Michigan State University
Charleston Southern
Softball Splits Day at Cal State Fullerton
3/9/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 9, 2012
FULLERTON, Calif. - The Michigan State softball team returned to Fullerton, Calif. on Friday (March 9) to take on Cal State Fullerton and Charleston Southern. MSU started the day with a 4-3 win over CSU, but fell to the Titans 13-10.
The Buccaneers took the lead early, posting two runs in the first inning. Megan Lombard started the offense for CSU with a double to right field. Jana Matthews followed with a triple to right field, allowing Lombard to score. In the next at-bat, Stephanie Sbardella singled to right center, which sent Matthews home. Charleston Southern extended the lead by one more in the second. With runners on first and second, Jessica Brock singled up the middle and earned an RBI as the runner on second reached home.
Michigan State responded with run one in the top of the third. Freshman McKinzie Freimuth began the inning with a single through the left side, then advanced to second when junior Kylene Hopkins laid down a bunt to the pitcher. Senior Ali Grant hit into a double play, but it was enough for Freimuth to cross home plate.
In the next inning, MSU posted two runs to make it a tie game. With two outs and a runner on first, freshman Alyssa McBride singled, then advanced to second on the throw. Freshman Kelsey Cleary, who pinch ran for redshirt freshman Stephanie Sanders, reached third base on the play. Freshman Ellie Stoffer pinch hit for junior Jenny Ramsaier and shot a single up the middle and advanced to second on the throw. McBride and Cleary were able to score off the hit.
The Spartans scored what proved to be the game-winner in the top of the fifth. The inning began with the top of the batting order as senior Lori Padilla singled through the left side and advanced to second on a passed ball. Hopkins followed suit with a single down the left field line and then stole second base. Grant hit a sacrifice fly ball to second base, which paved the way for Padilla to score.
Freshman Carly Nielsen began the game in the circle and posted one strikeout in 1.1 innings. Sophomore Cassee Layne came in relief in the second and was the winning pitcher. In 5.2 innings of work, Layne didn't allow a single run, struck out six CSU batters and only gave up five hits. Hopkins lead the team offensively going 4-4 and posting one triple. MSU tabbed a combined 10 hits in 30 at bats.
Layne was the starting pitcher for the Spartans in the second game of the day against Cal State Fullerton. The right-hander struck out one batter and kept CSF from scoring until the Titans broke away in the bottom of the third.
With the bases loaded, Morgan LeMond doubled to left center and brought home the first three runs of the game. The bases reloaded with a walk and a single, then another walk moved the runners and scored the fourth run for CSF. An illegal pitch advanced the runners and allowed Anissa Young to cross home plate. Leesa Harris was the next batter and singled to the shortstop, giving way for another Titan run. Ashley Carter posted two more runs with a single to the pitcher, then scored for herself when she stole home.
Michigan State cut the lead by two in the next inning. Hopkins shot a double to right field and reached third on a sacrifice bunt by Grant. The next batter was junior Mary Kate DiVirigio, who was hit by a pitch. Cleary pinch ran for DiVirgilio and advanced to second when Sanders ground out to the shortstop. Junior Jayme O'Bryant doubled to right center and earned two RBIs when Hopkins and Cleary scored.
The Spartans kept the scoring alive with five runs in the fifth. Freimuth reached second on a single to shortstop, then a wild pitch. Padilla was on first from a walk when Grant singled to center field. All runners advanced on the throw and Freimuth and Padilla scored. Stoffer pinch hit for DiVirgilio and was walked, then O'Bryant singled up the middle, allowing Williams and Stoffer to reach home.
Cal State Fullerton stayed ahead of the Spartans with four runs in the fifth. With a runner on first, Nicole Johnson homered to left center. Eliza Crawford was walked then Young sent another home run to left center, posting two RBIs.
Michigan State threatened in the sixth and seventh innings with a combined three runs but it wasn't enough to take the lead. The bases loaded with a single by Freimuth, a fielding error off Grant and a walk on Stoffer. A single to right field by senior Brett Williams knocked two runs as Freimuth and Grant scored. O'Bryant began the final inning of the game with a double to right center. Later in the inning with two outs, Freimuth singled to right center, which brought home sophomore Sarah Bowling, who pinch ran for O'Bryant.
The matchup was pitched by committee as Layne, Nielsen and senior Rebecca Rogers all saw action. The trio faced 39 batters, striking out two batters and allowing 11 earned runs.
Michigan State will conclude their Spring Break competition tomorrow at the Long Beach State Invitational. MSU will face Utah State at 12 p.m. (ET) and then Oregon State at 2:30 p.m. (ET).
