Michigan State University
Penn State
Softball Falls to Penn State 4-3, 11-5
4/7/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 7, 2012
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Michigan State softball squad traveled to University Park, Pa. to face Penn State on Saturday (April 7). The double-header began with a tough 4-3 loss and the Spartans couldn't redeem themselves as they fell 11-5 in the second matchup. MSU is now 11-25 on the season and 0-8 in the Big Ten.
The first game of the day went scoreless until Michigan State took control with three runs in the top of the fourth. With two outs and nobody on, MSU's rally began with freshman Alyssa McBride being walked. Next up was senior Ali Grant, who singled up the middle and advanced McBride into scoring position. Sophomore Sarah Bowling pinch hit for junior Jenny Ramsaier and earned all three RBI with a home run into left center. The long ball was Bowling's third this season and the seventh of her career.
The Nittany Lions responded with four runs in the next half inning to push past MSU. With the bases loaded, Kasie Hatfield singled through the left side, bringing home the runner on third and putting PSU on the board. Another single, this time through the right side, by Morgan Long scored the second run for Penn State and the Nittany Lions took the lead with back-to-back walks. The fourth run for the Nittany Lions proved to be the game-winner as neither team crossed the plate for the rest of the game.
Starting in the circle for Michigan State was Cassee Layne. The sophomore threw for 3.1 innings, striking out two batters and giving up all four runs. Junior Shelby Wise came in for Layne in the third, but was relieved by freshman Carly Nielsen after one batter. Nielsen didn't allow another Penn State hit for the rest of the game and earned three Ks.
The Spartans started the second game of the double-header with another two-out three-run inning. Back-to-back walks for senior Brett Williams and Bowling put runners on first and second and a fielding error by PSU allowed Williams to score. McBride was up next and brought home the next two runs with a double.
Penn State came from behind again with another four-run inning in the bottom of the second. Lauren Yao started the inning with a single to right field and a single by Liz Presto moved her to second base. A double to left field by Hatfield allowed Yao to score and the next three runs came off a homer by Cassidy Bell.
Another homer in the third by Yao scored an additional three runs for Penn State. Later in the inning when runners were on second and third, Shannon Hutchinson singled up the middle to get the fourth run of the inning.
Michigan State threatened in the fifth with two runs, but it wasn't enough as the Nittany Lions also scored twice to seal the deal in the bottom of the fifth. Freshman McKinzie Freimuth got on first with a single to the shortstop and then advanced to second when Padilla was hit by a pitch. Junior Kylene Hopkins reached on a dropped fly ball by the left fielder and the play was enough for Freimuth to score. Later in the inning, the bases loaded when Bowling was walked and a single by junior Jayme O'Bryant brought Padilla home for MSU's fourth run of the game.
The pitching responsibilities for the second game were split by Nielsen, Wise and senior Rebecca Rogers. Nielsen was the starter for MSU and was in the circle for two innings. The freshman was given the loss as she gave up eight earned runs to Penn State.
The Spartans will stay in University Park, Pa. when they conclude the series with the Nittany Lions tomorrow (April 8) at 1 p.m. ET.
