Zalewski K's 11 in Home Opener

Wednesday, March 28

Secchia Stadium

4:00 PM

Michigan State University

13-15

Western Michigan

14-14

Western Michigan

Michigan State

3/28/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

March 28, 2018

Box Score | PDF Box: MSU 6, WMU 1

SPARTAN SYNOPSIS

The first home game for the Spartans at Secchia Stadium was a success, as MSU earned a 6-1 victory over visiting Western Michigan on Wednesday. The Spartans improve to 13-15 overall, while Western Michigan falls to 14-14.

Kelcey Carrasco had a pair of base hits and a sac fly, recording a pair of RBI. Freshman Laney Joyner added a pair of base hits, while junior Kelly Zackrison smacked a two-run pinch-hit round-tripper in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Western starter Reily Galloway issued three walks in the opening frame, allowing the Spartans to put a pair of runs on the board before recording their first base hit. Joyner's fourth-inning RBI single made it a 3-0 game, and an RBI double from Carrasco followed by the jack from Zackrison that doubled the MSU lead in the bottom of the sixth.

The Spartans have their first home Big Ten series on tap this weekend, welcoming Indiana to Secchia Stadium. The series kicks off on Friday at 4 pm.

TOP PERFORMERS

Kristina Zalewski compiled 11 strikeouts, scattering five hits in her second straight complete-game victory.

Laney Joyner had a pair of base hits and an RBI.

Kelcey Carrasco had a pair of hits and a sacrifice fly for two RBI.

Kelly Zackrison had a two-run homer, her first of the season and second homer of her career.

QUOTABLE
"It was wonderful to play at home, and I have to thank Amy Fouty and her staff for working tirelessly to get our field in playable shape after the flooding we experienced a month ago. Without their efforts, it wouldn't have been possible and we are very lucky to have a field staff that is dedicated and made this happen for our program. As for today's game, it was good to see Kristina Zalewski to come back with a second straight strong outing and to see some of our bats starting to come alive. We carried over some of the momentum that I thought we gained in the finale at Nebraska, and its something that we're going to look for as we head into our first home series against Indiana."

Head Coach Jacquie Joseph

STATS AND STORYLINES

MSU took a lead in the first inning as starter Reily Galloway walked three batters and hit one around a fielder's choice, and then was replaced by Jordan Kurth. A sac fly by Carrasco brought home a second run, all without a base hit.

In the fourth, the Spartans got a leadoff single by Carrasco. Pinch runner Summer Callahan went to second on a sac bunt, and Callahan came home on a Joyner single.

MSU got on the board again in the bottom of the sixth, when McKenzie Long led off with a single and she came home on a Carrasco double into right center. The Broncos made a second pitching change on the day, bringing on freshman Sydney Stefanick.

The Broncos got on the board in the top of the seventh to break up the shutout. A one-out double by Marlee Wilson led off the Bronco rally, and Aspen Williams followed with a single to put runners on the corners. Jenna Faultersack reached on a fielder's choice to bring home Wilson for the lone Bronco run. Zalewski ended the game with her 11th strikeout of the contest.

Zalewski had double-digit strikeouts for the fourth time this season, and the second straight game. She also and posted her second straight complete game and eighth of the season.