Michigan State University
Boston University
Spartans Split At Day One Of Plant City Tournament
3/4/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 4, 2006
PLANT CITY, Fla. -
Michigan State vs. Boston University Box Score
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Michigan State vs. Temple Box ScoreDownload Free Acrobat Reader
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The Spartan softball team faced the Boston University Terriers and Temple Owls in day one action at the Plant City Tournament on a beautiful day in central Florida. State (5-3) split decisions on the day, with a 2-0 shutout vs. the Owls, and a 2-1 loss at the hands of the Terriers. Junior first baseman Dayna Feenstra went 3-6 for the day, including a 2-3 effort vs. Temple, while pitchers Rachel Turney and Lesley Noel combined for 12 strikeouts.
State started the day vs. Boston University, where Turney, and Terrier pitcher Cassidi Hardy, held opposing teams scoreless at the plate through the first three innings. The Spartans were first to mark the scoreboard, when after a Traci Nicosia groundout opened the bottom of the fourth, sophomore designated hitter Caitlin Mahoney knocked her team-leading second homerun of the season, giving MSU the 1-0 advantage.
The Spartan defense downed the Terriers in order in the top of the fifth, however Boston answered in the top of the sixth, when after an infield error, the BU found themselves with runners in scoring position at second and third. State would add another error to the scoreboard, allowing both runs to score, as BU took the 2-1 lead.
Turney (2-2) pitched the complete game loss, allowing just three hits and two runs, while Mahoney, Dayna Feenstra, Meghan Darhower and Kara Weigle each added one hit for the Spartans.
Game two of the day saw sophomore pitcher Lesley Noel pitch a complete game, four hit win over Temple for her second victory of the season. The Spartans took the lead early, when consecutive singles by Mahoney and Feenstra began the top of the second. Weigle would reach on a fielder's choice, advancing pinch runner Abby Lincoln and Feenstra, as Darhower stepped to the plate with the bases loaded. Lincoln would score State's first run off a Darhower single, however the Owl defense would hold State to just one run in the inning.
Noel would strikeout the side in the bottom of the second, holding the MSU advantage until the Spartan sixth, when Nicole Mercado reached on an error by the Temple infield. After a Traci Nicosia single, both runners would advance on a wild pitch by TU, as Mahoney stepped to the plate with runners on second and third. Mahoney would walk to load the bases for Spartan Feenstra, who would reach on a fielder's choice. Weigle sent a fly ball to the Owls' left fielder to score Mercado from third, as the Spartan took the deciding 2-0 upperhand.
Noel allowed just four hits, adding a career-best seven strikeouts, as her record improved to 2-0 for the year. Feenstra lead the Green and White offense going 2-3 at the plate, while Weigle and Darhower each added one RBI in the victory.
"I thought our pitching was good enough to win both games today, and disappointed that we didn't," Spartan head coach Jacquie Joseph said. "On occasion, two of the three components of our game are in-sync - pitching, defense and offense - we need all three components working together for us to be successful."
State continues action at Plant City, Saturday vs. Harvard at 12:30 p.m. and Buffalo at 3 p.m. from the Randy Larson Four Plex.
