Michigan State University
7-5
Florida Atlantic
11-0
Pitcher's Duel Goes To Host FAU, 3-0
2/26/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
SPARTAN SYNOPSIS
Fans who stuck it out to the end of MSU's game with Florida Atlantic on Friday night in Boca Raton were treated to a pitcher's duel, as an RBI single by Carneshia Thompson in the third inning and an insurance marker in the sixth gave the host Owls a 3-0 win. FAU ace Kylee Hansen limited MSU to just two hits (both doubles) while striking out eight, while Zalewski scattered five hits and allowed just the three runs, striking out eight as well.
FAU, which is receiving votes in both national polls this week, improves to 11-0 on the season, while MSU falls to 7-5 after a 7-0 win earlier today over Stony Brook.
Celeste Wood and Jordan Davis had the two doubles for MSU.
The Spartans are back in action on Saturday against Boston University (3:45 pm) before a rematch with the Owls at 6 pm.
QUOTABLE
FAU was opportunistic and took advantage of their opportunities when they had them in the third inning, and again in the fifth. They are a quality team that is undefeated, and that's behind their great pitching and taking advantage of opportunities. Kristina Zalewski pitched well enough to win today. There just wasn't any room for error, and we didn't capitalize on the few opportunities that we did have. - Head Coach Jacquie Joseph
TOP PERFORMERS
- Kristina Zalewski matched her season best with eight strikeouts, scattering five hits in a complete 6.0 innings. She stranded six FAU runners in the game.
- Both Celeste Wood and Jordan Davis came up with doubles for MSU's pair of hits.
STATS AND STORYLINES
- Carnesha Thompson laced a two-out triple to right center in the home half of the first, and an infield single by Taylor Buckley were the only hits surrendered by Zalewski through two innings, while she struck out two. Kiley Southall led off thte third with a walk, stole second on a strikeout of Delaney Rickey, and moved to third on a base hit up the left field line by Christina Martinex. Thompson stepped in with a pair of runners in scoring position, and she dropped a base hit into shallow center just out of the reach of Ebonee Echols to give the home team a 2-0 lead in the third.
- Bencivenga robbed McKenzie Long of a base hit in the top of the fourth, making a diving stab in left. Celeste Wood followed with a ball deep into left center off the wall for a standup double, but got stranded at third after a strikeout and a popout. Wood was also stranded at third in the bottom of the first, drawing a walk, stealing second, and moving to third on a throw that rolled into center field.
- The Owls added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth with runners at second and third with one out. Zalewski's wild pitch allowed Melissa Martinez to come home, just eluding Zalewski's tag, for the third run of the game. She got Alex Miller to ground out to Shanin Thomas at third, and Caitlyn Hogue became Zalewski's eighth strikeout of the night to end the inning.
- The hitting streaks of Sarah Gutknecht (eight games), Lea Foerster and Lindsey Besson (seven games) came to a halt. Wood, with hits in both games on Friday, has the team's longest streak of games with a hit (2) and reaching base (5).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hanson, Kylee (5-0)
L: Zalewski, Kristina (0-0)
Batting:
2B: Wood, Celeste 1 ; Davis, Jordan 1
Base Running:
SB: Wood, Celeste 1
Batting:
2B: Martinez, Christina 1
3B: Thompson, Carnesha 1
RBI: Thompson, Carnesha 2
SH: Buckley, Tatum 1 ; Bencivenga, Sarah 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Martinez, Christina 1 ; Martinez, Melissa 1 ; Southall, Kiley 1
SB: Southall, Kiley 1
