Freimuth Delivers Walkoff Hit in 4-3 Win Over Bradley

March 7, 2015

Orlando, Florida -- Senior McKinzie Freimuth delivered a clutch RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning to secure a 4-3 victory for Michigan State over Bradley on Saturday afternoon. Freimuth's hit came with one out and two on in the bottom of the seventh, giving the Spartans their first walkoff win of the season.

MSU took a 3-1 lead into the seventh, but saw the Braves score twice in the top of the seventh to knot the game at 3-3 before the Spartans manufactured the winning run in the bottom of the frame.

"After the way we started the day, it was a nice rebound for us," said head coach Jacquie Joseph. "I'm not sure our team got off the bus to play the first game. Winning the second game should be a good stepping stone for us to approach Sunday much differently. "

Sarah Gutknecht homered for the fourth time this season Alyssa McBride went 3-for-3 after her 11-game hitting streak was halted earlier in the day to help improve MSUs record to 11-9 on the season. Valerie Kaff was the starter for MSU, surrendering the lone run in the second before Kristina Zalewski entered in the third inning and finished the game after going just two innings in the loss to Kent State earlier in the day.

Lea Foerster led off the game with a triple that rolled to the wall in the right-field corner, and scored on a fielder's choice by Shanin Thomas two batters later. The Braves countered with a run in the bottom of the second, as a pair of walks sandwiched around a single loaded the bases; Lexi Cremeens flied out to left, allowing Erika Hansen to score from third after tagging up. Kaff got Kendall Duffy to pop out to second for the second out of the inning, and Luna made a diving play at short, lunging to tag out the runner advancing to third for the final out of the inning.

Gutknecht led off the top of the third inning with a homer to left, her fourth of the season and 10th of her career. After Stoffer was retired and Reiser was hit by a pitch, Luna singled and advanced all the way to third as the double-steal was on, but Reiser got thrown out at the plate. Alyssa McBride brought home Luna with a single to left, but Foerster was retired on a ground out to first to end the inning.

Bradley got their first two runners on in the top of the third, as Elizabeth Leonard drew a one-out walk followed with a single to right by Maria Schroeder. Erika Hansen reached on a fielder's choice, as MSU nearly turned the double play, but Shannon King flew out to center to strand both runners. The Braves threatened in the top of the fourth with runners at second and third, but Zalewski got out of the jam and retired the side in order in the fifth.

The Spartans working out of that jam was the first of four innings that the teams traded zeroes, despite McBride leading off the fifth with a bunt single and Kassidy Kujawa smacking a single up the middle to start off the bottom of the sixth, her first base hit since Feb. 20 vs. Utah State.

Leadoff hitter Brittany Burgess started the game-tying rally in the top of the seventh with a single up the middle to lead off the seventh, and after Kelly Kapp flew out to center, Elizabeth Leonard singled to left to put runners on first and second with one out. Maria Schroeder looked at a called third strike to bring Erika Hansen to the plate to try to keep the game going - and she delivered a long double to left field that scored two to tie the game. Shannon King followed with a single up the middle, but a heads-up play kept Hansen at third. Kathryn Spenn popped out to Freimuth in foul territory to end the inning,

Destinee Luna led off the inning, and smacked a chopper to second that she legged out and was called safe at first. McBride followed with a beautiful bunt single to the right side, as both runners were safe by a large margin. Foerster popped out to third on a sacrifice bunt attempt, and Freimuth delivered the single that scored Luna from second and secured a Spartan split on the day.

MSU will play twice again on Sunday, taking on Bradley again at 11:30 am before the tournament finale against host Central Florida at 2 p.m.