Spartan Bats Quiet in Loss to Terps

Sunday, April 10

College Park, Md.

11:00 AM

Michigan State University

20-18, 0

Maryland

10-27, 0

Michigan State

Maryland

4/10/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

April 10, 2016

Box Score

SPARTAN SYNOPSIS

Michigan State struggled to get its offense going and committed four errors, aiding host Maryland in a 10-2 Terps win in the second of three games in the series and first of a Sunday doubleheader.

The home team scored three runs in each of the first two innings, and two errors in the sixth pushed Maryland's lead to eight runs, ending the contest early due to the run rule. The Spartans had just five hits, and used four pitchers in the contest. A mini-rally put two runs on the board in the top of the sixth inning for the Spartans, which included McKenzie Long's third home run of the season.

The Spartans (20-18, 2-6 B1G) and the Terrapins wrap up the series with the back half of the doubleheader on Sunday afternoon.

TOP PERFORMERS

McKenzie Long hit a solo home run, her third of the season.
Shanin Thomas smacked a pinch-hit RBI double.
Ebonee Echols extended her team-best hitting streak to 12 games.

STATS AND STORYLINES

The Terrapins put three runs on the board in the bottom of both the first and the second innings. After the three-run first, starter Bridgette Rainey put two on via walk with just one out; she was replaced by Kristina Zalewski, and an error and single up the right side brought home three runs. The pitcher got MSU out of the inning with back-to-back strikeouts, but the Terps had doubled their lead.

MSU, which left a pair of runners in each of the first two innings, got something going in the third. A leadoff single by Echols extended her hitting streak to 12 games, a team high for the season. Celeste Wood's Texas-leaguer dropped into shallow right bounced off the glove of the right fielder, putting runners on both first and second. Nation dug in and stranded the two runners, getting the next three batters to keep MSU off the board.

In the bottom of the fifth, Bridgette Rainey returned to the circle, and she gave up a one-out solo home run to Kylie Datil that pushed Maryland's lead to 7-0. With two on and two out, Hannah Shuler entered in relief, and she surrendered a bunt single tht loaded the bases. Shuler, however, quickly atoned for the hit with a ground ball out to third to get out of the inning.

The shutout was broken up in the top of the sixth by McKenzie Long, who hit her third round-tripper of the season to make it a 7-1 ballgame. One out later, Kassidy Kujawa drew a pinch-hit walk, and Shanin Thomas followed with a pinch-hit double to the wall in right, and it allowed the lead runner to score to make it 7-2.