Michigan State University
Bowling Green
Softball Drops Home Opener To Bowling Green
3/28/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 28, 2007
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Spartan softball team (18-14) dropped an 11-1, six-inning decision to visiting Bowling Green (15-4) in the 2007 home opener at Old College Field on Wednesday. Meghan Darhower collected one RBI in the loss.
Spartan hurler Rachel Turney (6-7) allowed 14 hits and eight earned runs in the complete-game loss. Darhower posted a 1-for-3 effort at the plate, while catcher Kara Weigle, right fielder Jessica LeFevre, left fielder Kelly Confer and first baseman Dayna Feenstra each contributed one hit for the Green and White. Pinch runner Megan Hair scored the lone MSU run of the day.
Bowling Green scored three runs on four hits in the top half of the first inning for an early 3-0 edge. Weigle tallied a two-out single, and Falcon pitcher Emily Gouge hit Confer in the bottom half of the frame to put runners on first and second for Traci Nicosia at the plate. Gouge halted the threat, forcing Nicosia to foul-out to the BGSU first baseman for the third out of the set.
The Falcons added two runs in the second, and three more BGSU baserunners crossed the plate in the top half of the fourth behind an Allison Vallas three-run home run to right field. State scored its lone run of the contest in the bottom half of the frame on a Darhower two-out double to center field.
Turney downed the side in order in the fifth, but the Falcons exploded for three runs on three hits in the top half of the sixth, and the Spartans failed to score in the bottom half of the frame, as BGSU closed the 11-1, run-rule victory.
Michigan State scored one run on five hits, while Bowling Green tallied 11 runs on 14 hits in the victory. Bowling Green marks just the fourth Spartan opponent to register double-digit hit totals this season.
Michigan State travels to No. 7 Northwestern on Sunday, April 1 for its 2007 Big Ten opener. The conference doubleheader is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. at the Sharon J. Drysdale Field in Evanston.
