Michigan State University Athletics
Softball Hosts Bowling Green and Central Michigan
4/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 13, 2009
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State softball team closes out a six-game homestand with two midweek games at Old College Field. The Spartans host Bowling Green Tuesday, April 14 and Central Michigan on Wednesday, April 15, with both games beginning at 4 p.m.
Last Time Out
Despite a strong performance from starting pitcher Megan Hair, MSU fell, 5-2, in eight innings to Indiana Sunday. Hair pitched the complete game for the Spartans, striking out a season-high six batters, while freshman Brett Williams posted a career-high two RBIs.
Hair flirted with a no-hitter early, holding the Hoosiers without a hit through the first four innings. The Spartans scored first in the fourth inning, posting two runs on four hits. With two outs, Williams hit a single to left field, scoring Kelly Confer and Lori Padilla.
Indiana responded the next inning, notching two runs on two hits. Both teams remained scoreless through the sixth and seventh innings, sending the game into extra innings. The Hoosiers struck right away in the eighth, scoring three runs on three hits.
Series History
MSU and Bowling Green have previously met 20 times, with the Falcons leading the all-time series, 12-8. The two teams met twice last season. The Spartans posted a 6-2 win over Bowling Green at the Stetson Invitational, with Gina Mondo recording two homers in the game for MSU. The Falcons recorded a 2-1 win over MSU later in the season, with Traci Nicosia batting in the Spartans only run.
The Chippewas hold a 55-23-2 all-time record against the Spartans, and held MSU off for a 3-2 win last season in Mount Pleasant. Spartan pitcher Lesley Noel entered the game in the bottom of the fourth, retiring the next nine straight batters to give MSU a chance to rally, but the Spartans fell short.
The Joseph Connection
MSU head coach Jacquie Joseph began her head coaching career at Bowling Green, coaching the Falcons for five years (1989-1993) before leaving for MSU. She compiled a 136-33 record in her five years, including a 34-18 record, first place finish in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 1993.
Joseph also has ties to Central Michigan, as a graduate. During her four-year career, Joseph led the Chippewas to three MAC titles and three NCAA Tournament appearances. Upon graduating, she stayed with the team as a graduate coaching assistant for two years, helping the team earn back-to-back MAC titles.
Scouting the Spartans
Michigan State stands at 13-22 overall with four Spartans batting over .300, including Gina Mondo (.396), Lauren Kramer (.365), Kara Weigle (.354) and Kelly Confer (.303). Weigle has a team-high 113 at-bats, 40 hits and 11 doubles through 35 games. Hansen leads the team in several categories including, runs (23), triples (3), home runs (10), RBI (23), total bases (73) and slugging percentage (.652).
Lauren Kramer and Megan Hair split most of the time in the circle for MSU, with both appearing in 25 games. Hair has pitched 90 innings for the Green and White, striking out 45, while Kramer has one more strikeout in 80 and 2-3 innings.
Scouting the Falcons
Bowling Green is coming off a sweep by Miami, falling 1-0 in the first game and 7-1 in the second game of the series. Senior Hayley Wiemer went 2-for-2 and freshman Melissa West was 2-for-3 at the plate for the Falcons in game one. Freshman Rachel Proehl leads the team with a .324 batting average, while Wiemer is hitting .313 and leads the team with six homers and 16 RBI. Wiemer also leads the pitching staff with a 3.35 ERA and has struck out 96 batters in 26 appearances.
Scouting the Chippewas
Central Michigan currently holds a 7-21 record on the season and hosts Detroit for a doubleheader on Tuesday before traveling to East Lansing. Senior Tracy Kaatz leads the team with a .295 average, while junior Jill Schultz is just behind with a .293 batting average. Senior Ali Pettit leads the pitching staff with a 2.88 ERA, and has 81 strikeouts through 116 and 2-3 innings.
