Saturday, March 16
Oxford, Ohio
4:00 PM ET
Michigan State University
12
at
2
Miami (Ohio)
Players Mentioned
2B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
3B
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
SS/UTL
/ Softball
SS/UTL
/ Softball
1B/UTL
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
DP
/ Softball
Photo by: Rey Del Rio/MSU Athletic Communications
Offense Explodes in 12-2 win over Miami
3/16/2019 6:23:00 PM | Softball
Eveland, Baccay post four RBI each
SPARTAN SYNOPSISÂ Â Â
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Michigan State picked up its third consecutive victory on Saturday afternoon, using a six-run first-inning rally and went on to an 12-2 win over host Miami.Â
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The Spartans batted around in the first inning, scoring six runs – including a three-run single from No. 9 hitter Melanie Baccay, who went a career-best 4-for-4 with a homer and four RBI. Kaitlyn Eveland was 2-for4, including her team-best fourth home run of the season, and put up four RBI as well. Caitie Ladd also added a solo homer in MSU's four-run seventh inning.Â
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The Spartans improved to 9-15 with the two wins on Saturday in Ohio, and has tied its season-best winning streak. The Spartans were good for 10 hits and a tied their season best with 11 RBI in the nightcap. Â
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Jenny Vasquez had two base hits for the home team, including a two-run homer in the third inning. The Red Hawks changed pitchers after MSU's six-run first inning, with Taylor Rathe coming on for the second and keeping MSU from any more large rallies until the seventh. Â
Alli Walker pitched two innings in the second game, getting the ball to start the game and striking out a season-high five in those two innings. Jordan Watson pitched the third, and McKenna Gregory closed out the game with four no-hit innings. She leads the Big Ten with 17 relief appearances.  Â
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The Spartans play twice more on Sunday - a noon game vs. Austin Peay and a 2:30 rematch with Dayton - to wrap up its final non-conference tournament.Â
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 QUOTABLEÂ
"We've talked all through this pre-Big Ten season about getting better every practice, every game. We really started to see our team put it together over Spring Break and its continued into this weekend. We were good in all three phases of the game in both games today. The bats and the offense will get a lot of credit, and rightfully so - but our pitching staff also handled today really, really well. We're still a work in progress but I have really enjoyed the progress I have witnessed. The goal now is to establish consistency - we need this effort and execution on a consistent basis." Â
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 TOP PERFORMERSÂ
•  Kaitlyn Eveland was 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and season-best four RBI. It was her fourth homer of the season.Â
•  Melanie Baccay went 4-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored. She had career bests in both hits and RBI on the day.
•  McKenna Gregory threw four no-hit relief innings, Alli Walker started the game and went two innings, tying her career best with five strikeouts.
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STATS AND STORYLINESÂ
•  The Spartans tried to get things going right away in the top of the first, loading the bases with one out for Kaitlyn Eveland, who brought home two runs with her single through the right side. Pitcher Brianna Pratt walked Caitie Ladd to load the bases – still with just one out on the scoreboard – and Lexi White brought home a third run with a sac fly. After Pratt walked Laney Joyner to load the bases again, Melanie Baccay un-emptied them with a double to right center that brought home three more runs for a 6-0 lead. The Red Hawks made a pitching change for the second inning, bringing on sophomore Taylor Rathe.Â
•  Jordan Watson came on in the third inning for MSU, and gave up a two-run homer to Jenny Vasquez with one out that cut the Spartan lead to 6-2.Â
•  Melanie Baccay led off the fourth with a single down the left field line, and as Katie Quinlan legged out an infield single, the throw to first went into foul territory, allowing Baccay to come around and score on a throwing error home. It left Quinlan at third. MacKenzie Meech was hit by a pitch to put runners at the corners for Ebonee Echols, who reached on a fielder's choice to re-establish the six-run lead.Â
