Michigan State University
13-11
Mercer
16-13
Spartans On Short End Of Pitchers Duel, 1-0
3/13/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Macon, Georgia-- A tight pitcher's duel was the story in Michigan State's second game of the Mercer Bears Classic, as the Spartans fell to host Mercer 1-0. Michigan State falls to 13-11 on the season, while Mercer improves to 16-13 overall.
Sophomore pitcher Kirsten Stevens allowed just four hits to the Spartans in the game, leaving runners in the first, fourth and fifth innings and striking out six. Meanwhile, Zalewski stranded seven Bears runners and twice worked herself out of jams, scattering just six hits over six innings with five strikeouts.
The lone run for the home team came in the second inning, as Jastine Alaan gave her team a boost with a solo home run. It was the first career home run for the freshman second baseman.
MSU had two of its four hits in the first inning, as Alyssa McBride reached on a bunt single followed by a single to right by Lea Foerster. .However, MSU's bats were quiet over the balance of the game, save for singles by Shanin Thomas in the top of the fourth and Sydney Heath to lead off the fifth.
The home team threatened in bottom of the fourth, as Caroline Taylor hit a one-out single to center, and she moved to second when Quirisa Mauga was hit by a pitch. Molly Garmany flied out to center for the second out of the inning, but Zalewski loaded the bases by hitting her second batter of the frame, putting Alaan on first. She got Emma Andrew to strike out swinging to end the Mercer threat and keep the Spartans within a run.
A Meghan Rud single and a walk to senior Riley Carter left a pair on base for the Bears in the bottom of the fifth, but Zalewski got two of her six strikeouts in the sixth inning, a trio of ground-ball outs in the third, and some defensive help in the second when the Spartans turned a 6-3 double play right before Alaan's homer.
Combined with her work in the first game of the day, Zalewski allowed just three earned runs in 12.1 innings of work, striking out 12 and walking just four.
The Spartans will be back in action on Saturday with a pair of games against Alabama A&M and a second contest against mercer.
Team Stats
Pitching:
L: Zalewski, Kristina (9-5)
Base Running:
HBP: Stoffer, Ellie 1
Batting:
HR: Alaan 1
RBI: Alaan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Alaan 1
SB: Rud 1
HBP: Mauga 1 ; Alaan 1
