Michigan State University
Minnesota (Senior Day)
Spartans Sweep Doubleheader Against Minnesota On Senior Day
4/29/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 29, 2007
EAST LANSING, Mich. - In a key Big Ten matchup on Sunday, the Michigan State softball team earned its second consecutive series sweep, winning both sides of a doubleheader with visiting Minnesota on Senior Day at Old College Field. MSU won by scores of 4-3 and 5-2, improving to 30-24, 6-8 Big Ten, while the Gophers fall to 21-21, with a 3-8 mark against league opponents.
Junior hurler Lesley Noel started in the circle for the Spartans in game one, allowing six hits and three earned runs in five innings of work. Senior reliever Rachel Turney (10-9) tossed one inning of hitless relief to earn the victory.
Minnesota's Briana Hassett (10-7) suffered the loss in the circle. She allowed six hits and four earned runs in the complete-game effort.
Junior outfielders Nikki and Traci Nicosia each tallied two hits, while Nikki scored two runs and Traci contributed two RBI. Senior first baseman Dayna Feenstra tallied her first sacrifice fly of the season, and classmate Nicole Mercado brought home the tying run in the bottom of the seventh inning for the Green and White.
Noel allowed just two hits through the first three innings, and MSU scored two runs on a sacrifice fly by Feenstra and an RBI single by Traci Nicosia for a 2-0 upperhand. Minnesota pulled within one in the top of the fourth on a solo home run by Lisa Parks, and the Gophers took a 3-2 lead in the sixth on consecutive RBI extra-base hits by Mandy Valadez and Parks.
Turney downed the side in order in the top half of the seventh, and the Spartan offense scored twice in the bottom half of the frame for the come-from-behind victory. With the bases loaded and one out in the inning, second baseman Gina Mondo scored from third on a single by Mercado, and Traci Nicosia delivered the game-winning RBI to score sophomore catcher Kara Weigle for the 4-3 MSU victory.
State scored four runs on six hits, committing two miscues in the field. Minnesota tallied three runs on six hits, and did not commit an error in the loss.
Turney (11-10) started in the circle for the Spartans in game two. She allowed just five hits and two runs, while striking out five in the complete-game effort.
Gopher hurler Rene Konderik (5-7) took the loss in game two, allowing seven hits and five earned runs. Reliever Katie Kalen tossed two innings, allowing two hits, while striking out three Spartan batters.
After a quiet game one at the plate, junior third baseman Caitlin Mahoney erupted for three hits, one run and two RBI in game two for the Green and White. Traci Nicosia contributed three hits, and Weigle delivered the game-winning RBI during a three-run sixth inning for the Spartans.
 Senior hurler Rachel Turney improved to 11-9 with two wins against Minnesota on Senior Day.  | |
Leading 2-1 after two RBI singles by Mahoney early in game two, MSU used a three-run sixth inning to put the game out of reach for the Gophers. With the bases loaded in the frame, Mahoney scored on a sacrifice fly by Weigle, and Nikki Nicosia followed with a two-run single to center, extending the Spartan lead to 5-1.
Minnesota rallied for one run in the seventh, but Turney held strong in the circle to clinch the sweep with the 5-2 victory.
State tallied five runs on nine hits, while Minnesota managed two runs on five hits, committing one error in the field.
MSU will host Valparaiso on May 3 in a non-conference doubleheader at Old College Field beginning at 2 p.m. State resumes Big Ten play in a key series against archrival Michigan, May 5-6. Game one of the series will be played at Old College Field on May 5 before the series moves to Ann Arbor for game two on May 6. Both games will start at 1:05 p.m. and will be broadcast live on Comcast Local. The series will be a "Strike Out Breast Cancer" series. Both teams will wear pink jerseys trimmed in their respective school colors, and the jerseys will be auctioned off at the end of the season. For more details please visit msuspartans.com.
