Michigan State University
11-28, 0
Iowa
12-23, 0
Smith Twirls Four-Hitter in 1-0 Win at Iowa
4/18/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 18, 2014
Michigan State got another masterful pitching performance from senior Kelly Smith and and RBI single from Stephanie Sanders in the sixth inning to post a 1-0 victory over Iowa on the road on Friday evening. Smith twirled a three-hitter with eight strikeouts and just one walk just two days after tossing her first career no-hitter on Wednesday.
MSU improves to 11-28, 3-12 in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes (12-23,5-10 B1G), who swept No. 13 Missouri in a midweek doubleheader on Wednesday, got an impressive pitching performance from Kayla Massey, who allowed just four hits while striking out four and walking one.
Smith, who had a season-best nine strikeouts in Wednesday's no-hitter, got offense from her team in the sixth inning once again, as Carly Nielsen's home run was the difference on Wednesday and an RBI single by Sanders scored Dana Briggs from second in the sixth inning tonight. Freshman Lindsey Besson had a pair of hits for MSU.
The Spartans snapped a 14-game losing streak to Iowa, dating back to the 2006 season. The teams had not met since 2012.
"It's outstanding. Kelly Smith was lights out. When she pitches like that, she can dominate," said head coach Jacquie Joseph. "She is dialed in and in the zone right now - she's doing everything we can possibly ask her to do, and we are thrilled for her that she's being rewarded for it.
"You look at the scoreboard and think, `just four hits?', but I thought we hit the ball well today," continued the coach. "But, we just hit it right at people and Iowa also played good defense. If we keep making solid contact, squaring up, hopefully some of those will drop for us."
Both Smith and her Hawkeye counterpart Kayla Massey were strong and efficient through the first four innings, as they had 55 and 47 pitches, respectively. In the bottom of the fifth, Iowa had its best scoring chance. Smith stuck out Alyssa Navarro to lead off the inning, but she then walked Whitney Repole on five pitches, the first walk of the night. Michelle Zoeller laid down a sac bunt to attempt to move Repole over, but the throw to the bag was bobbled by MSU and the charged error allowed both runners safe at first and second. Massey pinch hit for Kaitlyn Mullarkey, and Smith got her to pop out to Freimuth in foul territory for the second out; she then got Brianna Luna to fly out to right to end the Hawkeye threat.
In the top of the sixth, Sarah Gutknecht drew a two-out walk, and was replaced on the basepaths by senior Briggs. Briggs stole second to put a runner in scoring position for Sanders; Sanders hit a bullet up the middle that glanced off the glove of Massey and shot into center field, scoring Briggs from second for a 1-0 lead. Carly Nielsen followed Sanders, and got caught looking at a called third strike on the inside corner for the third out of the inning - but the Spartans did draw first blood and get the first run of the game.
Lindsey Besson led off the top of the seventh with a first-pitch single to right field; but after a fielder's choice, a pop-out by pinch hitter Shanin Thomas, and a Reiser strikeout, the thought of any insurance runs ended as the Spartans held the tight 1-0 advantage headed to the bottom of the inning.
Erickson led off the top of the seventh for the Hawkeyes, and hit a couple of long foul balls down the left field line before popping out to Gutknecht at third for the first out. Navarro popped out to Freimuth in foul territory up the right field line to put the game on the shoulders of Repole, who lined a 2-2 pitch through the left side to keep hopes alive for Iowa. Michelle Zoeller struck out looking at a pitch on the outside corner to end the game, Smith's eighth strikeout of the night.
The teams will meet again on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET for the second of the three games in the series. The game will air live on the Spartan Sports Network.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Smith, Kelly (4-13)
L: Massey (7-13)
Batting:
RBI: Sanders, Stephanie 1
SH: Reiser, Jacquie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Briggs, Dana 1
SB: Briggs, Dana 1 ; Reiser, Jacquie 1
Batting:
SH: Zoeller 1
Base Running:
CS: Fritsch 1
HBP: Fritsch 1
