win vs. UNC marked the first win vs. a nationally-ranked opponent for the Spartans this season. Against the Tarheels, State (14-8) was led by Dayna Feenstra, who went 3-3 at the plate, while pitchers Lesley Noel and Megan Hair combined for the Spartan win. Rachel Turney tallied seven strikeouts vs. UMass, allowing six hits and two earned runs in the loss.
An error by the Michigan State infield allowed UNC's first baserunner in the top half of the first inning. After a wild pitch by Spartan pitcher Lesley Noel advanced the runner, Jennifer Jacobs hit a single to right field, scoring Ashley Oxendine for the early 1-0 advantage.
A single by first baseman Dayna Feenstra began the Spartan half of the second, which put a runner on for designated hitter Dana Rosenblatt who blasted her first career home run, a two-run shot over the left field fence for the 2-1 Spartan advantage.
State would threaten again in the bottom of the third, when an infield single from Kara Weigle would place runners on first and second with two outs for right fielder Nicole Mercado. Mercado would single to left, loading the bases for Feenstra who hit a two-RBI single, extending State's lead to 4-1.
Noel held the Tarheels scoreless through the top of the fifth; however a lead-off double by UNC in the top of the sixth would force Spartan head coach Jacquie Joseph to bring in relief pitcher Megan Hair. Another error by the Spartan infield would score the runner from second, followed by an RBI single as UNC neared the score at 4-3.
State would answer in the bottom half of the inning, when Feenstra sent a double to the center field fence to score Weigle from second. Hair would down the Tarheels in order in the top of the seventh to secure the 5-3 victory, earning her third save of the season.
In the win, State committed three errors against two by the Tarheel defense, while State posted seven hits compared to six by North Carolina. Feenstra went 3-3 at the plate, adding three RBI and one run, while Traci Nicosia, Weigle and Mercado each added one hit for the Green and White offense.
After a solid win vs. UNC, pitching ace Rachel Turney would take the mound for game two of the day vs. Massachusetts. With just one out in the UMass half of the third, and infield hit would load the bases for KJ Kelley. Turney would force a strikeout, however a single to right field would follow, as UMass took the 2-0 lead.
After a quiet five innings from the MSU offense, Meghan Darhower would walk to start the Spartan sixth and would be replaced by pinch runner Abby Lincoln. Szawara would strikeout on a third strike bunt attempt, before an error by the UMass shortstop would put Weigle on first, advancing Lincoln to second. Mercado would drop a single in front of the left fielder, scoring Lincoln as the Spartans neared the lead at 2-1.
Turney would allow one hit in the seventh, as State stepped to the plate needing at least one run for the tie. After a LeFevre strikeout, Nikki Nicosia nearly beat out an infield throw by the UMass third baseman at first, but was called out by the first base umpire. Traci Nicosia would reach first on a single to right field, as Darhower stepped to the plate with the tying run on first. Darhower would groundout to short, as MSU fell 2-1.
"We finally got beat by a better team today, but overall we played well," Joseph said. "I was very happy with the UNC win, a quality win vs. a very good team. Our match-up vs. UMass was a hard fought game against another good team. We need to capitalize on our opportunities, if we do that, the outcome will be positive."
Mercado went 2-3 at the plate vs. UMass, recording State's lone RBI. Turney (7-4) pitched her eighth complete game of the season, tallying seven strikeouts and two earned runs in the loss. MSU posted seven hits against six by UMass, while State's Nikki Nicosia registered the only stolen base of the game.
The Spartans continue action tomorrow at the FAU Parents' Weekend Tournament in bracket play at either 9 a.m., 11 a.m. or 1 p.m. State's opponent will be determined Saturday night after the finale of the last scheduled game before Sunday's championship round.
