Spartan Rally Falls Short in Seventh

Saturday, March 26

East Lansing, Mich.

3:00 PM

Michigan State University

17-14, 1-2

Wisconsin

16-12, 2-1

Wisconsin

Michigan State

3/26/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

March 26, 2016

Box Score

SPARTAN SYNOPSIS

Michigan State's rally from a five-run deficit fell just short in the back end of a doubleheader, falling to Wisconsin, 5-4 in the nightcap. The teams split a pair of 5-4 decisions, as the Spartans survived a late Wisconsin surge in game one and got the final out of the game with two runners on base.

The Spartans (17-14, 1-2 B1G) dropped the series to the Badgers, who improve to 16-12 overall and 2-1 in Conference play.

The Badgers put five runs on the board in the top of the second inning, and held that lead until MSU came up in the bottom of the sixth. An RBI single by McKezie Long broke up the shutout, and Spartan catcher Lindsey Besson brought MSU within a run with a three-run home run, her second round-tripper of the season. In the bottom of the seventh, pinch hitter Jordan Davis led off with a single to left center and Lea Foerster was hit by a pitch to put the first two batters on base, but Ebonee Echols popped out and Celeste Wood grounded into a double play to allow the Badgers to get out of the inning.

MSU has a pair of midweek home games against Western Michigan (Tuesday) and Central Michigan (Wednesday) before heading to Penn State for a three-game Big Ten series next weekend.

QUOTABLE

"After yesterday's performance, coming out and getting a win in game one was important today. We got into a hole in the second game and almost came all the way back, which I'm happy with - but obviously would have been much happier if we had a little different approach in the bottom of the seventh and completed the comeback. I want our team to understand how to approach these situations, but we are still young overall and every game, every inning, and every at-bat is a learning experience. We are going to have a short turnaround here before we have home games on Tuesday and Wednesday, which is another opportunity to get out there and gain some experience and confidence."

- Head Coach Jacquie Joseph

TOP PERFORMERS

Lindsey Besson hit a three-run homer in the sixth and went 1-for-2 on the day.
McKenzie Long went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
Lexi White had a pair of hits, going 2-for-3.
Kristina Zalewski started the game after tossing a complete game in the top half of the doubleheader, and was replaced by Dani Goranson with one out in the second. Goranson allowed just one run and scattered six hits, walking one and striking out one. Zalewski re-entered with one on and none out in the bottom of the sixth. Goranson took the loss, scattering six hits and only one earned run and one walk. Zalewski finished with 2.1 innings pitched, surrendering four earned runs, walking one and allowing four hits.

STATS AND STORYLINES

The Badgers pushed five runs across in the top of the second. Zalewski loaded the bases on three singles and a sac bunt, and then walked Macy Oswald to bring the first run of the game across. Zalewski was then replaced by Dani Goranson, who got Ashley VanZeeland to pop out in foul territory for the second out of the frame. On a 2-2 pitch, Kelsey Jenkins laced a single to center to bring two runs home for a 3-0 Wisconsin lead. A double by Chloe Miller made it 5-0, but Goranson got out of the inning with a fly ball to left.

MSU tried to make some noise in the bottom of the fifth, as Shanin Thomas led off with a single up the middle, and Lexi White followed with a one-out hit two batters later. Pitcher Kirsten Stevens got the next two batters on fly balls to end the inning and keep MSU off the board.

Ebonee Echols led off the bottom of the sixth by legging out an infield single, and also outraced the shortstop in her relay throw to second as Celeste Wood reached on a fielder's choice to put two on with none out in the frame. A fly ball to center by Gutknecht moved Echols to third, and a single up the right field line by McKenzie Long brought home Echols for MSU's first run of the game. After Shanin Thomas moved the runners into scoring position with a groundout, Besson sent a pitch over the left-field wall to score three and bring the Spartans within a run, 5-4.

After Goranson walked Kelsey Jenkins to lead off the top of the seventh, Zalewski re-entered the game in the circle. She got Chloe Miller to fly out to left, and Melanie Cross to pop out to second for the second out of the frame. First baseman Samantha Arents lined out to Destinee Luna at second to end the inning. That preserved a one-run deficit for the Spartans.

Jordan Davis led off the bottom of the seventh with a pinch hit single to right center, and Taylor-Paige Stewart, who entered the game in relief in the sixth, hit Foerster to put two on for MSU without an out. Echols popped out to second, and the Spartan hopes for a comeback were dashed Celeste Wood grounded into a double play to end the game.