Michigan State University
26-19, 8-10
Rutgers
12-32, 3-13
Carrasco's Homer Gives Spartans Walkoff Win In Extras
4/28/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Box Score | PDF Box : MSU 4, Rutgers 2 (8) 
SPARTAN SYNOPSIS
Kelcey Carrasco hit a two-run homer in the top of the eighth inning on Friday afternoon in Piscataway, and Kristina Zalewski tossed a complete-game six-hitter as MSU took game one of its Big Ten series against Rutgers, 4-2 in eight innings. The Spartans improve to 26-19, 8-10 Big Ten; Rutgers falls to 12-32, 3-13 B1G.
It was the third time this season that MSU had gone to extra innings, all in Big Ten play, and MSU had lost the previous two at Purdue and against Illinois in Ypsilanti in a neutral-site contest. In a touch of dramatic deja vu, it was the second game this season Carrasco had homered in extra innings - she hit a solo shot in the eighth inning at Purdue, but the Boilermakers countered in the bottom of the frame inning to earn the walkoff victory., 4-3.
Given a 4-2 lead in the top of the eighth, Zalewski struck out two in the final inning to double her sttrikeout total but issued a walk to Rebecca Hall, putting the tying run in the batters box, Hall stole second to put a runner into scoring position, but Zalewski enticed Hailey Hoklotubbe into a ground ball back to the pitcher to end the game.
Zalewski and Rutgers hurler Whitney Jones engaged in a pitcher's battle, as they took turns limiting offensive opportunities. Zalewski scattered six hits and struck out four, allowing just one extra-base hit in improving to 4-6 in her longest outing of the season. Jones allowed nine hits, which included two doubles and two home runs, and stranded seven MSU runners.
The two teams continue the Big Ten series on Saturday in a game at 1 pm.
TOP PERFORMERS
- Kelcey Carrasco hit a two-run go-ahead homer in the top of the eighth inning
- Ebonee Echols had three hits on the afternoon.
- Kristina Zalewski went the full eight innings, scattering six hits and striking out four
QUOTABLE
" We had some kids step up at the right times today, but we still left a lot of runners on base. It was a fight for Krisitina Zalewski today, but I really liked how she battled all day long and gave us eight good innings - that's a gutty performance. It was really nice to see both Lea Foerster and Kelcey Carrasco get the bats going too - we are really looking at these games not only as important in terms of Big Ten seeding, but also in terms of getting everyone going as the Big Ten Tournament approaches. Its a stressful time for our athletes because exams start Monday, so we want to focus on taking care of our bodies and using our time wisely in addition to focusing on being ready to play tomorrow ."
-- Head Coach Jacquie Joseph
STATS AND STORYLINES
- Lea Foerster led off the game with her 12th home run of the season to give the Spartans an early lead. The home team countered with a run on an single and a double in the bottom of the frame.
- It took until the fifth inning for MSU to add to its lead. McKenzie Long reached on a fielder's choice, and Echols moved her to second with her third hit of the day. Kaitlyn Eveland doubled to left, scoring Long and leaving two runners in scoring position. Jones got Gutknecht to fly out to left for the second out of the inning,
- Rutgers manufactured a run in the bottom of the fifth much the way MSU did in the top of the inning, getting a leadoff single and moving the runner on a pair of fielder's choice plays to put a runner at third. Rutgers got a fielder's choice and stolen base by Rebecca Hall to put two runners into scoring position. Sierra Maddox singled to left to bring home the tying run, but McKenzie Long gunned down Hall at the plate to eliminate the would-be go ahead run and retain a tie score.
- In the top of the eighth inning, Sarah Gutknecht reached on a dropped fly ball in the outfield, giving MSU a baserunner with one out. Kelcey Carrasco stepped in and smacked her ninth home run of the season, scoring Gutknecht for a 4-2 MSU lead.
- Zalewski had her longest outing of the season, going eight full innings. it also tied her career best, matching the March 7, 2014 game at Florida Atlantic. It was her 32nd career complete game as well.
- MSU's two homers on the day pushed the season total to 52, one shy of the school record of 53 set in 2011.
- Lea Foerster's first-inning round-tripper was her 12th of the season. which is tied with Caitlyn Mahoney (2007) for fourth all-time in a single season. It ws Foerster's 32nd extra-base hit of the season, tying the single-season school record held by Keri Lemasters, set in 1997.
- Kelcey Carrasco's ninth homer - the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth - was her ninth homer of the season, tied for 12th in a season at MSU. She and Sarah Gutknecht are tied for second on the team behind Lea Foerster (12).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Zalewski, Kristina (4-6)
L: Jones,W (3-8)
Batting:
2B: Eveland, Kaitlyn 1 ; Carrasco, Kelcey 1
HR: Foerster, Lea 1 ; Carrasco, Kelcey 1
RBI: Foerster, Lea 1 ; Eveland, Kaitlyn 1 ; Carrasco, Kelcey 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Foerster, Lea 1 ; Long, McKenzie 1 ; Gutknecht, Sarah 1 ; Carrasco, Kelcey 1
Batting:
2B: Hall,R 1
RBI: Maddox,S 1
SH: Maddox,S 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Anico,N 2
SB: Hall,R 2
