Michigan State University
5-10
Florida Gulf Coast
12-8-1
Bats Quiet as MSU Drops Two at FGCU Tournament
3/2/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 2, 2014
East Lansing, Mich. - - Michigan State dropped both ends of a doubleheader at the Florida Gulf Coast Invitational on Sunday, falling to Hofstra 8-0 in the morning game before losing to tournament hosts in the nightcap, 8-0 in five innings. MSU's bats were quiet on the day, limited to just two hits in each contest. McKinzie Freimuth had both Spartan hits against Hofstra, and hit 6-for-11 on the weekend. Shanin Thomas had the two hits against FGCU.
The Spartans fall to 5-10; MSU plays at Florida Atlantic on Tuesday evening in its next action.
Hofstra 8, Michigan State 0
Box Score
Junior first baseman McKinzie Freimuth had both Spartan hits - a single and a double to continue her hot hitting streak - but MSU had just four baserunners in a 8-0 loss to Hofstra in the opening game of the day. Both freshmen Valerie Kaff and Kristina Zalewski pitched for MSU, with Kaff taking the loss after allowing three runs on six hits with three walks. Zalewski went four innings, scattering six hits and allowing five runs. Morgan Lashley (5-0) tossed a complete-game two-hitter for the Pride, while four players had two hits each. Erin Trippi and Lacey Clark each had two hits, including a double, and a pair of RBI in the victory, as Hofstra improved to 9-1 on the season.
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The Pride put two runs on the board in the top of the first. After Kaff got leadoff hitter Rachel Senatore to ground out to second, she surrendered back-to-back singles to Chloe Fitzgerald and Maggie Hawkins. Erin Trippi doubled to right, plating both Fitzgerald and Hawkins for an early Hofstra lead. Kaff settled in and retired Caryn Bailey on a flyout to left, walked Becca Bigler, and struck out Tori Rocha to get out of the inning, leaving two on base. The Pride pushed across a third run in the top of the second, as Senatore stroked a two-out single up the middle, stole second, and came home on a single by Hawkins to extend Hofstra's lead to 3-0.
Zalewski entered in the top of the fifth to replace Kaff, and despite a leadoff walk to Trippi, retired the next two batters. Rocha singled to left to move Trippi over to second, and Lacey Clark drove both in with a double to left center. Zalewski got Smith to fly out to left for the third out of the inning, but not before the Pride added two more runs to take a 5-0 lead.
Hofstra led off the top of the seventh with a Bigler single through the left side. After Zalewski got Rocha to fly out to left. Clark and Smith followed with back-to-back singles, with Smith's sending Bigler home for a 6-0 advantage. Smith stole second to put runners at second and third with one out, and Senatore flied out to right, plating Clark to increase the lead to 7-0. Fitzgerald reached on an error, allowing Smith to score from third for the third run of the inning for the Pride. Zalweski retired Hawkins on a fly ball to center, ending the Hofstra rally.
FGCU 8, Michigan State 0 (5 innings)
Box Score
Kelsey Carpenter hit a grand slam in the bottom of the second inning and added an RBI single in the fourth to compile five RBI and help host Florida Gulf coast post an 8-0 (5) victory over MSU in the second game for the Spartans on the day. Michigan State was again limited to two hits, in this game both by designated player Shanin Thomas. Kelly Smith fell to 1-4 on the season, striking out three and surrendering nine hits.
FGCU (12-8-1) staged a two-out rally to pull ahead 5-0 after two innings. Smith got Kirsten Bembnowski and Brittney Garabediean on flyouts, but Jeanie Verderese doubled to left to keep the inning alive. Regan Knapik followed with a single to left, and advanced to second when Smith walked Barnes on a 3-2 pitch. A Makensie McAvoy single to left plated Verderese, and left the bases loaded for Carpenter, who sent a 1-2 pitch over the left field wall for the grand slam. Ross flied out to right to end the inning, but the Eagles had the commanding lead.
Three more runs for the home team came in the bottom of the fourth to push the Eagles' lead to 8-0. Smith issued a one-out walk to Barnes, and MacAvoy reached on an error, putting runners at first and second. Carpenter followed with her RBI single to send Barnes across the plate. A walk to Alexis Ross loaded the bases, and a single by Bembnowski plated two more runs for the commanding lead that allowed the game to end after five innings.
MSU has a pair of midweek games on tap as it continues its spring break trip.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: MORGAN (5-2)
L: Smith, Kelly (1-4)
Base Running:
CS: Thomas, Shanin 1
HBP: McBride, Alyssa 1
Batting:
2B: VERDERESE 1
HR: CARPENTER 1
RBI: MCAVOY 1 ; CARPENTER 5 ; BEMBNOWSKI 2
Base Running:
RUNS: BARNES 2 ; MCAVOY 2 ; CARPENTER 2 ; VERDERESE 1 ; KNAPIK 1
