Softball Opens Big Ten Play At Ohio State

March 20, 2009

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State softball begins Big Ten Conference play this weekend, traveling to Columbus, Ohio, for a two-game series with Ohio State. The two teams square off on Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22, with both games beginning at 2 p.m.

PDF of Game Notes

Spartan Sports Podcast
Rebecca Rogers

THIS WEEK FOR MSU SOFTBALL
The Michigan State softball team travels to Columbus, Ohio to begin Big Ten Conference play. The Spartans face Ohio State in a two-game series on Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22 with both games beginning at 12 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT
MSU traveled to North and South Carolina for its annual spring break trip, beginning at the Tar Heel Invitational in Chapel Hill, N.C. The Spartans went 2-2 at the Invitational, and split a pair of games to open the Invitational on Saturday afternoon. MSU posted a 5-4 win over Princeton in the first game, led by freshman Lauren Kramer's go-ahead home run in the sixth inning. The Spartans fell to 15th-ranked North Carolina in the second game, 6-2, with both runs coming off homers. Freshman Melanie Bensema recorded the first home run of her collegiate career and sophomore Jessica Bracamonte hit her first homer of the season. MSU concluded the Invitational with a 7-2 win over Georgetown, and fell, 8-7, in eight innings to Elon, despite a seven-run comeback in the seventh. Senior Gina Mondo led the team with four RBI in the two games and sophomore Lindsey Hansen recorded three RBI, with both players notching home runs. Mondo, senior Megan Hair, and Kramer were named to the all-tournament team.

MSU then went to Raleigh for a doubleheader with NC State on Tuesday, falling in both games. The Spartans lost a 4-3 decision in eight innings in the first game before falling 3-0 in the nightcap. Bracamonte led the Spartans in game one, going 3-for-4 at the plate and Bensema recorded her second home run of the season. MSU traveled to UNC-Wilmington Wednesday, picking up a 6-4 win. Sophomore Heidi Purtzer led the team with two RBI, while Kramer went 2-for-3 at the plate and recorded the win in the circle.

The Spartans concluded the trip at the Coastal Carolina Tournament, going 1-3. The Green and White dropped both games on Saturday to nationally-ranked North Carolina, and Coastal Carolina. Mondo led the Spartans, recording a team-high four RBI on the day. MSU fell to 14th-ranked Missouri in extra innings on Sunday before topping the host Chanticleers, 10-8. Mondo and Bracamonte both went 2-for-4 with two RBI against Missouri, while senior Kara Weigle was 3-for-4 at the plate and freshman Ali Grant notched back-to-back home runs in the win over Coastal Carolina. Freshman Rebecca Rogers made her Spartan debut, pitching two innings and picking up the win over the Chanticleers.

SENIOR LEADERS
All three Spartan seniors have been critical components of the MSU lineup. Gina Mondo, the starting second baseman, leads the team in several categories, including batting average (.423), runs (18), RBI (18), total bases (50) and slugging percentage (.704). Behind the plate is Kara Weigle, who has started all 23 games for MSU. She has a .395 batting average with a team-leading nine doubles and 10 sacrifice hits. Mondo and Weigle share the team-lead in hits with 30 each. Megan Hair has appeared in 16 games for the green and white, starting 10 games, and pitching two complete games. She leads the team in innings-pitched (58), strikeouts (27) and saves with three.

IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Michigan State welcomes seven newcomers to this year's squad, with five set to provide depth to the lineup immediately. Lauren Kramer comes in as the Spartans only left-handed pitcher, while Melanie Bensema starts at third base. Brett Williams will see time behind the plate, and Lori Padilla and Ali Grant will spend time in the outfield. All five has seen action through the Spartans first 23 games, and four of the five have started in 17 or more games for MSU.

FRESHMAN SENSATION
Freshman Ali Grant started off her collegiate career with a two-run homer in the season-opening game against Florida Gulf Coast. She has started all 23 games for the Spartans, spending most of her time in the outfield. She appeared in all five games of the FGCU Spring Break Invitational, recording three runs, a double and a stolen base. Against Coastal Carolina on March 14, Grant notched back-to-back home runs, leading the team to a 10-8 win.

STOLEN BASE PROS
MSU is 30-for-34 in stolen base attempts this season, and Gina Mondo leads the team with eight. Kara Weigle has six, while Lindsey Hansen added five.

SHARE THE WEALTH
The Spartans recorded 53 assists in the first five games of the season, added 49 at the FGCU Spring Break Invitational and had 12 in two games at the Magic City Classic. In the 11 games over spring break week, MSU posted 118 assists with Lindsey Hansen leading the way with 32. Hansen has a team-high 60 assists thus far, while Gina Mondo has 44 and Melanie Bensema has 31.

WEBGEMS
Sophomore Karen Fox and freshman Ali Grant lead the team in fielding percentage. All three have not committed an error in the 23 games.

TOUGH COMPETITION
MSU has faced three ranked opponent so far this season. The Spartans faced DePaul at the FGCU Spring Break Invitational earlier this season, falling in both games. MSU played No. 15 North Carolina at the Tar Heel Invitational and the Coastal Carolina Tournament, dropping both games, while facing No. 14 Missouri at the Coastal Carolina Tournament, losing in extra innings. In the Big Ten, three teams are ranked. MSU will face one of the ranked conference teams this weekend, with No. 17 Ohio State.

STARTING LINE
Four Spartans have started all 23 games. Senior Kara Weigle has started behind the plate, sophomore Lindsey Hansen has played at shortstop and classmate Jessica Bracamonte holds down center field while freshman Ali Grant patrols right field.

GOING YARD
The Spartans have notched 24 home runs through 23 games this season, with sophomore Lindsey Hansen leading the way with six. Senior Gina Mondo and freshman Lauren Kramer both have four, and freshman Ali Grant has hit three.

Also, Mondo ranks fifth on MSU's all-time home runs list with 17 in her career.

HAIR'S Ks
Senior pitcher Megan Hair currently sits with 149 career strikeouts, just one shy of setting a career-record with 150. Hair leads the team with 27 strikeouts this season.

NEXT TIME FOR THE SPARTANS
Michigan State opens the home season on Tuesday, March 24 with a 4 p.m. game against Western Michigan.