Michigan State University
3-1
Kent State
4-0
Spartans Drop Decision to Kent State
2/14/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
SPARTAN SYNOPSIS
MSU suffered its first loss of the season, falling to 3-1 with a 7-2 loss to Kent State in its fourth game at the FGCU Kickoff Classic. Pitcher Ronnie Ladines took a no-hitter into the fifth inning for the Golden Flashes (4-0), and scattered five hits in her second win of the season. The Spartans got RBI from sophomore Jordan Davis and freshman Kaitlyn Eveland, and a 2-of-3 performance at the plate from junior Sarah Gutknecht.
Kristina Zalewski, who got the save in a 4-3 win over UIC in MSU's first game of the day, took the loss after allowing four runs (two earned) in 3 1/3 innings. Celeste Wood faced seven batters in 1 2/3 innings, and Bridgette Rainey closed it out, striking out three in two innings of work.
MSU couldnt solve Ladines early, as she didnt allow a hit until the fifth inning and recorded 10 strikeouts and didn't issue a walk. MSU's three pitchers combined for five strikeouts and 12 hits, stranding 11 Golden Flash batters on the basepaths.
QUOTABLE
"We definately improved and battled, but we ran into a quality team with a pitcher who was lights out. I liked the way we responded and hung in there to fight until the final out of the game, but a tip of the cap has to go to Kent State - they were better and deserved to win tonight's game. It's a good measuring stick for us. "
-- Head Coach Jacquie Joseph
TOP PERFORMERS
- Sarah Gutknecht was 2-for-3, scoring one run and recording a team-high seven putouts - the most of any field player between the two teams.
- Kaitlyn Eveland had her first collegiate hit, an RBI single.
- Sophomore Jordan Davis had an RBI double in the fifth inning.
STATS AND STORYLINES
- Kent State exploded for five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning on just three hits and one error. The Golden Flashes added one run in each the fifth and sixth innings.
- Wood led off the fifth with a single to center, and then was sacrificed to second by Foerster. With two outs on the board, Ebonee Echols came in to pinch hit for Kassidy Kujawa, and delivered a single to right to plate her classmate. Shanin Thomas was hit by a pitch to put a second runner on, but Gutknecht grounded out to end the inning.
- The Spartans broke through in the top of the sixth. Gutknecht missed a home run by inches and had to settle for a standup double. Two outs later, Davis placed a long single into right center, plating Gutknecht for MSU's first run of the game. Luna swung at a called strike three, but the ball got away from the catcher and she reached first to keep the inning going.
- The Spartans looked to get things going in the bottom of the sixth, as Long led off with an infield single. Back-to-back fly balls put two outs on the board, but the Spartans staged a rally with a Gutknecht single, and an Eveland shot up the middle that brought home Long. Gutknecht got gunned down at third for the final out of the inning, stalling the MSU rally.
- MSU committed a pair of errors in the contest, including one that directly led to a pair of KSU unearned runs.
- The 12 KSU hits was the most that the Spartans had surrendered in a game this season.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: LADINES, Ronnie (3-0)
L: Zalewski, Kristina (1-1)
Batting:
2B: GRIMM, Maddy 1 ; LADINES, Ronnie 1
HR: SPEERS, Holly 1
RBI: ROUSH, Arika 2 ; GRIMM, Maddy 1 ; SPEERS, Holly 1
Base Running:
RUNS: DUFFY, Michele 2 ; SPEERS, Holly 1 ; SCOARSTE, Vanessa 1 ; BROWNFIELD, Bailey 1 ; ANDERSON, Sydney 1 ; CADER, Jen 1
SB: SCOARSTE, Vanessa 1 ; BROWNFIELD, Bailey 1
HBP: ROUSH, Arika 2 ; CADER, Jen 1
Batting:
2B: Gutknecht, Sarah 1 ; Davis, Jordan 1
RBI: Eveland, Kaitlyn 1 ; Davis, Jordan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Long, McKenzie 1 ; Gutknecht, Sarah 1
HBP: Foerster, Lea 1
