Spartans Fall In DH Opener to Indiana, 3-2

Friday, March 30

Secchia Stadium

1:00 PM

Michigan State University

13-16, 1-3

Indiana

11-21, 4-0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Indiana	1	0	0	0	2	0	0	3	7	1
Michigan State	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	2	9	1

3/30/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

March 30, 2018

Box Score | PDF Box: Indiana 3, MSU 2 | Photo Gallery

SPARTAN SYNOPSIS

The first game of a Big Ten doubleheader went to the visiting Hoosiers, as the Spartans fell 3-2 to Indiana.

Tara Trainer and Kristina Zalewski entertained the crowd in a pitcher's duel, as each struck out nine batters. The Spartans had nine hits on the day, while Indiana had seven.

IU scored a run in the top of the first, and then the teams traded two-run innings in the bottom of the fourth and top of the fifth frames. MSU stranded 10 batters to Indiana's six.

Kelcey Carrasco had a home run for the Spartans, her third of the season. Melanie Baccay had a triple and Lea Foerster contributed a pair of doubles and an RBI.

Zalewski threw her third straight complete game, walking three in addition to the nine strikeouts and seven base hits. She falls to 6-7.

The teams will play the back end of a doubleheader at 4 pm .

TOP PERFORMERS

Kristina Zalewski struck out nine and allowed three earned runs, scattering seven hits.

Lea Foerster was 2-for-3 with an RBI and two doubles.

Kelcey Carrasco hit her third home run of the year.

McKenzie Long had two base hits.

STATS AND STORYLINES

The Hoosiers jumped on the board in the top of the first on a single and stolen base by Blitz and a single by Westmoreland - Blitz eluded the tag at home to score the opening run, and Westmoreland went to second on the play at the plate. An infield error followed by a walk loaded the bases, but Zalewski got out of the jam with a strikeout of Sarah Galovich to end the inning.

The Spartans looked to immediately counter in the bottom of the first. After one-out single to center by Ebonee Echols and a walk to Kaitlyn Eveland put two on, and then a two-out bunt single by McKenzie Long loaded the bases. Trainer got Kelcey Carrasco to fly out to left field to end the inning.

The Spartans put two on in the bottom of the third when Lea Foerster led off with an HBP and Kaitlyn Eveland followed with a one-out single, but Trainer stranded them both.

MSU took the lead in the bottom of the fourth when Kelcey Carrasco led off the inning with a solo shot to left field. Melanie Baccay smacked a one-out triple to right center, and Lea Foerster followed with a double up the left field line that scored Baccay and made it a 2-1 ballgame.

IU regained the lead in the top of the fifth, when Taylor Uden led off with a single and Gabbi Jenkins tripled into left center. Blitz walked to put runners at the corners, and Jenkins scored on a single to left, leaving two runners in scoring position. Zalewski got Lacefield to pop up, and then Makayla Ferrari grounded out to end the inning.