Michigan State University
Penn State
Softball Succumbs to Penn State in Extra Innings
4/8/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 8, 2012
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Michigan State softball team wrapped up its three-game series at Penn State with a 7-5 loss in extra innings on Sunday (April 8). The score was even until the bottom of the ninth, when the Nittany Lions won the game with a two-run homer. MSU finished the series with an 11-26 overall record and 0-9 in the Big Ten.
The Nittany Lions took the lead early, scoring four runs in the bottom of the second. The bases were loaded when Ellen McNair reached on a fielder's choice and brought home the runner on third. Another run was scored when Cassidy Bell was hit by a pitch and the third came when Morgan Long was walked. The final run of the inning crossed home plate when Alyssa Sovereign singled through the left side.
The Spartans narrowed the gap slightly when they scored one run in the top of the third. Junior Kylene Hopkins got on base with a walk and advanced to second when senior Brett Williams reached on a fielding error. Next up was sophomore Sarah Bowling, who loaded the bases when she was walked. MSU earned its first run when junior Jayme O'Bryant's sacrifice fly gave Hopkins enough time to score.
Back-to-back singles to the shortstop by freshmen Alyssa McBride and Kelsey Cleary put runners on first and second and the bases loaded when freshman McKinzie Freimuth singled down the left field line. Senior Ali Grant pinch hit for junior Jenny Ramsaier and put out a sacrifice fly to bring home McBride. In the next at-bat senior Lori Padilla singled to the left field and advanced to second on the throw, which moved Freimuth to third. Cleary was out at home on the play, but Hopkins shot a double down the left field line to tie the game, bringing home Freimuth and Padilla.
Penn State regained the lead when Bell homered to right center making the score 5-4 in the fourth.
The game was tied once again when Michigan State manufactured a run in the fifth. Bowling started the fifth inning being walked to first and advanced to second when O'Bryant laid down a sacrifice bunt. McBride was up next and singled to the shortstop to advance Bowling to third. Both runners were in scoring position when McBride stole second base and a single up the middle by redshirt freshman Stephanie Sanders allowed Bowling to score.
The matchup remained tied until the bottom of the ninth when Penn State got the win with a two-run homer by Kasie Hatfield.
Cassee Layne started in the circle for the Spartans and threw for three innings. The sophomore allowed two earned runs and struck out one batter. Freshman Carly Nielsen relieved Layne in the fourth and was in the circle for the rest of the game. In 5.1 innings of work, the newcomer earned three Ks but gave up two earned runs.
Michigan State will be back in East Lansing, Mich. when they host Eastern Michigan in a mid-week nonconference matchup. The Spartans and the Eagles will face off on Wednesday (April 11) at 4 p.m. ET in Secchia Stadium.
