MSU Dominates Leathernecks, 11-2

Sunday, March 20

Bloomington, Indiana

10:00 AM

Michigan State University

16-11

Western Illinois

7-20

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Western Illinois	1	0	1	0	0	2	3	1
Michigan State	4	2	2	3	X	11	11	2

3/20/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

March 20, 2016

Box Score

SPARTAN SYNOPSIS

A three-hitter by pitcher Dani Goranson and three home runs - two from center fielder Lea Foerster - helped the Spartans to a 11-2 victory (five innings) over Western Illinois on Sunday morning at the Hoosier Classic in Bloomington, Ind.

Foerster led off the first and fourth innings with her third and fourth round-trippers of the year, tying the school record for home runs in a game - she is the 20th player in school history to accomplish the feat, and the first since 2015 graduate Stephanie Sanders did it on March 6, 2012 against UC-Riverside.

Celeste Wood hit her fourth home run of the season to tie Foerster for the team lead. Wood's was a two-run shot to follow Foerster's in the first inning.

Goranson (6-3) earned her third decision of the weekend, allowing three hits and striking out two.

Six of MSU's 11 hits went for extra bases, as both Jordan Davis and Ebonee Echols

Michigan State (16-11) plays UIC at 12:30 pm to wrap up the Hoosier Classic Sunday afternoon.

QUOTABLE

"We took care of business in an efficient manner this morning, which is good to see. It's great to see players like Kelly Zackrison and Jordan Davis coming up with big hits like they have the last two days when they step into our lineup. Dani did a nice job of in the circle, and having that run support helps a pitcher tremendously, too. Now it's about getting another win to cap off the weekend the right way."

- Head Coach Jacquie Joseph

TOP PERFORMERS

Lea Foerster had a pair of solo homers in a 2-for 3 effort, with two runs scored and two RBI.

Celeste Wood had a two-run homer in the first inning, and finished the day 1-for-3.

Ebonee Echols went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, two stolen bases and two runs scored.

Both Jordan Davis (double) and McKenzie Long (triple) had a pair of RBI with their extra-base hits in 1-for-3 efforts at the plate.

Dani Goranson got the win, tossing five innings and allowing just three hits, striking out two and walking one. She has been the pitcher of record in all three MSU games so far this weekend.

STATS AND STORYLINES

Western Illinois took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, turning a leadoff walk and stolen base into a run when Kelsey Marlow doubled to right center. MSU countered immediately, as Lea Foerster tied the game with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the frame, and after a single and stolen base by Ebonee Echols, Celeste Wood jacked her fourth of the season over the left field wall for a 3-1 advantage with none out. Kassidy Kujawa singled to keep the hit parade going, and pinch runner Kelly Zachrison advanced on a pair of wild pitches sandwiched around a ground ball out to make it 4-1 MSU with just one out. Pitcher Kaycee Hart got out of the inning with a fly ball and a lineout.
A pair of infield singles by Lexi White and Destinee Luna left a pair on with one out for Ebonee Echols in the bottom of the second, and the freshman ripped a double to score both runners to push MSU's lead to 6-1. Echols was thrown out trying to turn her two-bagger into a triple, and Wood grounded out to end the inning.
An error and an infield single allowed the Leathernecks to cut into MSU's lead in the top of the third, getting a second run across. However, MSU immediately answered, as a two-run double by catcher Jordan Davis brought home Zackrison (who led off with a single) and McKenzie Long (fielder's choice and an error) extended the Spartan lead to 8-2.
Foerster led off the fourth with her second solo home run of the game, tying the school record. The last player to do it was Stephanie Sanders (3/6/12 vs. Cal-Riverside).
After Foerster's leadoff homer in the fourth, relief pitcher Megan Lotarski walked both Echols and Zackrison, who were brought around by a triple from McKenzie Long that cleared the bases and pushed the Spartan lead to 11-2.
MSU had its second run-rule win of the season - the first came on Feb. 20 vs. Memphis (9-1). On Saturday, the Spartans played their first extra-inning game of the season, a 10-inning victory over Bowling Green (20-11).