•  With its offense working at full throttle on the day, the Spartans refused to take things easy in the late innings. Ebonee Echols led off with a walk, stole second, and came around on Kaitlyn Eveland's fourth homer of the season, giving MSU a 10-2 advantage. Caitie Ladd followed suit with a homer over the wall in left, her third, and Baccay added her fourth hit of the day – a solo homer – to make it a 12-2 margin.Â
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Michigan State picked up its third consecutive victory on Saturday afternoon, using a six-run first-inning rally and went on to an 12-2 win over host Miami.Â
Â
The Spartans batted around in the first inning, scoring six runs – including a three-run single from No. 9 hitter Melanie Baccay, who went a career-best 4-for-4 with a homer and four RBI. Kaitlyn Eveland was 2-for4, including her team-best fourth home run of the season, and put up four RBI as well. Caitie Ladd also added a solo homer in MSU's four-run seventh inning.Â
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The Spartans improved to 9-15 with the two wins on Saturday in Ohio, and has tied its season-best winning streak. The Spartans were good for 10 hits and a tied their season best with 11 RBI in the nightcap. Â
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Jenny Vasquez had two base hits for the home team, including a two-run homer in the third inning. The Red Hawks changed pitchers after MSU's six-run first inning, with Taylor Rathe coming on for the second and keeping MSU from any more large rallies until the seventh. Â
Alli Walker pitched two innings in the second game, getting the ball to start the game and striking out a season-high five in those two innings. Jordan Watson pitched the third, and McKenna Gregory closed out the game with four no-hit innings. She leads the Big Ten with 17 relief appearances.  Â
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The Spartans play twice more on Sunday - a noon game vs. Austin Peay and a 2:30 rematch with Dayton - to wrap up its final non-conference tournament.Â
Â
Â
 QUOTABLEÂ
"We've talked all through this pre-Big Ten season about getting better every practice, every game. We really started to see our team put it together over Spring Break and its continued into this weekend. We were good in all three phases of the game in both games today. The bats and the offense will get a lot of credit, and rightfully so - but our pitching staff also handled today really, really well. We're still a work in progress but I have really enjoyed the progress I have witnessed. The goal now is to establish consistency - we need this effort and execution on a consistent basis." Â
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- Head Coach Jacquie Joseph
 TOP PERFORMERSÂ
•  Kaitlyn Eveland was 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and season-best four RBI. It was her fourth homer of the season.Â
•  Melanie Baccay went 4-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored. She had career bests in both hits and RBI on the day.
•  McKenna Gregory threw four no-hit relief innings, Alli Walker started the game and went two innings, tying her career best with five strikeouts.
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STATS AND STORYLINESÂ
•  The Spartans tried to get things going right away in the top of the first, loading the bases with one out for Kaitlyn Eveland, who brought home two runs with her single through the right side. Pitcher Brianna Pratt walked Caitie Ladd to load the bases – still with just one out on the scoreboard – and Lexi White brought home a third run with a sac fly. After Pratt walked Laney Joyner to load the bases again, Melanie Baccay un-emptied them with a double to right center that brought home three more runs for a 6-0 lead. The Red Hawks made a pitching change for the second inning, bringing on sophomore Taylor Rathe.Â
•  Jordan Watson came on in the third inning for MSU, and gave up a two-run homer to Jenny Vasquez with one out that cut the Spartan lead to 6-2.Â
•  Melanie Baccay led off the fourth with a single down the left field line, and as Katie Quinlan legged out an infield single, the throw to first went into foul territory, allowing Baccay to come around and score on a throwing error home. It left Quinlan at third. MacKenzie Meech was hit by a pitch to put runners at the corners for Ebonee Echols, who reached on a fielder's choice to re-establish the six-run lead.Â
•  With its offense working at full throttle on the day, the Spartans refused to take things easy in the late innings. Ebonee Echols led off with a walk, stole second, and came around on Kaitlyn Eveland's fourth homer of the season, giving MSU a 10-2 advantage. Caitie Ladd followed suit with a homer over the wall in left, her third, and Baccay added her fourth hit of the day – a solo homer – to make it a 12-2 margin.Â
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