Friday, March 8
Auburn, Ala.
12:30 PM ET / 11:30 AM CT
Michigan State University
5-14
1
vs
14
Louisville
13-6
1
2
3
4
5
R
H
E
Louisville
1
5
5
3
0
14
16
1
Michigan State
1
0
0
0
0
1
2
1
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Watson (5-4)
L: Walker, Alli (2-4)
Batting:
2B: Hensley 1 ; Ferguson 1 ; Chung 1 ; Snyder 1
HR: Hensley 1
RBI: Melton 4 ; Hensley 4 ; Ferguson 2 ; Chung 2 ; Watson 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Funke 4 ; Melton 1 ; Hensley 2 ; Ferguson 1 ; Snyder 1 ; Watson 1 ; Schindler, P 1 ; Newman 3
SB: Funke 2 ; Melton 1 ; Hensley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Echols, Charla 1
Game Leaders
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
1b/2b
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
2B
/ SoftballC/3B
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballSS/UTL
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
Cardinals Explode Offensively in Win Over Spartans
3/8/2019 4:08:00 PM | Softball
Louisvile records 16 base hits in victory.
SPARTAN SYNOPSISÂ Â Â
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Michigan State ran into an offensive buzzsaw wearing Louisville jerseys on Friday morning, falling to the Cardinals 14- 1 in five innings.Â
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The teams traded runs in the first inning, but then the offensive deluge began from the Louisville bats, as they plated five runs in both the second and third innings and three more in the fourth to continue to pad the lead. MSU used all four pitchers in the contest, as Alli Walker got the start and was followed by McKenna Gregory, Leah Shipp, and finally Jordan Watson, who came on in the fourth inning and pitched the final two frames.  Â
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MSU couldn't get much going offensively off starting pitcher Danielle Watson, who struck out five and allowed just two base hits, and also went 3-for-4 at the plate to help her own cause. Celene Funke also went 3-for-4, and both Megan Hensley and Caitlin Ferguson had two base hits.Â
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MSU will play Mercer at 7 pm CT on Friday to wrap up Friday action, Â then take on Auburn (4:30 pm CT) and Mercer (7 pm CT) on Saturday.Â
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STATS AND STORYLINESÂ
•  Louisville got off to a hot start in the top of the first, getting a leadoff single from Celene Funke, who then stole second and third. Sidney Melton put down a bunt to bring home Funke from third to put the run on the board.Â
•  MSU countered immediately – Charla Echols led off with a single, moved to second on a wild pitch, and came around to score on a dropped third strike to Caitie Ladd and subsequent throwing error.
•  The Cardinals tacked on five second-inning runs off of five base hits to take a 6-1 lead. Kyra Snyder led off with a double into the gap in right center, and came around to score on a single by Danielle Watson. The Spartans made a pitching change, with McKenna Gregory coming on to replace starter Alli Walker, who surrendered five base hits and was charged with three runs in one-plus innings of work. Gregory surrendered three more runs before the inning came to a close.  Â
•  A walk to Eveland led off the home half of the second, and she moved to second on a single by Melanie Baccay.Â
•  Five more runs for the Cardinals crossed the plate in the top of the third, and MSU went to a third pitcher with one out in the inning, Leah Shipp. Shipp issued one walk but got out of the inning with no additional damage.Â
•  Jordan Watson came on to pitch in the top of the fourth, and gave up a walk and a base hit, got to two outs, but then surrendered a three-run homer to Megan Hensley.Â
•  MSU pitchers surrendered 16 hits on the day, second to the season-high 17 they surrendered to Boston College at the ACC-Big Ten Challenge .Â
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Michigan State ran into an offensive buzzsaw wearing Louisville jerseys on Friday morning, falling to the Cardinals 14- 1 in five innings.Â
Â
The teams traded runs in the first inning, but then the offensive deluge began from the Louisville bats, as they plated five runs in both the second and third innings and three more in the fourth to continue to pad the lead. MSU used all four pitchers in the contest, as Alli Walker got the start and was followed by McKenna Gregory, Leah Shipp, and finally Jordan Watson, who came on in the fourth inning and pitched the final two frames.  Â
Â
MSU couldn't get much going offensively off starting pitcher Danielle Watson, who struck out five and allowed just two base hits, and also went 3-for-4 at the plate to help her own cause. Celene Funke also went 3-for-4, and both Megan Hensley and Caitlin Ferguson had two base hits.Â
Â
MSU will play Mercer at 7 pm CT on Friday to wrap up Friday action, Â then take on Auburn (4:30 pm CT) and Mercer (7 pm CT) on Saturday.Â
Â
STATS AND STORYLINESÂ
•  Louisville got off to a hot start in the top of the first, getting a leadoff single from Celene Funke, who then stole second and third. Sidney Melton put down a bunt to bring home Funke from third to put the run on the board.Â
•  MSU countered immediately – Charla Echols led off with a single, moved to second on a wild pitch, and came around to score on a dropped third strike to Caitie Ladd and subsequent throwing error.
•  The Cardinals tacked on five second-inning runs off of five base hits to take a 6-1 lead. Kyra Snyder led off with a double into the gap in right center, and came around to score on a single by Danielle Watson. The Spartans made a pitching change, with McKenna Gregory coming on to replace starter Alli Walker, who surrendered five base hits and was charged with three runs in one-plus innings of work. Gregory surrendered three more runs before the inning came to a close.  Â
•  A walk to Eveland led off the home half of the second, and she moved to second on a single by Melanie Baccay.Â
•  Five more runs for the Cardinals crossed the plate in the top of the third, and MSU went to a third pitcher with one out in the inning, Leah Shipp. Shipp issued one walk but got out of the inning with no additional damage.Â
•  Jordan Watson came on to pitch in the top of the fourth, and gave up a walk and a base hit, got to two outs, but then surrendered a three-run homer to Megan Hensley.Â
•  MSU pitchers surrendered 16 hits on the day, second to the season-high 17 they surrendered to Boston College at the ACC-Big Ten Challenge .Â
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A Road Less Traveled | Spartans All-Access
Thursday, April 17
A Higher Standard | Spartans All-Access
Tuesday, February 11
Spartans All-Access: Jenae Wash
Thursday, April 11
Spartans All-Access: Coach Sharonda McDonald-Kelley
Thursday, April 20