Softball Blanked by Michigan, 8-0

April 14, 2012

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State softball team hosted Michigan on Saturday (April 14) and fell 8-0 to the intrastate rival. The Spartans didn't allow a run for four innings, but an eight-run fifth inning by Michigan kept the game short. MSU is now 11-28 on the season and 0-10 in the Big Ten.

"I thought we played very well today, but Michigan is a very good team. And when you give a very good team an opportunity, they capitalize on it," said head coach Jacquie Joseph. "But until we gave Michigan an opening, we competed well and we had one of the best starting pitching performances of the year."

The game went scoreless until a meltdown by the Spartans in the fifth inning allowed Michigan to score eight runs. There was a Wolverine on second and third when Haylie Wagner singled to left field, bringing home both runners. The next batter was walked and then a double by Ashley Lane scored the third run for Michigan. Later in the inning when the bases were loaded, a single by Amy Knapp was enough for two more Wolverines to cross home plate. A three-run homer by Lauren Sweet made the game do-or-die for MSU as the score was 8-0 in the top of the fifth.

The game was kept to five innings as Michigan State could not narrow the Michigan lead in the next half-inning.

The greatest chance for the Spartans to score was in the fourth inning. Junior Kylene Hopkins led off the inning with a double down the left field line. Junior Jayme O'Bryant laid a sacrifice bunt to move Hopkins to third, but MSU couldn't get another hit to bring her home.

Freshman Carly Nielsen was the starting pitcher for Michigan State. The right-hander struck out one batter and only gave up two earned runs in 4.1 innings of work. Sophomore Cassee Layne and senior Rebecca Rogers also saw action in the fifth inning. The pair allowed a combined five runs, none of which were earned.

MSU will head to Ann Arbor, Mich. on Sunday (April 15) to conclude the series with Michigan. The double-header begins at 1 p.m. ET and continues at 3 p.m. at the Wilpon Softball Complex.