Michigan State University
16-24, 1-11
Ohio State
22-16, 6-6
Michigan State Softball Loses To Ohio State Sunday
4/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
EAST LANSING, Mich. -A seven-run second inning by Ohio State was too much for Michigan State softball to overcome as the Spartans were beaten by the Buckeyes, 15-5 in five innings, Sunday afternoon at a sunbathed Secchia Stadium.
For the second day in a row, there was a large, spirited crowd at Secchia Stadium, with 746 fans in the stands for the series finale of the three-game Big Ten Conference series. Sunday's game was the fourth of a nine-game homestand for the Spartans at the friendly confines of Secchia Stadium.
Michigan State is now 16-24 overall and 1-11 in B1G action, while Ohio State improves to 22-16 overall and 6-6 in league play with the sweep of the series.
"What we talk about is that you have to work harder and you have to play harder. There were a lot of effort play out there that we left, with balls dropping without shirts getting dirty, a couple sun balls," MSU head coach Jacquie Joseph said. "The groundball at third base led to a seven-run inning. I told them this is the Big Ten Conference, and you have to play better. We will work our way out of it."
The Ohio State offense came out fast in the series finale with Cammi Prantl hitting a two-run home run in the top of the first to give the Buckeyes the early 2-0 lead. In the second inning, Ohio State broke it open with seven runs to take a 9-0 advantage. All seven runs were unearned and came with two outs. The inning was highlighted by three-run home run by Anna Kirk.
In the bottom of the third inning, Caitlin Conrad robbed senior Ellie Stoffer with an excellent diving catch in center. The very next batter senior Alyssa McBride got the Spartans' first hit of the game with a shot to center.
The Buckeyes continued their timely hitting in the top of the fourth inning. Despite the Spartans turning a terrific double play, Ohio State plated another two-out run when Bailee Sturgeon scored on a double by Prantl to give OSU the 12-0 lead.
The visitors added three more runs in the top of the fifth, sending nine batters to the plate, getting five hits, all singles, but sophomore Valerie Kuff got out of a one-out, bases loaded jam on a nice diving stop by senior McKinzie Freimuth at first and a running catch in right by freshman Sydney Heath.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, pinch hitter junior Shanin Thomas led off with a single, who moved to third on a hard-hit double by Stoffer. McBride followed with a walk to load the bases. Heath then ground out to second to plate Thomas for MSU's first run of the game. Next, Freimuth cracked a double to left to clear the bases, cutting the OSU lead to 15-3, and chasing Buckeyes' starter Olivia O'Reilly. Freshman Lea Foerster greeted OSU releiver Lena Springer by drawing a hit by pitch. Two batters later, freshman McKenzie Long laced a double off the left field fence to plate Foerster and senior Stephanie Sanders, who reached on a fielder's choice. Springer was able to get a groundout to end the game due to the run rule.
Long and Freimuth ended with two RBIs each, both with doubles as their hits in the game.
Michigan State continues its season-long nine-game homestand with two match-ups with some in-state foes, first hosting Eastern Michigan in a non-conference game on Tuesday, April 14 with a 5 p.m. first pitch, before battling Michigan on Wednesday, April 15 with first pitch set for 4:30 p.m. in a Big Ten Conference contest. MSU then hosts Minnesota in a three-game, B1G series, Friday-Sunday, April 17-19. First pitch for Friday's game is 4 p.m., with Saturday and Sunday slated for 1 p.m. starts.
Following Saturday and Sunday's game, fans can take part in the Spartan Softball Fan Zone. Come get autographs and take pictures with MSU softball players. Pictures may appear on the MSU softball facebook page, Michigan State Softball. Fans who had their picture taken after the Ohio State games can check out the gallery on Monday.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: O'Reilly (12-6)
L: Rainey, Bridgette (1-8)
Batting:
2B: Prantl 1 ; McIntyre 1 ; Watkins 1
HR: Prantl 1 ; Kirk 1
RBI: Prantl 3 ; McIntyre 2 ; Leonard 1 ; Watkins 2 ; Kirk 3 ; Sturgeon 1 ; Goodwin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Conrad 3 ; Prantl 1 ; McIntyre 2 ; Leonard 1 ; Fehrenbach 1 ; Watkins 2 ; Kirk 1 ; Marotti 1 ; Sturgeon 2 ; Nester 1
SB: McIntyre 1
HBP: McIntyre 1
Batting:
2B: Freimuth, McKinzie 1 ; Long, McKenzie 1 ; Stoffer, Ellie 1
RBI: Heath, Sydney 1 ; Freimuth, McKinzie 2 ; Long, McKenzie 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Foerster, Lea 1 ; Sanders, Stephanie 1 ; Reiser, Jacquie 1 ; Stoffer, Ellie 1 ; McBride, Alyssa 1
HBP: Kujawa, Kassidy 1 ; Foerster, Lea 1
