Eveland Homers, Zalewski K's 11 in Win Over Marist

Saturday, March 17

College Station, TX

4:00 PM

Michigan State University

11-12

Marist

8-14

Michigan State

Marist

3/17/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

March 17, 2018

Box Score | PDF Box: MSU 2, Marist 1

SPARTAN SYNOPSIS

MIchigan State got an 11-strikeout, complete-game performance from senior pitcher Kristina Zalewski to earn a 2-1 victory over Marist on Sautrday afternoon.

Zalewski allowed a run on three base hits in the bottom of the first to the Red Foxes, but then settled in and allowed just three more over the balance of the game, striking out 11. In the second through sixth innings, she recorded a strikeout to end the inning, and also struck out three straight batters in the fourth after allowing a full-count walk to the leadoff batter.

Kaitlyn Eveland smacked her third home run of the season in the top of the third inning, tying the game after the early run scored by Marist. The go-ahead run scored in the sixth inning, when Melanie Baccay's ground ball scored Ebonee Echols from third.

Baccay walked twice on the day, two of eight free passes issued to the Spartans in the game.

The Spartans (11-12) wrap the tournament with a rematch vs. No. 7 Texas A&M on Sunday at 11 am ET.

TOP PERFORMERS

Kaitlyn Eveland went 1-for-3 with a solo homer in the third inning, her second homer of the day.

McKenzie Long went 2-for-3 with a double.

Kristina Zalewski tossed her sixth complete game of the season, striking out 11. It was the second-highest strikeout total for her this season, while walking just two.

QUOTABLE
"Coming back with a win in the second game was important for us today. I thought we did a lot of good things in both games, but we're still seeking for that consistency and the ability to put all aspects of our game together. I thought e got two really good outings from our starting pitchers. Kaitlyn Eveland hit a pair of home runs, and I think she's back to where she was before she got hurt - and those were big swings for us today as we struggled to get runners around. I want to see us close out the weekend with another good effort against Texas A&M tomorrow, as that will be a nice way to send us into conference play next week."

Head Coach Jacquie Joseph

STATS AND STORYLINES

Marist rallied to put a run on the board in the bottom of the first inning to take an early lead on the Spartans.

Kaitlyn Eveland tied up the game in the third inning with a solo homer to center field, her third of the season and second home run of the day.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Zalewski allowed a leadoff walk before striking out the side.

The Spartans loaded the bases with just one out in the top of the sixth, as Ebonee Echols reached on a leadoff single, McKenzie Long smacked a one-out double, and Kelcey Carrasco walked. A ground ball by Melanie Baccay brought home Echols from third for a 2-1 lead. Pinch hitter Lexi White walked to re-load the bases, but marist Megan Biermeister got out of the jam to limit the damage to a run.

Zalewski kept attacking the opposing batters, and after strkiking out the final batter in the second through sixth innings, allowed a seventh-inning double freshman Lauren Beal, but got a popup and liner to third to end the game.

Zalewski recorded her sixth complete game of the season and the 13th overall for MSU. She struck out double-digit batters for the second time this season, behind the 13 she recorded in 8.2 innings vs. Georgetown.

Zalewski moved into third place all-time at MSU in innings pitched, (596.2). She trails just Stacey Smith (769.2) and Jessica Beech (754.2). She also pushed her career strikeout total to 532, which is second only to Beech (659) in the MSU annals.