Michigan State University Athletics
Spartans Host Wisconsin For Two-Game Series
5/1/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 1, 2009
Spartan Sports Podcasts
Karen Lori
PDF of Complete Notes and Stats 
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State softball team hosts Wisconsin for a two-game series this weekend. Saturday's game begins at 2 p.m., while Sunday's first pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Old College Field.
LAST TIME OUT
MSU split a doubleheader with Penn State Wednesday afternoon at Old College Field. The Nittany Lions recorded a 6-3 win in game one while the Spartans notched a 3-2 victory in the nightcap. Freshman Lauren Kramer picked up both decisions for MSU and senior Gina Mondo went 2-for-3 at the plate in game two.
Penn State opened the game strong, putting the first two runners on base before Kramer struck out three straight batters to end the inning. The Nittany Lions continued in the second, scoring one run. Michigan State responded in the bottom of the inning to tie the game. With two outs, Kramer notched a homer to left field, her fifth of the season.
The game continued to go back and forth with the Nittany Lions adding two more runs in the third and the Spartans posting one to cut the lead to 3-2. Sophomore Lindsey Hansen doubled to center field with two outs, and Mondo hit a single to left field, sending Hansen around the bases.
The two teams swapped runs in the fourth and then remained scoreless through the fifth and sixth innings. Junior Kelly Confer hit the third homer of her career to left field in the fourth before Penn State added two more runs in the seventh to record the 6-3 victory.
Kramer started in the circle for MSU, striking out five through three innings. Senior Megan Hair pitched 3 1/3 innings and posted three strikeouts, while Confer finished out the game.
Michigan State opened the second game with three runs in the first inning to take an early lead. Hansen notched a two-out double to right center. Mondo then recorded an infield single and sophomore Jessica Bracamonte hit a home run to center field, her fourth of the year.
The Nittany Lions came back in the third, with RBIs from Sam Hovanec and Kayce Zielinski.
Both teams remained scoreless through the remaining innings, with MSU posting a 3-2 win.
Kramer pitched the complete game for MSU in the nightcap, striking out six.
SCOUTING WISCONSIN
The Badgers are coming off a 2-0 win over Northern Illinois on Wednesday. Senior Leah Vanevenhoven pitched all seven innings, striking out seven in the win. The game was scoreless until the sixth inning when Wisconsin scored both of its runs. Ashley Hanewich opened the inning with a double and crossed the plate on Theresa Boruta's single up the middle. Boruta then stole second, moved to third off a single by Livi Abney and reached home on a double steal.
Jennifer Krueger leads Wisconsin with a .309 batting average, 18 runs, 42 hits and 46 total bases. Letty Olivarez has a team-high four home runs and 17 RBIs, while Hanewich is tied for the team lead in doubles with five, while leading with three triples and a .385 slugging percentage. Vanevenhoven has 102 strikeouts through 136 2-3 innings, while Olivarez has struck out 129 in 174 2-3 innings.
SERIES HISTORY
Michigan State leads the all-time series between the two, 22-9, and has won five straight over the Badgers. Last season, MSU swept Wisconsin in a doubleheader by scores of 8-2 and 4-0. Fromer Spartan Nikki Nicosia went 4-for-7, including three home runs and five RBIs in the games.
HITTING THEIR STRIDE
The Spartans are currently riding their best seven-game span of the season. MSU has gone 5-2 in the last seven contests, including a shutout sweep of Minnesota. The Spartans recorded 49 hits, 10 home runs and 22 RBIs in that span with Gina Mondo recording a team-high .462 average. Lauren Kramer has recorded all decisions in the seven-game span, posting a 0.91 ERA, two shutouts and three complete games with 46 strikeouts.
BIG TEN STATS
The Spartans rank sixth in the Big Ten in batting average, fifth in slugging percentage, fourth in hits, third in home runs and second in the conference in triples. MSU is tied for third in doubles. Several players are also ranked in various categories. Gina Mondo is fourth in batting average (.404) and is tied for first in sacrifice flies (3), while Kara Weigle ranks second in doubles (13) and sacrifice bunts (12). Lindsey Hansen is second in triples (3), fifth in home runs (10) and sixth in slugging percentage (.601). Lauren Kramer ranks eighth in batting average (.350) and is seventh in base percentage (.439).
On the mound Megan Hair leads the Big Ten in saves with four. Kramer is first in game finished (15), games in relief (17) and is seventh in appearances (34).
In the field, Hansen ranks third in assists (92) and Weigle is first in catching runners stealing (22). Karen Fox is one of a handful of Big Ten players that have a perfect fielding percentage so far this season.
