Michigan State University Athletics
Spartans Set for Home-and-Home Series with Michigan
4/24/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 24, 2008
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Spartans are on back on the winning track after sweeping Wednesday's doubleheader against Oakland, 8-2 and 8-5, to improve their record to 25-22 overall. Entering the conference weekend, MSU is an even 7-7 in Big Ten games.
This weekend (April 25-27), the Spartans will play a home-and-home series with Michigan, traveling to Ann Arbor for Friday's game at 6 p.m., before returning to East Lansing for game two at 12 p.m. Fans can listen to Friday's match-up for free, as Scott Moore broadcasts the game at www.msuspartans.com. Saturday's game at Old College Field is the final home conference contest for MSU this season.
On Sunday, April 27, Michigan State heads to University Park, Pa., for a 12 p.m. twinbill against Penn State.
PDF on Complete Game Notes and Stats
LAST TIME OUT
Michigan State earned a pair of wins Wednesday afternoon, sweeping Oakland in a doubleheader at Old College Field, 8-2 and 8-5. Second baseman Gina Mondo drove in five runs for the Spartans, while designated player Jessica LeFevre went a perfect 4-for-4 and scored five times. In the circle, Shae Bass (8-4) pitched the entire first game, with six strikeouts, while Kelly Confer (1-1) earned the second win after throwing six innings.
In MSU's last conference outing, the Spartans split series against Purdue and Indiana at home. In both series, Michigan State won the first contest, but stumbled in the second.
MICHIGAN STATE SCOUTING REPORT
Nikki Nicosia continues to lead the Spartans at the plate, batting a team-high .395 with a squad-high 60 hits, including six doubles, nine triples and six homers. Additionally, Nicosia's .20 triples per game leads the nation. Junior second baseman Gina Mondo has also stepped up to provide offense consistency and efficiency. Mondo, who averages .381, has a team high 10 doubles - she hit two against the Grizzlies on Wednesday, which contribute to her 56 hits. And with six home runs, Mondo has 31 RBI.
Mejia also serves as an offense force, batting .358 with 48 hits (six 2B, one 3B, eight HR). Additionally, the Spartans rely heavily on the 3-hole hitter to drive in runs, as she paces MSU with 34 RBI this season. On the rubber, senior tri-captain Lesley Noel serves as the Spartans' ace, throwing nearly 60 percent of MSU's innings. Noel has fanned 118 opponents this season - a team high - and owns a 2.56 ERA.
Sophomore Kelly Confer and freshman Shae Bass add depth to MSU's bullpen, having recently helped carry the load in the circle, while junior Megan Hair also contributes. As a team, Michigan State allows 2.81 runs against per game.
THE WOLVERINE SCOUTING REPORT
No. 6 Michigan practically leads the Big Ten Conference in every statistic, including batting (.303) and ERA (0.62). The Wolverines are tied for the top spot with Northwestern; both are 13-1 in the league.
The Wolverines have won 12-straight games, nine of which were league contests. They last lost to Iowa, 2-1, on April 4.
Michigan hulers Jordan Taylor and Nikki Nemitz split time on the mound, and have a combined 387 strikeouts this year. Together, they have given up not a single triple and have walked only 44 batters.
At the plate, Samantha Findlay paces the Wolverines with her .378 batting average, while Alessandra Giampaolo leads the team with 53 hits. As a team, Michigan is out-hitting its opponents 246-49.
THE NITTANY LION SCOUTING REPORT
Penn State will host Northwestern on Friday and Saturday (April 25-26) before the Spartans play in University Park, Pa., in Sunday's twinbill.
Most recently, the Nittany Lions dropped game one, 9-2, before shutting out Kent State, 2-0, on Wednesday. Redshirt freshman Jackie Hill put together a solid performance in game two, holding the Flashes to just two hits over an eight-inning span.
While the team averages .264 at the plate, Danielle Kinley paces the team batting .390. She has a team-high 55 hits - 11 of which are doubles. From the mound, Ashley Esparza and Jackie Hill see most of the innings for the Nittany Lions, and helpd their team to a 1.63 ERA - good for third in the Big Ten.
