Michigan State University
30-21
No. 10 Indiana
23-31
Spartans Come From Behind To Down IU, 8-7
5/11/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Box Score | PDF Box : MSU 8, Indiana 7 
WATCH: Highlights vs. Indiana
SPARTAN SYNOPSIS
Michigan State (30-21) opened the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday afternoon with an 8-7 come-from-behind victory over Indiana. Trailing 7-4 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, the Spartans rallied for four runs, capped by a two-run pinch hit double by Jordan Davis that gave the Spartans the go-ahead run.
Having completed their three-game Big Ten series just three days ago, the two teams were familiar foes, playing their fourth game in six days. Tara Trainer, who three-hit MSU last Friday in a 1-0 IU victory, went 5.2 innings before the Spartans got to her in the bottom of the sixth.
Bridgette Rainey came on in the third inning in relief and earned the win (14-8), scattering five hits over her five innings, striking out four.
MSU took an early 3-0 lead on a homer by Kaitlyn Eveland in the bottom of the first inning, but the Hoosiers came roaring back with five hits (four doubles) in the top of the second, then once MSU had tied the game on a Lexi White homer IU added a run in the fourth and two more in the fifth to take a 7-4 lead.
Michigan State, the No. 7 seed, plays No. 2 MIchiganon Friday at 4:30 pm.
TOP PERFORMERS
- Lea Foerster had a double and an RBI single
- McKenzie Long was 2-for-2 with a pair of runs scored.
- Jordan Davis hit a two-RBI pinch hit double in the bottom of the sixth.
QUOTABLE
" I'm obviously going to want to see us play better defensively, but I'm excited by how our team just kept chipping away to come back for that win. Jordan Davis is a shining example of being a great teammate and an unbelievable story - she has filled any role we have asked of her. Today she was rewarded for every bit of selflessness she has exhibited. I could not be happier for her as a player."
-- Head Coach Jacquie Joseph
STATS AND STORYLINES
- The Spartans jumped on the board in the first inning, as a hit batter and infield single set up Kaitlyn Eveland's one-out homer that made it a three-run ballgame. It was her ninth of the season.
- The Hoosiers exploded for four doubles in the top of the second to tie the game at 3-3, and then pulled ahead on a single to center by Gabbi Jenkins, but she was gunned down by Lindsey Besson on a steal attempt to end the inning.
- Lexi White led off the top of the second inning with a solo shot to left, tying the game 4-4.
- The Hoosiers manufactured a run in the top of the fourth on a two-on, two-out single to right by Lacefield.
- Lexi White led off the bottom of the fourth with a five-pitch walk, and moved over to third on a two-out double by Lea Foerster. A walk to McKenzie Long loaded the bases for freshman Kelcey Carrasco, but a slow roller to first ended the rally. The double was the 22nd of the season for Foerster, tying the single-season MSU record.
- Rainey opened the top of the fifth with back-to- back strikeouts of two of the most dangerous hitters in the IU lineup (Rebecca Blitz and Caramia Tsirigos), but walked Uden, and she moved to second on a base hit by Rachel O'Malley. Aimilia McDonough delivered a single through the left side to bring home two runs and make it a 7-4 game for the Hoosiers, and McKenzie Long ended the rally with a nice stab at short to throw out McDonough and end the inning.
- The Spartans put the first two runners on in the sixth, but a double play put two outs on the board with a runner at third for the top of the lineup. Lea Foerster delivered an RBI single to right center to bring home Lexi White to trim it to 7-5. Trainer worked a full count before walking Long then issued a four-pitch walk to Kelcey Carrasco to load the bases, then lost Eveland after going up 2-0 in the count to bring home a second run in the frame. Jordan Davis came on as a pinch hitter and delivered a double into the left-field corner, scoring two and giving the Spartans back the lead, 8-7.
- Rainey came back out for the top of the seventh with an opportunity to close it out. Lacefield drew a one-out walk, but was extinguished on a fielder's choice by Mathewson for the second out of the inning. Rainey secured the win with a fly ball to right to end the game.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Rainey, Bridgette (14-8)
L: Tara Trainer (13-17)
Batting:
2B: Taylor Uden 1 ; Katie Lacefield 1 ; Bella Norton 1 ; Erin Lehman 1
RBI: Gabbi Jenkins 1 ; Katie Lacefield 2 ; Aimilia McDonough 1 ; Bella Norton 1 ; Erin Lehman 2
SH: Katie Lacefield 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Taylor Uden 2 ; Rachel O'Malley 2 ; Katie Lacefield 1 ; Bella Norton 1 ; Erin Lehman 1
SB: Gabbi Jenkins 1
CS: Gabbi Jenkins 1
HBP: Rebecca Blitz 1 ; Rachel O'Malley 1
Batting:
2B: Foerster, Lea 1 ; Davis, Jordan 1
HR: Eveland, Kaitlyn 1 ; White, Lexi 1
RBI: Foerster, Lea 1 ; Eveland, Kaitlyn 4 ; Davis, Jordan 2 ; White, Lexi 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Foerster, Lea 1 ; Long, McKenzie 2 ; Carrasco, Kelcey 1 ; Callahan, Summer 1 ; Eveland, Kaitlyn 1 ; White, Lexi 2
HBP: Foerster, Lea 1
