Spartans Fall to UM in Ann Arbor, 5-1

April 12, 2017

Box Score | PDF Box Score: Michigan 5, MSU 1

SPARTAN SYNOPSIS

Michigan All-America Megan Betsa, and the current national leader in strikeouts, tied her season high with 17 K's on the day to pace the No. 18 Wolverines (29-8) to a 5-1 victory over Michigan State on Wednesday night in Ann Arbor.

WATCH: Foerster's Highlight-Reel Catch Makes SportsCenter Top 10

The Spartans (21-13, 5-5 Big Ten) were forced to relocate the game due to flooding at the Old College Field complex. For MSU, Lindsey Besson went 2-for-3, and Lea Foerster had an RBI single in the third inning to give her 30 consecutive games reaching base safely.

The Spartans were hindered by a pair of errors in the game, and combined with Betsa working her way through the Spartan order, it kept MSU from getting back into the game. MSU had the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth trailing 4-1, but couldn't get a run across.

The Spartans host Illinois in a three-game series that begins on Friday at Davenport University in Caledonia, Mich. The teams play Friday at 4 .

TOP PERFORMERS

Lindsey Besson had two hits on the day (2-for-3)
Lea Foerster had an RBI single and two highlight-reel grabs in the first and seventh innings

QUOTABLE
" Megan Betsa is an All-American, and she certainly looked like one today. We had a few times where we were able to work deep counts, but she'd come back with a really nice pitch and that was the end of it. We knew coming in that she was going to be a tough one to crack, and she showed today why she is so highly regarded and successful. We'll refocus again tomorrow and get ourselves ready for the weekend series with Illinois, which is another very good team." "

Head coach Jacquie Joseph .

STATS AND STORYLINES

The Spartans went with a second straight staff outing with their pitchers, starting junior Bridgette Rainey. Rainey, who had won five straight decisions, fell to 12-6 on the season after three innings where she allowed four runs (three earned) with two walks and one strikeout. Kristina Zalewski tossed two innings of one-hit relief with three strikeouts, and Jordan Watson came on in the top of the sixth to go the rest of the way.

The Wolverines led off the game with consecutive singles, and a one-out double by Aidan Falk brought home both runners for a 2-0 lead in the first. Falk delivered again in the third, depositing a Texas-leaguer into shallow left that brought home Kelly Christner. A walk and an error loaded the bases, and a second walk of the inning (to Amanda Vargas) brought home UM's second run of the inning and fourth of the game.

Lindsey Besson led off the bottom of the third with a base hit, and pinch runner Summer Callahan took second on a wild pitch and moved to third on a passed ball. Lea Foerster laced a single to center to score Callahan and cut the lead to 4-1.

MSU made a pitching change in the bottom of the fourth, as Kristina Zalewski came on in relief of starter Bridgette Rainey.

A pair of walks and a base hit by Lindsey Besson - her second of the game - loaded the bases. Betsa recorded her 10th strikeout of the game to get the second out of the inning, bringing up the top of the order. Foerster fell behind in the count 1-2, but Betsa got her swinging - Foerster's second K of the day after just three in the previous 33 games.

In the top of the sixth, Jordan Watsom came on in relief and was greeted with two singles sandwiched around a sac bunt. Faith Canfield laid down another sac bunt to bring home Katie Alexander for the fifth Wolverine score.

Lea Foerster made two impressive defensive plays in center field - a leaping catch on the wall in the top of the first, and a diving stab in the top of the seventh.

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Team Stats

Lindsey Besson

Lea Foerster

Sarah Gutknecht

Ebonee Echols

Players Mentioned

Lindsey Besson

Summer Callahan

Lea Foerster

Bridgette Rainey

Jordan Watson

Kristina Zalewski