Michigan State University
21-16, 5-8
Illinois
31-10, 10-2
Spartans Fall In Series Finale to Illini, 9-5
4/15/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Box Score | PDF Box Score: ILL 9, MSU 5 
SPARTAN SYNOPSIS
Despite home runs by Kelcey Carrasco, Sarah Gutknecht, and Lindsey Besson, Michigan State dropped the final game of its series with Illinois by a 9-5 score in the nightcap of the double header.
The Spartans (21-16, 5-8 B1G) committed three errors in the contest, while the three MSU pitchers combined to allow nine runs on 11 base hits. Taylor Edwards came on in relief for the Illini and tossed 4.1 innings, allowing two runs and six hits after starter Erin Walker lasted 1.1 innings and surrendered three runs. Katie Giddens got the final three outs for Illinois.
Kristina Zalewski started the game for MSU and went two innings, and Bridgette Rainey went 2.1 - each surrendered three earned runs, but Rainey took the loss (12-7). Jordan Watson tossed the final 2.2 innings and did not allow a run.
THe Illini had two runs in each of the first two innings, and then posted four runs in the top of the fifth to break a 5-5 tie. That would be the last runs scored in the game, as MSU stranded three runners in the final two innings, and nine for the game.
The Spartans are back in action on Tuesday in Ann Arbor when they take on No. 18 MIchigan in a game that will air live on BTN. .
TOP PERFORMERS
- Kelcey Carrasco went 2-for 4, with a homer and one RBI. .
- Lea Foerster had a pair of hits, going 2-for-4 with a double
- Sarah Gutknecht had a double and a home run, going 2-for-4.
QUOTABLE
"It's frustrating, because both games were there for the taking for us. I don't want to take anything away from Illinois because they had 22 hits in the doubleheader, and got the timely hits they needed. Its a battle every single game in the Big Ten, and we came up short in two of those battles today. We need to shore things up defensively for sure - and we'll have just one day of practice before we get to work on a five-game week. There's lots to do, but there's still plenty of games for us to get ourselves in a good position."
-- Head Coach Jacquise Joseph
STATS AND STORYLINES
- The Illini took a 2-0 lead in the first on a homer by Ruby Rivera, but the Spartans countered in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI triple by Kaitlyn Eveland to make it 2-1.
- Illinois came back with two runs in the second inning, using two base hits and an error to put the two runs across to make it a 4-1 game. The Spartan countered in the bottom of the frame, getting solo homers from Kelcey Carrasco (8) and Lindsey Besson (1) to make it a 4-3 ballgame. Melanie Baccay kept things going with a one-out single to right, and Lea Foerster moved her to second with a blooper to shallow center. Shortstop Ruby Rivera made a nice defensive stab to rob Echols of a base hit for the second out of the inning.
- After Illinois made it 5-3 with a run in the top of the third, MSU came back with a rally in the bottom of the fourth. Kaitlyn Eveland reached after she was hit by a pitch with two outs, and Sarah Gutknecht followed with her ninth home run of the season to tie the game 5-5.
- Nicole Evans led off the top of the fifth with her 14th of the season to give her team back the lead, 6-5. The Illini would score three more times in the frame, stringing together three hits and getting some help from a pair of MSU miscues.
- Foerster led off the Spartan sixth with a double to left cetner, looking to start a rally - but a groundout and double play ended any chances for the Spartans in the frame. In the bottom of the seventh, Eveland led off the frame with a walk, and Sarah Gutknecht followed with a double to center to put a pair of runners in scoring position. Illinois made a pitching change, bringing in Kate Giddens. She got a groundout and a pair of K's to end the game and secure the series sweep for the Illini.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Taylor Edwards (13-1)
L: Rainey, Bridgette (12-7)
Batting:
2B: Nicole Evans 1 ; Leigh Farina 1
HR: Ruby Rivera 1 ; Nicole Evans 1
RBI: Ruby Rivera 2 ; Nicole Evans 1 ; Leigh Farina 2 ; Maddi Doane 2
SH: Leigh Farina 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Alyssa Gunther 1 ; Ruby Rivera 1 ; Nicole Evans 2 ; Jill Nicklas 1 ; Annie Fleming 1 ; Sam Acosta 1 ; Leigh Farina 1 ; Maddi Doane 1
SB: Annie Fleming 1 ; Maddi Doane 1
HBP: Stephanie Abello 2
Batting:
2B: Foerster, Lea 1 ; Gutknecht, Sarah 1
3B: Eveland, Kaitlyn 1
HR: Gutknecht, Sarah 1 ; Carrasco, Kelcey 1 ; Besson, Lindsey 1
RBI: Eveland, Kaitlyn 1 ; Gutknecht, Sarah 2 ; Carrasco, Kelcey 1 ; Besson, Lindsey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Long, McKenzie 1 ; Eveland, Kaitlyn 1 ; Gutknecht, Sarah 1 ; Carrasco, Kelcey 1 ; Besson, Lindsey 1
HBP: Eveland, Kaitlyn 1 ; Baccay, Melanie 1
