Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Radford
Spartans Defeat Radford In Day Two At Bama Bash
2/17/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 17, 2007
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Michigan State softball team (2-1) defeated Radford (2-5), 9-7, in its final pool play contest at the Hampton Inn Bama Bash on Saturday afternoon. State entered bracket play as the second seed, however, its scheduled evening matchup versus third-seeded Toledo was cancelled due to inclement weather.
Seven different Spartans registered at least one hit versus Radford. Sophomore Kara Weigle continued an outstanding offensive performance at the Bama Bash, going 2-for-4 at the plate, including her third triple and second home run of the season. The Naples, Fla., native scored two runs, and also registered a team-best three RBI in the contest. Left fielder Traci Nicosia added two hits, one run and one RBI, while shortstop Meghan Darhower contributed two hits and one run for the Green and White.
In her second appearance of the season, senior hurler Rachel Turney (1-1) allowed seven hits and four earned runs, striking out four in 5.2 innings from the circle. Sophomore Megan Hair made her second relief appearance of the weekend, allowing two hits and two runs in 1.1 innings pitched.
Spartan center fielder Nikki Nicosia contributed one hit, one run and one RBI, while right fielder Nicole Mercado added one hit and one run in the victory. Senior first baseman Dayna Feenstra registered her first hit of the season, and third baseman Caitlin Mahoney tallied one hit and one RBI for the Green and White.
Radford scored the first run in the opening frame, as Highlander second baseman Jenn Everhart sent a shot over the right field wall for an early 1-0 advantage. State answered in the top half of the second behind a Traci Nicosia single, Darhower walk and Mercado infield single to load the bases with one out. Designated player Dana Rosenblatt drew her first of two walks in the contest, scoring pinch runner Abby Lincoln to knot the score at 1-1. Second baseman Gina Mondo hit a sacrifice fly to center field, and Nikki Nicosia singled to left, scoring two more Spartan baserunners. With two outs in the frame, Weigle tallied her third triple of the tournament, scoring Rosenblatt and Nikki Nicosia. Mahoney ended the scoring streak with an infield RBI single for a 6-1 Spartan lead.
The Highlanders added three runs on two infield singles and an error by the Spartan defense in the bottom of the second frame. Both teams were held scoreless in the third, before Weigle tallied her second home run of the tournament in the fourth, extending the MSU lead to 7-4. The Green and White added three hits and two runs in the fifth behind an RBI double from Traci Nicosia and an errant throw by the Radford left fielder to push its lead to 9-4.
Radford was able to get to within two of the Spartan lead with a run in the sixth and a two-run double by Amanda Davidson in the seventh. However, Hair ended the run with her only strikeout of the outing to close the 9-7 victory.
MSU concludes play at the Hampton Inn Bama Bash versus Radford at noon (ET) on Sunday. Host No. 5 Alabama defeated Toledo, 13-0 (five innings), in its final pool play contest to enter bracket play as the No. 1 seed with an undefeated record. The Crimson Tide defeated Radford, 6-0, in the first semifinal on Saturday evening and will face Toledo at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday.
