Michigan State University
Longwood
Spartan Softball Falls To Longwood, 5-2
3/1/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 1, 2008
ATHENS, Ga. - Michigan State softball (4-6) dropped its tournament opener to Longwood, 5-2, Saturday afternoon at the Georgia Classic at the UGA Soccer/Softball Complex. Despite tying the game in the bottom of the first inning and scoring a run in the bottom of the seventh, the Lancers capitalized on four Michigan State errors to tally the victory.
Lesley Noel pitched the entire game for the Spartans, and gave a solid performance from the rubber, giving up only one earned run on eight hits and striking out six.
At the plate for MSU, Bianca Mejia was responsible for driving in Michigan State's only runs (3-for-4, two RBI), while Nikki Nicosia and Gina Mondo also contributed a pair of hits a piece.
After giving up a run in the first, Michigan State evened the score in the bottom of the inning. Nikki Nicosia lead off the with a line drive at the pitcher's feet, and reached first safely after the ball shot off Rachel Mill's right shin. Mills came out of the game and was replaced by Bianca Wells, who opened her appearance hitting Kara Weigle, but not before a passed ball and wild pitch allowed Nicosia to move around to third. Continuing to move around the diamond, Weigle stole second during Mejia's appearance at the plate. With runners in scoring position, Mejia singled and drove in Nicosia to tie the score, 1-1. Despite the Spartans' aggressive base running - Mejia stole second on Caitlin Mahoney's at bat - the Lancers were able to close out the inning limiting MSU's damage.
In the second and fourth innings, Longwood benefited from three errors in left field to chalk up four unearned runs and take a decisive 5-1 lead.
The Spartans cleaned up their field work in the sixth and seventh innings to hold Longwood scoreless, and keep the score gap within a hopeful comeback distance.
In the heart of the order, Weigle lead off in the bottom of the seventh, hoping to spur a crucial four-run drive to even the score and force extra innings. Weigle delivered with a base hit to shallow left center field, and Mejia pulled the trigger on her first pitch, roping out an RBI double past the shortstop to the left center wall, giving Weigle plenty of time to tap home plate. The next two at bats would result in outs for MSU, bringing Mondo to the plate with Mejia on second and two outs. On a 1-1 count, Mondo cranked a shot to left center, but Longwood's Caitlin Hooe made a game-ending diving catch, ending the Spartans' late surge.
The Spartans will continue Georgia Classic tournament action at 4 p.m. Saturday, facing host No. 17 Georgia.
