Michigan State University
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Providence
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Thomas Knocks Three Doubles in 7-3 Win Over Providence
2/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
East Lansing, Michigan - Shanin Thomas smacked a career-best three doubles and senior Alyssa McBride had a pair of hits and two RBI as Michigan State downed Providence, 7-3, at the FAU Strike Out Cancer Tournament on Saturday. Kristina Zalewski came in to throw six innings of four-hit ball, striking out seven to earn her third win of the season. MSU improves to 6-2 on the season.
Michigan State scored seven times on eight hits, while the Friars plated three runs on seven hits. Dani Goranson was the starter, surrendering three earned runs, her first earned runs of the season.
Thomas' three doubles tied the school record for doubles in a single game, most recently accomplished by Ali Grant against Indiana in May 2012. Meghan Darhower (vs. Wright State, 2006) and Shealee Dunavan (vs. Mississippi Sate, 1999) also accomplished the feat.
The Friars jumped on the scoreboard in the top of the first. Pitcher Dani Goranson got the first batter on a strikeout, but Dederick got on board with an infield single. Lundstrom followed with a homer to right center to give the visitors a 2-0 lead. Goranson got Kemp on an infield pop up then Urka on a strikeout to get out of the inning.
The Spartans cut the deficit in half with a run in the bottom half of the inning. McKenzie Long and Lea Foerster both were issued walks, and Stephanie Sanders reached on a fielder's choice, nipping Foerster at second. Sanders stole second to put a pair in scoring position, and Kiara Amos issued two more back-to-back free passes - to Shanin Thomas and McKinzie Freimuth - to walk in a run. Amos finally retired the side on a groundout.
In the second, a leadoff triple by Shanelle Harrell and walk to Kelsi Luttrell put runners on the corners without an out, and Zalewski came in to relieve Goranson. Brittney Veler, the first batter Zalewski faced, got an infield single, scoring Harrell to give the Friars a 3-0 lead. Lauren Paiva laid down a sac bunt to advance the runners, and leadoff hitter Kiki Baldaserri's bunt attempt got her thrown out at first without advancing the runners. Zalewski finally got Kristie Dederick to strike out to end the inning, stranding two and limiting the damage.
In the third, Shanin Thomas led off with a double, and Freimuth sacrificed her over to third. Jacquie Reiser delivered an RBI single into center to tie the game at 3-3, then promptly stole second. McBride earned a two-out walk, but Gutknecht grounded into a fielder's choice to end the inning.
Zalewski kept rolling along, striking out two batters each in the fourth and fifth innings to maintain a tie score. In the bottom of the fifth, MSU tacked on a pair of runs on a McBride RBI single that plated two, allowing the Spartans to pull ahead, 5-3. Thomas led off the inning with her second double of the day, and moved to third on another sacrifice by Freimuth. Stoffer grounded out, but Reiser then reached when she was hit by a pitch. She stole second to put a pair in scoring position for McBride, who dropped an infield single to score both Thomas and Reiser.
The Friars tried to cut back into the lead immediately in the sixth, getting a baserunner when Zalewski walked Rurka to lead off the inning, and an error allowed Harrell to reach and moved Rurka to second. Luttrell laid down a sacrifice bunt to put the runners in scoring position with just one out; Zalewski got Veler to pop out to Freimuith at first, bringing Paiva to the plate with two outs and two aboard, and Paiva went down swinging to strand two and preserve the Spartan lead.
The Spartans tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth, as Amos gave up three consecutive two-out doubles to Sanders, Thomas, and Freimuth, giving Thomas her career day. Zalewski gave up two of her four hits in the top of the seventh, as the Friars attempted to cut into the lead.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Zalewski, Kristina (3-0)
L: AMOS (0-0)
Batting:
3B: HARRELL 1
HR: LUNDSTROM 1
RBI: LUNDSTROM 2 ; VELER 1
SH: LUTTRELL 1 ; PAIVA 1
Base Running:
RUNS: DEDERICK 1 ; LUNDSTROM 1 ; HARRELL 1
SB: LUNDSTROM 1
Batting:
2B: Sanders, Stephanie 1 ; Thomas, Shanin 3 ; Freimuth, McKinzie 1
RBI: Foerster, Lea 1 ; Thomas, Shanin 1 ; Freimuth, McKinzie 2 ; Reiser, Jacquie 1 ; McBride, Alyssa 2
SH: Freimuth, McKinzie 1
SF: Foerster, Lea 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Long, McKenzie 1 ; Sanders, Stephanie 1 ; Thomas, Shanin 3 ; Reiser, Jacquie 2
SB: Sanders, Stephanie 1 ; Reiser, Jacquie 2
HBP: Reiser, Jacquie 1
