Big Third Inning Sinks Spartans at Nebraska, 12-6

Saturday, March 24

Lincoln, NE

2:00 PM

Michigan State University

11-15, 0

Nebraska

23-9, 0

Michigan State

Nebraska

3/24/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

March 24, 2018

Box Score | PDF Box: Nebraska 12, MSU 6

SPARTAN SYNOPSIS

A six-run third inning for homestanding Nebraska was the difference in the game, as Michigan State fell to the host Cornhuskers 12-6 in the second of a three-game series in Lincoln.

The Spartans (11-15) used three pitchers in the contest, with all three getting action in the six-run inning that allowed the home team to blow open a tight contest. The Spartans held a 4-2 lead before the Huskers tied it with two runs in the second and six more in the third inning.

After Nebraska (23-9) scored twice in the fourth to take a 12-4 advantage, they had an opportunity to end the game on a run rule in the fifth. Needing just one out to seal the win, Kaylan Jablonski surrendered a two-run homer to Kelcey Carrasco in the top of the fifth to trim the Husker lead down to six and keep the game going.

Ebonee Echols went 2-for-3 on the day with a solo homer in the first inning, while freshman Caitie Ladd had a pair of base hits and two walks.

Jordan Watson was the starter, taking the loss (2-3), allowing seven base hits and five earned runs in two innings. Bridgette Rainey had a brief relief stint before making way for McKenna Gregory, who pitched the balance of the game and allowed five hits over 3.1 innings, allowing two earned runs.

Kaylan Jablonski (16-5) earned her second win of the weekend, coming on in relief to open the third. She allowed four hits, striking out six and walking three. Alyvia Simmons went 4-for-5 with five RBI to pace the Husker offense, while Lexey Kneib had a pair of base hits - the only other Husker with more than one base knock on the day.

The series finale will be played on Sunday at 12 pm CT/1 pm ET.

TOP PERFORMERS

Caitie Ladd reached base four times, going 2-for-2 with a pair of walks.
Ebonee Echols went 2-for-3 with a home run, walk, and a stolen base.
Kelcey Carrasco had a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth.
McKenna Gregory threw 3.1 innings, allowing just three runs (two earned) and scattering five hits, bringing some stability in the circle after a wild third inning.

QUOTABLE
"There's more to be positive about than negative today, but there's still a bottom line - that we did not do enough to win the game. We had a delayed start and played in some tough conditions - and even with all of the distraction, I thought we really fought hard. Unfortunately, we just haven't been able to get people out. I liked so much about our team's competitiveness and fight today, but we still haven't put all aspects of our game together to really show what we are truly capable of. We have another chance tomorrow, so that will be our focus for the remainder of the weekend" Head Coach Jacquie Joseph

STATS AND STORYLINES

The Spartans were in attack mode from the opening pitch. Ebonee Echols smacked a homer into right center to give MSU a 1-0 lead with one out, her second round-tripper of the season. Lea Foerster followed when she reached on an error by the third baseman, and took second on the errant throw to first. Caitie Ladd walked to put a pair on, but pitcher Regan Mergele got a pair of fly balls to end the inning.

Alyvia Simmons and Tristian Edwards both swung early in the count and reached on back-to-back singles to put runners at the corners with no outs. Watson just as quickly retired the next two batters, striking out Kaylan Jablonski and getting Unzicker to foul out on the left side. Edwards stole second, and Barrow then stepped in and singled up the middle, bringing home two runs to give the home team a 2-1 lead.

Lindsey Besson reached on an error to start the second inning, and Riley Paxson singled to put the first two runners on for the Spartans. Melanie Baccay laid down a sac bunt to put the pair in scoring position, bringing up the top of the order. Kaitlyn Eveland grounded out to second for the second out of the inning, but not before bringing Besson home to tie the game 2-2. Mergele walked Echols on a full count, and she stole second to once again put two runners in scoring position. The Huskers opted to intentionally walk Foerster - her second intentional free pass of the series - to bring freshman Caitie Ladd to the plate with bases loaded. She sent the first pitch she saw up the middle for a base hit and two RBI, scoring Paxson and Echols.

Taylor Otte doubled and Lexey Kneibe singled to put the first two runners on in the home half of the second. After Watson got Cassidy to pop up for the second out of the inning. Alyvia Simmons stepped in and hit one over the wall in center, but she passed Kneibe at first, which meant the home run was negated - making it a 4-4 ballgame instead of the Huskers holding a 5-4 lead.

The Huskers blew open the game in the bottom of the third, as MSU went through three pitchers who combined to issue five walks as the Huskers rallied for six runs to open up a 10-4 lead. Nebraska had a pair of base hits and scored two on an MSU error in the inning as 11 batters came to the plate. Nebraska plated two more in the bottom of the fourth to push its lead to 12-4.

The fight was not gone from the Spartan offense, as Caitie Ladd battled through a 10-pitch at-bat before singling to left in the top of the fifth. McKenzie Long reached on a fielder's choice, and after Jablonski retired the pinch hitter Joanna Bartz, she needed one more out to end the game with a run-rule. Pinch-hitter Kelcey Carrasco had other ideas, launching a shot over the wall in right to make it 12-6. Jablonski walked Paxson on four pitches, but retired Baccay on a ground ball to get out of the inning.

McKenna Gregory faced just four batters in the fifth and sixth innings, surrendering one base hit in each frame but not allowing either runner into a dangerous spot.