Spartans Open Maryland DH With 7-4 Victory

Friday, May 4

College Park, MD

3:00 PM

Michigan State University

22-25, 0

Maryland

18-34, 0

Michigan State

Maryland

5/4/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

May 4, 2018

Box Score | PDF Box: MSU 7, Maryland 4

SPARTAN SYNOPSIS

Michigan State opened its three-game series with Maryland with a 7-4 win in the top half of a Friday doubleheader.

The Spartans (22-25, 8-12 Big Ten) used a first-inning grand slam by Ebonee Echols and a second-inning three-run shot from Lea Foerster to take an early lead. The Terps got in on the action in the top of the fifth with a Skylynne Ellazar three-run homer.

Kristina Zalewski was in control, twice leaving two runners on for the Terps and twice striking out the side in the first five innings. She finished her day with seven strikeouts, scattering five hits and walking just one. McKenna Gregory came on for MSU in the sixth and allowed a pair of base hits and a sixth-inning run to the Terps.

Maryland starter Ryan Denhart allowed just six hits but was hindered by four errors in the field.

Sammie Stefan had a pair of base hits for Maryland (18-34, 7-14 B1G).

TOP PERFORMERS

Kristina Zalewski scattered five hits and struck out seven in five innings to earn the win.

Ebonee Echols hit a first-inning grand slam.

Lea Foerster had a double, a homer, and walked twice in four plate appearances.

STATS AND STORYLINES

The Spartans got things going right off the bat in the top of the first. Lea Foerster doubled, and Foerster moved to third on a bunt single from McKenzie Long. Caitie Ladd reached on an error to load the bases. Pitcher Ryan Denhart got Carrasco swinging and Foerster was gunned down at the plate on a wild pitch to get a quick two outs, Denhart walked Eveland to re-load the bases, and Ebonee Echols took a 3-2 pitch deep over the wall in left for the 4-0 Spartan lead. It was her third homer of the season.

Kristina Zalewski struck out the side in the home half of the first, and the Spartan offense picked up where it left off in the first. Lindsey Besson walked and Melanie Baccay reached on an error to put two on for leadoff hitter Lea Foerster, who hit her 10th home run into left center for a 7-0 MSU lead.

The Terps legged out a pair of infield hits in the second, putting runners at the corners with two out, and Zalewski stranded them there. In the third, Zalewski struck out the side to push her total to six strikeouts.

Besson led off the fourth with a double to the wall in left center. Foerster drew a one-out walk, and the runners were moved into scoring position on a sac bunt by Long, but the Spartans couldn't tack on another run as they were stranded.

Maryland catcher Anna Kufta led off the home half of the fourth with a walk, but Zalewski regained control quickly with a strikeout and a popout in foul territory to put two outs on the board.

A bunt single and a walk put two on for the home team in the bottom of the fifth, and Skylynne Ellazar sent one over the wall in center field to trim the Spartan lead to 7-3.

McKenna Gregory came on to pitch for MSU in the sixth. She gave up a leadoff single to Sammie Stefan but came right back with a strikeout of Kassidy Cross. An error and fielder's choice put runners at the corners, and a two-out single by Destiney Henderson brought home a fourth run for the home team.

A Carrasco single followed by Eveland reaching on an error put a pair on with one out for MSU in the top of the seventh. Echols hit a ball that just missed leaving the yard that moved the runners into scoring position, but Denhart worked out of the jam. Gregory worked a 1-2-3 seventh for MSU.

MSU shortstop Caitie Ladd and Maryland pitcher Ryan Denhart were high school teammates at Los Alamitos (CA) high school last year, helping their team to the 2017 CIF Southern Section, State, and National Championships.