No. 7 Aggies Post 9-1 Win Over MSU

Sunday, March 18

College Station, TX

11:00 AM

Michigan State University

11-13

Texas A&M

28-4

Michigan State

Texas A&M

3/18/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

March 18, 2018

Box Score | PDF Box: Texas A&M 9,MSU 1 (5)

SPARTAN SYNOPSIS

MIchigan State suffered a 9-1 loss on Sunday to No. 7 Texas A&M in a run-rule shortened five innings.

The MSU pitching staff couldn't get a handle on the day, as the four MSU hurlers combined to give up nine runs on seven base hits, walking eight. Bridgette Rainey took the loss for MSU, falling to 4-6. She walked five and surrendered four earned runs.

The Spartans could not get their offense going against sophomore Trinity Harrington. Harrington retired the side in order in each of the first three innings and didn't allow a base hit until the fourth. Kaitlyn Eveland broke up the no-hitter to lead off the fourth, and Joanna Bartz delivered an RBI single in the fifth after a Lea Foerster double.

The Spartans (11-13) begin Big Ten play next weekend when they travel to Lincoln for a three-game series at (RV) Nebraska.

TOP PERFORMERS

Kaitlyn Eveland went 1-for-2 with a fourth-inning single, extending her hitting streak to three games.

Lea Foerster had a double in the fifth inning, her ninth of the season.

Joanna Bartz had an RBI single in the fifth inning.

STATS AND STORYLINES

After pitcher Trinity Herrington retired the Spartans on three consecutive strikeouts to start the game, Bridgette Rainey had a bit of a rockier start - she issued five walks around a fielder's choice in the first, plating the first two runs of the game. Samantha Show stepped in and delivered a two-run single to double the Aggie lead, all with two outs. A hit batter to re-load the bases spelled the end of Rainey's outing, in which she threw 44 pitches. Watson struck out Keeli Milligan to end the inning and leave the bases loaded.

After an efficient second inning, Watson ran into some trouble in the bottom of the third, loading the bases on a walk and pair of singles with just one out. MSU went to its bullpen again, calling on Kristina Zalewski, the Saturday winner vs. Marist.

The game got away from the Spartans in the bottom of the third. Watson issued a leadoff walk before getting a fly ball out to center, but then issued another walk and gave up back-to-back singles. The Spartans made a pitching change, bringing on Kristina Zalewski, who got the second out of the inning on a fielder's choice, with Ladd making the throw home to get out the lead runner. A hit batter followed by a pair of RBI singles made it a 9-0 score, with Zalewski finally getting out of the inning on a ground ball to third.

Lea Foerster led off the fourth inning with a double, to left center, moved to third on a ground ball out, and came around to score on a single by freshman Joanna Bartz. Harrington closed it out with a pair of ground ball outs that preserved the eight-run advantage and ended the game after five innings.

MSU had its second run-rule loss of the season, the first coming to No. 3 UCLA at Long Beach.

Kaitlyn Eveland's third-inning single extended her hitting streak to three games, the longest current streak on the team. She has reached base in all 17 games she's played this season.