Michigan State University
North Dakota
Softball 3-1 at Hoosier Classic
3/18/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 18, 2012
North Dakota Box Score|Wright State Box Score
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The MSU softball team wrapped up the Hoosier Classic with an 8-6 win over North Dakota and 4-2 victory over Wright State. Michigan State concluded tournament play for the season with a 3-1 record at the Hoosier Classic and 10-16 overall record.
The Spartans rallied from a 5-0 deficit late in the game to defeat North Dakota in the first matchup of the day. The Fighting Sioux took an early lead, posting four runs in the first inning against MSU. With the bases loaded, Brittany Baker singled down the right field line, allowing two runners to reach home safely. The next two runs came when Amanda Johnson doubled to right field.
North Dakota added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run into left center.
MSU stayed poised at the plate and rallied within one run of the Sioux. Junior Kylene Hopkins got the offense going with a double into left center. Next up was junior Mary Kate DiVirgilio who reached on a error by the third basemen, advancing Hopkins to third. Redshirt freshman Stephanie Sanders singled to left center, scoring the first run of the day for the Spartans. The bases loaded when senior Ali Grant was hit by a pitch. An error by the North Dakota left fielder gave way to three runs for MSU, making it a 5-4 game.
Michigan State took the lead in the top of the seventh with four more runs. There was a Spartan on first and second when senior Lori Padilla and Hopkins each singled. In the next at-bat, DiVirgilio singled through the right side, which was enough for Padilla to score. Hopkins and DiVirgilio were sent home when Grant reached on an error by the Sioux, then advanced to second on the throw. In the next at-bat junior Jayme O'Bryant doubled to right field, bringing home Grant.
UND threatened with one run in the bottom of the seventh, but couldn't overcome the Spartan lead. Erica Younan started the half-inning with a single to right center, then Caralyn Chewning reached on a fielder's choice. Chewning reached third off a double by D Jantzer and then crossed home plate as Kelsey Olsen singled up the middle.
The game was pitched by committee as sophomore Cassee Layne, junior Shelby Wise and freshman Carly Nielsen all saw action against North Dakota. As the starting pitcher, Layne was in the circle for 4.1 innings and allowed all five earned runs, while striking out three batters. Wise replaced Layne in the fifth and earned the W, giving up just one earned run in two innings. Nielsen notched the save when she closed out the game facing the last two batters.
The Raiders jumped on the board early in the second game for MSU with one run in the first inning. With two out and a runner on first, Michelle Baker doubled into left field, scoring the first run of the game for Wright State.
The Spartans went scoreless in the first inning, but passed the Raiders in the second with two runs. Back-to-back singles by Sanders and Grant put a Spartan on first and second, then a single by O'Bryant loaded the bases. Next up was freshman Ellie Stoffer, who pinch hit for junior Jenny Ramsaier. Stoffer tabbed two RBIs in the at-bat as her single up the middle allowed Sanders and Grant to score.
Wright State responded in the top of the third to make it a tie 2-2 game. Kristi Boreing started the inning by reaching on an error by the MSU first basemen and advancing to second. A sacrifice bunt laid by Chelsea Archer moved Boreing to third and a double by Baker allowed Boreing to reach home.
Michigan State regained the lead in the fifth thanks to a two-run homer by Sanders. It was the redshirt freshman's fourth career long ball and second in as many games.
Nielsen was the starting pitcher for MSU against Wright State and put in five innings of work. The right-hander struck out four batters and only allowed one earned run off four hits. Layne came in for Nielsen in the sixth and earned the save with three Ks and no runs.
The Spartan offense put up 12 runs on 18 hits this weekend, including five doubles and four home runs.
Michigan State will begin Big Ten play next weekend when it heads to West Lafayette, Ind. to take on Purdue. The three-game series between the Spartans and the Boilermakers begins with a double header on Saturday (March 24) at 1 p.m. (ET) and concludes on Sunday (March 25) at 1 p.m.
