Michigan State University
23-17, 6-9
Ohio State
27-12, 10-5
Spartans Open OSU Series With 3-2 Victory
4/21/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Box Score | PDF Box Score: MSU 3, OSU 2 
SPARTAN SYNOPSIS
Michigan State improved to 6-0 at home this season with a 3-2 victory over No. 25 Ohio State on Friday afternoon at Secchia Stadium.
The Spartans (23-17, 6-9 B1G) got a stellar outing from starter Kristina Zalewski and a four-pitch relief effort from Jordan Watson to pick up her fourth save of the season. Zalewski finished her day with seven strikeouts to improve to 3-6 overall. She also moved into a tie for second place on MSU's career strikeout list with 408, tied with Stacey Smith (1994-97).
Shely Hursh went 4.1 innings, striking out four and walking four for the Buckeyes, and Morgan Ray went the final 1.2 innings without allowing a base hit to the Spartans. MSU had just four base hits on the day. Lilli Piper and Maddie Marotti each had a pair of hits for the Buckeyes (27-12, 10-5 B1G).
In a game billed "for lovers of offense" in a Big Ten promotion, the teams were scoreless with two hits each through three innings, as OSU pitcher Shelby Hursh and Zalewski kept their opposing lineup in check.
MSU got on the board first, when Sarah Gutknecht scored on a sac fly by Lindsey Besson in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Spartans pushed their lead to 3-0 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth on RBI singles by McKenzie Long and Kaitlyn Eveland OSU plated two runs in the top of the sixth and had their eyes on a seventh-inning rally, but Watson allowed just one hit in recording the final four outs of the game. .
The teams play game two of the Big Ten series on Saturday at Secchia Stadium at 1 pm. Senior Sarah Gutknecht will be honored in a pre-game ceremony.
TOP PERFORMERS
- Kaitlyn Eveland and McKenzie Long each had RBI single.
- Kristina Zalewski started the game and went 6.2 innings, striking out seven and scattering seven hits .
- Jordan Watson came on in relief to earn her fourth save of the season.
QUOTABLE
" What I really liked about us today is that we won by being a bit multi-dimensional. These two teams lead the Big Ten in home runs, but we won today by playing small ball and creating offense. A big sac fly from Lindsey Besson, back-to-back RBI singles in the fifth inning. Kristina Zalewski and Jordan Watson were both incredibly solid and gave us the performances we needed to play a tight game like this. It's a great way to start off this series."
-- Head Coach Jacquise Joseph
STATS AND STORYLINES
- In the fourth, Sarah Gutknecht led off the frame with a single up the middle, moved to second when Shelby Hursh walked Kelcey Carrasco, and then went to third on a sac bunt by Kelly Zackrison. Lindsey Besson brought Gutknecht home with a sac fly to left for a 1-0 MSU lead.
- MSU put two runs on the board in the.bottom of the fifth Lea Foerster led off the inning with a five-pitch walk, went to second on a sac bunt by Ebonee Echols, and came home on a single to right by McKenzie Long. Long, who went to second on the throw home to try to nab Foerster, came around to score on a single by Kaitlyn Eveland. That signalled the end of the day for starter Shelby Hursh, as Morgan Ray came on in relief.
- The Buckeyes cut into the lead in the top of the sixth inning, as Alex Bayne led off with a walk and moved to second on a single to left by Lilli Piper. Taylor White followed with a single to right that scored Bayne, but Piper got gunned down trying for third as Bayne crossed the plate to make it 3-1. Ashley Goodwin walked, and Maddie Marotti followed with a single through the left side that plated a second run to make it 3-2. Pinch hitter Alex Vargas hit a two-out shot back up the middle that went off the knee of Zalewski to load the bases, and forced a Spartan pitching change. Jordan Watson came on for MSU and got a fly ball to center to end the inning.
- There were a few dramatic moments in the top of the seventh. After getting a pair of quick outs as Anna Kirk grounded out and Bayne popped up to Kelly Zackrison in foul territory, MSU had appeared to close out the game on a popup to short by Piper. However, the first-base umpire called an illegal pitch, sending Piper back to the plate, where she proceeded to single to right center to put the tying run on base. Watson got Taylor White to pop out in foul territory to Sarah Gutknecht, ending the game.
- With her seven strikeouts on the day, Zalewski moved into a tie for second place all-time (with Stacey Smith 1994-97) in career strikeouts with 408. Jessica Beech is the all-time leader with 659.
- Jordan Watson's fourth save of the season is tied for the third-most in a single season in school history. Kristina Zalewski had four saves in both 2015 and 2016.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Zalewski, Kristina (3-6)
L: Hursh, Shelby (11-5)
S: Watson, Jordan (4)
Batting:
RBI: White, Taylor 1 ; Marotti, Maddie 1
SH: Balich, Amy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bayne, Alex 1 ; Gavin, Becca 1
SB: Bayne, Alex 1 ; Gavin, Becca 1
Batting:
RBI: Long, McKenzie 1 ; Eveland, Kaitlyn 1 ; Besson, Lindsey 1
SH: Foerster, Lea 1 ; Echols, Ebonee 1 ; Zackrison, Kelly 1 ; Baccay, Melanie 1
SF: Besson, Lindsey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Foerster, Lea 1 ; Long, McKenzie 1 ; Gutknecht, Sarah 1
HBP: Foerster, Lea 1
