Michigan State University Athletics
Softball Travels To Illinois For Weekend Series
3/27/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 27, 2009
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State softball travels to Champaign, Ill., to continue Big Ten Conference play. The Spartans face Illinois in a two-game series beginning on Saturday, March 28 at 6 p.m., and wrap up the series on Sunday, March 29 with first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday's game with Illinois will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.
LAST TIME OUT
MSU opened the season at home, debuting the recently renovated Old College Field with three mid-week games.
Four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning propelled the MSU to a 5-3 win over in-state rival Western Michigan Tuesday afternoon. Senior Gina Mondo and sophomore Lindsey Hansen both hit two-run home runs in the seventh inning with two outs to win the Spartans' 2009 home opener. Mondo was also 3-for-4 at the plate, while Hansen was 2-for-3. Western Michigan opened the scoring with a run in the second and added another run in the third, but senior Kara Weigle began the Spartans' comeback with a solo home run to right center, her first of the season, to lead off the fourth inning. Western Michigan added to its lead in the sixth off an inside the park home run to left center. The outcome looked grim for the Spartans in the bottom of the seventh after the first two batters were retired, but Weigle reached on a walk to bring Mondo to the plate. Mondo hit her fifth home run of the season to left field, scoring two runs to tie the game at three aside. Extra innings seemed inevitable, but a single by Kramer kept the momentum going. Hansen then reached the plate, hitting her team-leading seventh home run of the season to left field, reaching the Red Cedar River for the win.
The Spartans hosted Detroit in a doubleheader on Wednesday, sweeping the Titans, 3-2 in game one and 8-2 in game two. Hansen recorded a home run in both games, and Weigle notched a homer in the first game for her second in as many games. The Spartans combined for 21 hits through both games, with 12 coming in the nightcap. The Spartans started strong in the first game, posting one run on two hits in the opening inning. Mondo hit a single to right field and stole second during Kramer's at-bat. Kramer then notched a single to left field, allowing Mondo to round the bases before Kramer attempted second on the throw and was tagged out to end the inning. Detroit evened the score in the third with a solo home run to right center by sophomore Breana Sesoko. MSU went ahead by one run in the fifth when Weigle recorded her second homer in as many games to center field. Hansen added another run in the sixth with a solo home run, also her second in as many games. The Titans tacked on another run in the seventh inning off two hits, but Kramer closed out the inning with a pop up to strand one on base and record the 3-2 win for MSU. Hansen led the Spartans, going 2-for-3 at the plate with a run and an RBI. Senior Megan Hair started in the circle for the Spartans in game one, pitching six innings. She gave up just one run and struck out three for her fourth win of the season.
MSU continued to dominate in the second game, scoring a run in the second and third inning to take a 2-0 lead. Hansen hit her third home run in two days, and team-leading ninth of the season, to center field in the second, and Mondo reached base in the third on a fielder's choice. A double to right center by Kramer sent Mondo across the plate. Detroit broke onto the scoreboard in the fifth to cut MSU's lead to one run, but the Spartans fought back in the bottom of the inning with three runs on two hits to widen the lead. The Titans started a comeback in the sixth when junior Erica Houthoofd homered to right field, but ended the inning with just one run scored. MSU put the game out of reach in the bottom of the sixth with three more runs. Weigle started the inning with a single to left field, and advanced to second off a sacrifice bunt by freshman Lori Padilla. Mondo then hit a single to left field and advanced to second, while Weigle was tagged out at home by a throw from left. Kramer continued with a single to center and Hansen walked to load the bases. A triple by Purtzer to deep left cleared the bases, and secured the 8-2 win. Kramer pitched all seven inning for MSU in the nightcap, allowing just two runs and striking out four batters. Purtzer recorded a season-high four RBIs in the second game and went 2-for-3, while Mondo was 3-for-4 with three runs.
SENIOR LEADERS
All three Spartan seniors have been critical components of the MSU lineup. Gina Mondo, who starts at second base, leads the team in several categories, including batting average (.432), runs (23), and hits (38). Behind the plate is Kara Weigle, who has started all 28 games for MSU. She has a .374 batting average with a team-leading 10 doubles and 10 sacrifice hits. Megan Hair has appeared in 20 games for the Green and White, starting 13 games, and pitching two complete games. She leads the team in innings pitched (72), strikeouts (34) and saves with three.
Hair ranks fifth in the nation in saves, while Weigle is ranked seventh nationally with .4 sacrifice hits per game.
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 sees time at third base. Brett Williams and Lori Padilla will spend time in the outfield, and Ali Grant has been starting at third base. All five have seen action through the Spartans' first 28 games, and four of the five have started in 22 or more games for MSU.
STOLEN BASE PROS
MSU is 34-for-38 in stolen base attempts this season, and Gina Mondo leads the team with nine. Kara Weigle has six, as does Lindsey Hansen.
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 67 assists thus far, while Gina Mondo has 57 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 so far this season. Grant has appeared in all 28 games, while Fox has played in 21 games. Freshman Brett Williams recently began play in the Spartan outfield and has yet to commit an error in 12 games.
TOUGH COMPETITION
MSU has faced four ranked opponents so far this season. The Spartans faced No. 13 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 faced one of the ranked conference teams last weekend, falling to No. 17 Ohio State in both games. The Spartans will take on Illinois this weekend, who is also receiving votes in this week's USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll.
STARTING LINE
Three Spartans have started all 28 games. Senior Kara Weigle has started behind the plate, sophomore Lindsey Hansen has played at shortstop and freshman Ali Grant splits time between third base and right field.
GOING YARD
The Spartans have notched 30 home runs through 28 games this season, with sophomore Lindsey Hansen leading the way with nine. Senior Gina Mondo has five and freshman Lauren Kramer has four, while freshman Ali Grant has hit three.
Also, Mondo ranks fifth on MSU's all-time home runs list with 18 in her career. Hansen is just one home run shy of reaching MSU's all-time list. After hitting just one homer last season, she has nine this season, just one shy of reaching the list and tying for eighth.
HOME SWEET HOME
MSU opened the home portion on its schedule this week, posting wins in all three games and hold a perfect record at the recently renovated Old College Field.
HAIR'S Ks
Senior pitcher Megan Hair recorded her 150th career strikeout on March 21 at Ohio State. Hair leads the team with 34 strikeouts this season and now has 156 in her career.
BIG TEN STATS
The Spartans rank second in the Big Ten in batting average and several players are ranked in various categories. Kara Weigle ranks first in doubles (10) and is tied for first in sacrifice bunts (10), while Lidsey Hansen is tied for triples (3). Gina Mondo ranks third in the Big Ten in batting average (.432) and freshman Lauren Kramer is fourth (.408).
