Eveland's Walkoff Downs Mercer, 6-5

SPARTAN SYNOPSIS

Michigan State capped off the War Eagle Invitational with a 6-5 win over Mercer, a second win over the Bears on the weekend.

The Spartans, which lost to No. 19 Auburn by a 3-2 score in their first game of the day, built a 5-0 lead with hot bats in the second and third innings, but then committed four of their five errors in the sixth and seventh innings to allow the Bears to knot the score at 5-5. Mercer got down to the final out, but the Spartans rallied with a walk and a pair of two-out base hits, as Kaitlyn Eveland drove home Caitie Ladd with the winning run.

Alli Walker dazzled in the circle, delivering 5.1 no-hit innings, at one point retiring 13 consecutive batters. MSU committed four errors that led to baserunners, and Walker was relieved by McKenna Gregory in the sixth with the bases loaded and one out. Gregory allowed two hits and struck out two, but the errors played a large part in Mercer keeping both of the final two innings going to tie the score at 5-5.

The Spartans scored once in the second and then came up with four consecutive big hits – a double by Ebonee Echols, a triple by Ladd, and back-to-back homers by Mackenzie Meech and Eveland to push the MSU lead out to 5-0.

Eveland went 2-for-2, delivering both a third-inning homer and the game-winning single in the bottom of the seventh. She was also walked twice, giving her 16 on the season – good enough to share the Big Ten lead. Meech had two RBI as well courtesy of her third-inning two –run homer, and she contributed a base hit to the seventh-inning rally with two outs.

Kenlie Harvey had two base hits for Mercer (10-14), while pitcher Lynn Gardner tossed a complete game, surrendering nine base hits and striking out three.
The Spartans are scheduled to open their home season on Thursday with a non-conference tilt against Western Michigan at 4 pm.

QUOTABLE
" Anyone who watched both of our games today sees that we're struggling with consistency – there were so, so many good things that we did for the first 12 innings, but we shot ourselves in the foot with errors that allowed Mercer to tie the game. In the seventh, we were literally down to our final out, then our final strike, and we got the job done to get out with a win. We learned that we can play with the best teams in the country, but also learned that we have areas that we have to continue to work to get better every day in practice. I think getting home and practicing this week will have a little excitement, as we will get to play at home for the first time this season."

Head Coach Jacquie Joseph

TOP PERFORMERS
• Alli Walker threw 5.1 no-hit innings and struck out two, and was charged with three runs (one earned) after leaving in the top of the sixth with the bases loaded and one out. McKenna Gregory picked up her second win of the season, going 1.2 innings in relief and surrendering two base hits, striking out two.
• Kaitlyn Eveland went 2 –for-2 with a pair of walks, the walkoff RBI single in the seventh and a solo homer in the third inning.
• Mackenzie Meech hit a two –run homer and went 2-for-4 with two RBI.

STATS AND STORYLINES

• The Spartans had just one base hit in the bottom of the second, but Melanie Baccay brought around pinch runner Summer Callahan on a ground ball to take a 1-0 lead.

• MSU looked to add to its lead in the third as Ebonee Echols doubled down the right field line with one out. Caitie Ladd followed with a triple into deep center to score Echols for a 2-0 lead. Mackenzie Meech and Kaitlyn Eveland blasted back-to-back homers to extend the lead out to 5-0 – Meech's a two-run shot, Eveland a solo.

• Walker continued to mow down the Bears, retiring 14 consecutive batters between Spartan errors in the second and sixth innings.   The error led to three straight batters getting on in the top of the sixth, including a single for Kenlie Harvey who broke up Walker's no-hitter. That loaded the bases with one out for Danielle Castlebury, who singled up the middle to bring home a run to cut the Spartan lead to 5-1. McKenna Gregory came on in relief for Walker, walked Allie Jones to bring home a run, struck out Megan Lane, and then hit Abby Walsh to make it a 5-3 ballgame. Gregory recorded her second strikeout of the inning to get out of the frame.

• Mercer led off the seventh inning with a single up the middle by Amanda Schwartz, and an error – MSU's fourth of the game – put runners at the corners.   Micayla Rood reached on a fielder's choice that brought home a fourth run for the Bears. Kenlie Harvey singled to right, and a pair of throwing miscues not only allowed Rood to score to tie the game, but also allowed Harvey to advance to third. Harvey was thrown out at home on a fielder's choice, and then a ground ball got MSU out of the frame.

• MSU came to bat in the bottom of the seventh needing some offense, but pitcher Lynn Gardner got Charla Echols and Ebonee Echols to put the Spartans on the ropes. Ladd drew a walk,   Meech singled to send Ladd to second, and Eveland stepped in, fell behind in an 1-2 count, and then singled to right to bring home Ladd with the winning run.

Players Mentioned

Melanie Baccay

Summer Callahan

Charla Echols

Ebonee Echols

Kaitlyn Eveland

McKenna Gregory

Caitie Ladd

Alli Walker

Players Mentioned

Melanie Baccay

Summer Callahan

Charla Echols

Ebonee Echols

Kaitlyn Eveland

McKenna Gregory

Caitie Ladd

Alli Walker

Related News

Players Mentioned

Melanie Baccay

Summer Callahan

Charla Echols

Ebonee Echols

Kaitlyn Eveland

McKenna Gregory

Caitie Ladd

Alli Walker