Michigan State University
Florida Atlantic
Softball Falls to FAU, Defeats Tulsa
2/26/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 26, 2012
BOCA RATON, Fla. - The Michigan State softball team wrapped up the Strike-Out Cancer Tournament on Sunday (Feb. 26). The Spartans began the day falling to host Florida Atlantic 4-3 but rallied to defeat Tulsa 6-4. Freshman Carly Niesen posted three strikeouts on the day and sophomore Sarah Bowling notched a three-run homer to take the lead over Tulsa.
The Owls were up by three early in the first game, scoring one run in the first inning and two in the second. Heather Barnes began the game with a single to left field then reached second with a sacrifice bunt by Carly Speerin. Barnes stole third then a single by Taylor Fawbush allowed her to score. FAU created a two-out rally in the second. A single by Speerin when the bases were loaded produced two more runs for the Owls.
Michigan State earned their first run of the game in the third. Freshman McKinzie Freimuth started off the inning with a triple into left center. Senior Lori Padilla sent Freimuth home and earned an RBI with a single to the pitcher.
The MSU scoring was led off in the fourth by junior Jayme O'Bryant led off with a single into center field. Freshman Kelsey Cleary pinch ran for O'Bryant and stole second safely. Junior Mary Kate DiVirgilio, who pinch hit for senior Brett Williams, singled up the middle then was out at second. Cleary advanced to third on the play then scored the second Spartan run on a fielding error by FAU.
Michigan State made it a tie game in the sixth. Singles from Ramsaier and junior Kylene Hopkins put runners on first and second then Bowling singled to left field, allowing Ramsaier to reach home safely.
Florida Atlantic took the game in the bottom of the second. With runners on first a second, Jordan Stovall made it to first on a fielding error and the game-winner was able to reach home.
Sophomore Cassee Layne was the starting pitcher for MSU and was on the mound for four innings. In 23 batters faced, she earned one strikeout and allowed three runs on eight hits. Nielsen pitched for 2.2 innings, facing 11 batters and only giving up one hit.
The Spartans faced Tulsa in the last game of the tournament and a couple of three-run innings by MSU proved to be the deciding factor in the matchup. The Hurricanes jumped on the board in the second with a one-run homer to right field by Jessica Stoelke.
The Tulsa lead expanded to two in the third. Samantha Cobb got on second with a double then a single by Lacey Middlebrooks allowed Cobb to score. Tulsa's Jill Barrett laid down a bunt in the fourth inning to reach first base. A second double by Cobb tabbed an RBI and another run.
Michigan State posted a three-run fourth to tie up the game 3-3. Hopkins began the inning with a single to left field then advanced to second when senior Ali Grant was walked. Back-to-back walks on O'Bryant and Freimuth loaded the bases then scored a run. Freshman Ellie Stoffer pinch hit for pitcher Shelby Wise and was walked, allowing another Spartan run. An illegal pitch advanced all runners and scored the third run for MSU.
The Spartans took the lead with a three-run homer from Bowling in the fifth. Padilla led off with a bunt to reach first base and Grant followed with a single to right field advancing Padilla to third. Bowling's first longball of the year brought all three home and put MSU up 6-3. Tulsa threatened in the sixth, posting one run, but the Spartan defense finished strong to defeat the Hurricans with a final score of 6-4.
Michigan State pitched by committee as Nieslen, Layne and junior Shelby Wise all saw action on the mound. Wise pitched for 1.2 innings and notched one strikeout while allowing one run and two hits. In 5.1 innings of work, Nielsen posted two strikeouts and only allowed ten hits and three earned runs.
Next weekend the Spartans will head to Fullerton, Calif. to participate in the DeMarini Invitational at Cal State Fullerton. Action will begin on Saturday (March 3) at 12 p.m. (ET) against Southern Mississippi and will continue with games against Oregon State, Stanford and Cal State Fullerton.
