Michigan State University
Central Michigan
Softball Falls to CMU, Overpowers UIC
3/17/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 17, 2012
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Michigan State softball team fell 8-4 to Central Michigan to begin the Hoosier Classic but rallied in the second game to defeat Illinois-Chicago 11-3. MSU is currently 8-15 on the season after the first day in Bloomington, Ind.
The Spartans got an early lead in the first game of the day against CMU, putting up one run in the first inning. Senior Lori Padilla kicked off the game with a single, then advanced to second on an error by the left-fielder. A sacrifice bunt by junior Kylene Hopkins gave Padilla enough time to reach third safely. The First run of the day came as redshirt freshman Stephanie Sanders doubled up the middle, bringing Padilla home.
Michigan State extended their lead to two in the bottom of the third. Freshman McKinzie Freimuth reached first base on a fielding error by the Chips, then advanced to second. In the next at-bat Padilla laid down a bunt, she was out at first but the hit was enough for Freimuth to cross home plate.
CMU got on the board in the fifth inning, scoring one run. CarolAnn Sexauer got on base with a walk and Raechel Zahrn's single advanced her to second. Molly Coldren was up next and singled through the left side, bringing home the first run for the Chippewas.
The Spartans were quick to respond, posting two runs in the next half-inning. Freshman Alyssa McBride started the offense by reaching on an error and advancing to second. McBride made it to third with a sacrifice bunt by junior Jenny Ramsaier. Freshman Ellie Stoffer, who pinch hit for Freimuth, got on first with a walk and Hopkins brought McBride and Stoffer home with a double to left field.
Michigan State faltered in the sixth, giving up six runs to the Chippewas. Chelsea DeLamielleure reached first base off an error and a single by Brittney Horan moved her into scoring position. The bases loaded when Rachael Hensel was hit by a pitch and DeLamielleure scored when Sexauer reached on another MSU error. Next up was Macy Merchant, who singled through the left side, bringing Horan home. A single from Brogan Darwin advanced the runners and scored the third run. Summer Knoop posted another single for CMU and Merchant scored on an error by the MSU shortstop. The final two runs of the inning came as DeLamielleure singled and advanced to second on the throw.
The scoring was capped in the seventh inning with a solo home run by Sexauer. The game ended 8-4 in favor of CMU.
Cassee Layne was the starting pitcher for MSU against the Chippewas. In 4.1 innings, the sophomore didn't allow a single run, only gave up two hits and struck out two batters. Layne returned in the sixth to pitch for another inning, striking out another batter and allowing five hits and three earned runs. Junior Shelby Wise replaced Layne in the fifth and gave up two earned runs. Freshman right-hander Carley Nielsen concluded the game, posting two Ks in one inning.
In the second game for MSU, Illinois-Chicago took the lead first with three runs in the bottom of the second. With a runner on first, Ashley Hewett homered to left center, scoring the first two runs for the Flames. Kara Komp singled to second base and moved into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt by Kelsey Sturgeon. In the next at-bat, Teresa Aguilar doubled to right center, which allowed Komp to come home.
Michigan State scored five runs in the fourth inning to take the lead over UIC. Junior Jayme O'Bryant led off the inning with a single up the middle. A sacrifice bunt laid by Ramsaier moved junior Raime Cronkhite, who pinch ran for O'Bryant, into scoring position. There was a Spartan on all bases when Freimuth was hit by a pitch and Padilla hit a single to the shortstop. Hopkins notched the first RBI of the game for MSU with a single up the middle, bringing Cronkhite home. In the next at-bat, junior Mary Kate DiVirgilio knocked out her second home run of the year to score four runs for the Spartans.
In the fourth inning, MSU expanded their lead by posting four additional runs. With one out, Freimuth got on first with a single up the middle. Padilla reached on a fielder's choice and both runners were safe due to an error on the UIC third basemen. Freimuth stole third and then scored when the left fielder committed an error. Hopkins made it to first on the play. With runners on first and second, Sanders shot the second homer of the day and third of her career to left field, scoring three runs for MSU.
Senior Ali Grant started the scoring in the fifth inning with a long ball into left center. It was Grant's second homer of the season and third of the day for Michigan State. Spartans were on first and second when O'Bryant and Freimuth were walked, then a fielding error by the UIC shortstop allowed O'Bryant to cross home plate. MSU kept the game short in the next half-inning by not allowing the Flames to score.
Nielsen started in the circle for the Green and White and pitched for 1.1 innings. The right-hander allowed three earned runs off four hits. Wise came in for Nielsen in the second inning and didn't allow a run for the rest of the matchup. In 3.2 innings, Wise struck out three batters and only gave up two hits.
Against UIC, Michigan State was productive offensively and had a perfect game defensively. The Spartans posted 11 runs off seven hits and earned nine RBIs as a team. On the defense, MSU tabbed 15 put-outs, six assists and had no errors.
The Spartans will continue action in the Hoosier Classic tomorrow (March 18) against North Dakota and Wright State. MSU will begin the day at 10 a.m. (ET) against the Fighting Sioux and finish the tournament with the Raiders at 12:15 p.m.
