Spartans Break Out In Seventh, Down Villanova 7-1

Friday, February 17

Madeira Beach, Fla.

4:30 PM

Michigan State University

4-1

Villanova

1-1

Michigan State

Villanova

2/17/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

Feb. 17, 2017

Box Score

PDF Box Score: MSU 7, VIL 1

SPARTAN SYNOPSIS

A pair of seventh-inning home runs by Ebonee Echols and Kelcey Carrasco helped open up a tight 3-1 game as Michigan State improved to 4-1 with a 7-1 victory over Villanova on Friday afternoon in Mediera Beach, Florida. Villanova falls to 1-1 on the season; the Wildcats committed four errors and had seven hits on the day.

Freshman pitcher Jordan Watson improved to 2-0 on the year, going five innings and scattering seven hits, turning the game over to Bridgette Rainey with a 3-1 lead. Rainey didn't allow a hit in two innings, striking out the side in the seventh to earn the save.

Echols went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI on her seventh-inning round-tripper, while Sarah Gutknecht (two RBI) and Kaitlyn Eveland each had a pair of hits.

MSU takes on UAB in the second game of the day for the Spartans later tonight.

TOP PERFORMERS

Jordan Watson scattered seven hits in five innings of work to earn her second collegiate victory.
Bridgette Rainey threw two relief innings, striking out three and earning the save.
Ebonee Echols went 3-for-4 with a home run (her first of the season) and two RBI.
Sarah Gutknecht had a pair of base hits and two RBI

QUOTABLE:
"We probably could have developed a few more runs on the board in the middle innings. but Im very happy with both Jordan Watson and Bridgette Rainey, as well as our defensive effort - we bent, but didn't break when they got runners on base. We had double-digit hits for the third time in five games, so we have things going a bit. We'll look to finish off this day on a high note in our second game vs. UAB." - Head Coach Jacquie Joseph

STATS AND STORYLINES

The Spartans rattled off four base hits in the top of the first, scoring twice and chasing Villanova starter Prutzer. MSU added a third run in the second inning to make it a 3-0 game.

The Wildcats strung together three base hits in the second to cut into the Spartan lead, but could only plate one run.

No other runs came across the plate for either team until the Spartans broke it open with four runs in the top of the seventh on an RBI single by Gutknecht, thee two-run homer by Echols, and the single shot by Carrasco.