Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
18-14
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Western Michigan
10-16
Spartans Make Quick Work, Down Broncos 12-2
3/29/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
SPARTAN SYNOPSIS
Michigan State had a pair of big innings, posting a 12-2 victory in five innings over visiting Western Michigan on Tuesday afternoon.
Bridgette Rainey allowed three first-inning hits and a pair of runs, but shut down the Broncos the rest of the way, earning the victory (3-1). She struck out three on the afternoon.
Lexi White had a 3-for-3 day, smacking both a home run (her second of the season) and a double. Lea Foerster, Ebonee Echols, and Destinee Luna all recorded a pair of hits as MSU improved to 18-14 overall.
The Spartans welcome Central Michigan on Wednesday afternoon for a non-conference tilt at 4 p.m.
TOP PERFORMERS
- , Lexi White went 3-for-3, smacking a double and her second home run of the year. She added a pair of RBI.
- Ebonee Echols went 2-for-4 with a triple, three RBI, and a stolen base.
- Destinee Luna (2-for-3) and Lea Foerster (2-for-4) each had a double and a single. Luna added a pair of RBI.
- Bridgette Rainey got the start, her first since March 12. She went four innings, settling in after surrendering three first-inning hits to shut out the Broncos the rest of the way. She struck out three batters.
STATS AND STORYLINES
- A leadoff single, an error, and a walk set up a two-run first inning for the visitors, once Abby Stoner stepped in and delivered a single up the middle that plated a pair of runs. That would be the lone runs of the day for the Broncos, as Rainey settled in and didnt allow a hit after the first
- MSU countered immediately in the bottom of the first. Lea Foerster led off the frame with a double to left field, and then pitcher Allyson Kus issued a one-out walk to Celeste Wood to put a pair on. Sarah Gutknecht singled up the right-field line to bring home Foerster, and McKenzie Long legged out an infield single to tie the game at 2-2 and leave runners at the corners. Lexi White followed with a second consecutive infield single, bringing home Gutknecht for a 3-2 advantage. Shanin Thomas continued the hit parade - MSU's fourth straight - with a shot straight up the middle that made it 4-2, still with just one out. Kus got a ground-ball out from Lindsey Besson, but Destinee Luna, the ninth batter of the inning, smacked a double into left center that brought home two more runs for a 6-2 lead. Western made a pitching change, bringing in Anissa Sanchez, who got Foerster to strand Luna at second.
- The Spartans rattled off five hits in its first six batters in the bottom of the third, starting with a leadoff double by Lexi White and capped with a bases-loaded triple and three RBI for Ebonee Echols. That signalled another pitching change, as the Broncos went to freshman Skyler Sobieski to face Celeste Wood with Echols on third and one out. Sobieski got Wood to fly out to right, but that also brought Echols across for an 11-2 advantage.
- Lexi White led off the fourth with a solo shot over the left field wall, her second home run of the season.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Rainey, Bridgette (3-1)
L: KUS, Allyson (6-9)
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Batting:
RBI: STONER, Abby 2
Base Running:
RUNS: SCHAAF, Ivy 1 ; CICHOCKI, Kelsea 1
Batting:
2B: Foerster, Lea 1 ; White, Lexi 1 ; Luna, Destinee 1
3B: Echols, Ebonee 1
HR: White, Lexi 1
RBI: Echols, Ebonee 3 ; Wood, Celeste 1 ; Gutknecht, Sarah 1 ; Long, McKenzie 1 ; White, Lexi 2 ; Thomas, Shanin 1 ; Besson, Lindsey 1 ; Luna, Destinee 2
SF: Wood, Celeste 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Foerster, Lea 2 ; Echols, Ebonee 1 ; Wood, Celeste 1 ; Gutknecht, Sarah 1 ; Long, McKenzie 1 ; White, Lexi 3 ; Thomas, Shanin 1 ; Zackrison, Kelly 1 ; Luna, Destinee 1
SB: Echols, Ebonee 1
