Spartans Split Doubleheader with Purdue

GAME CAPSULE

Michigan State and Purdue split a Friday doubleheader at Secchia Stadium, earning a 4-2 win in game one and falling 8-7 in game two.

The Spartans are now 8-15, while Purdue is 9-21.

In game one, an RBI single by Courtney Callahan broke open a 2-2 deadlock in the bottom of the sixth inning and reliever Sarah Ladd earned the win with two innings of shutout relief.

In game two, MSU fell behind early, surrendering four second-inning runs and falling behind 6-0. MSU rallied as the Spartans got homers from Callahan and freshman Zaquai Dumas – the first of the season for both players – but a late rally fell short and MSU dropped the game by an 8-7 score. Shae Schreckengost had a pinch hit RBI double in the seventh, but the tying run was stranded at second. Alli Walker worked 4.1 innings of middle relief between starter and relief stints by freshman Jala Wright.

MSU had double-digit hits in each game, the first time that happened since games two and three of the Rutgers series on March 27. MSU's only other multi-homer game came in the nightcap of that doubleheader against the Scarlet Knights.

Prior to the game, MSU honored Riley Paxson with her Senior Day. The former first baseman had to retire after two seasons due to injury issues and has stayed with the program as a video coordinator for the last two seasons.

Michigan State continues the series with the Boilermakers on Saturday. First pitch at Secchia Stadium is 1 pm.

PLAYER HIGHS

Caitie Ladd had two base hits in the first game and three in the second (5-for-8), with a double in game two.
Courtney Callahan had two base hits in each game, with four RBI on the day. She had a triple in game one and a homer, her first of the season, in the nightcap.
Freshman Zaquai Dumas hit her first career home run in the third inning of game two and finished at 2-for-3 in the game.
Jenae Wash and Mackenzie Meech had two base hits in the opener.

STATS AND STORYLINES : GAME ONE

After the Boilers plated a run in the top of the third, MSU countered with a pair of runs in the home half of the frame. Caitie Ladd laced a one-out single to right, and moved to third with a two-out single by Mackenzie Meech. A walk to Marissa Trivelpiece loaded the bases, and a single by Jenae Wash brought home the two runs.
Courtney Callahan tripled into deep center in the fourth, but was stranded.
Purdue tied up the game in the fifth. Rachel Becker dropped a single just inside the line in shallow left, and moved to second on a groundout. Kaeley Hallada brought her home with a single up the middle to make it 2-2.
The Spartans opened it up in the bottom of the sixth. Singles by Wash, Kates, and Abby Joseph put two runners on with two outs, and Callahan followed with a single into center that scored two for a 4-2 MSU advantage.
Ashley Miller started the game and went five complete, striking out six and surrendering two runs and five hits. Sarah Ladd earned the win in relief, going the final two innings and striking out five of the seven batters she faced, surrendering just one base hit.

STATS AND STORYLINES : GAME TWO

After taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, the Boilers exploded for four runs in the second, as Ryleigh Scott hit a one-out bases-loaded triple to make it a 4-0 lead. A single by Kaeley Hallada brought home Scott for a 5-0 lead.
Three base hits early in the third allowed Purdue to tack on a sixth run in the third, capped with double by Rachel Becker. Alli Walker got out of the inning with back-to-back strikeouts.
Zaquai Dumas hit her first career homer in the bottom of the third to get MSU on the scoreboard. Callahan singled to right center to give MSU a baserunner, and Caitie Ladd sent her to third with a double into center. One out later, Alexis Barroso scored bother runners with a single to right, making it a 6-3 ballgame.
Purdue scored again in the top of the fifth. A two-out triple to center by Scott (her second of the game) plated a pair of runs that made it 8-3.
In the top of the sixth, Zaquai Dumas picked up her second hit of the game with two outs, and Courtney Callahan followed with a homer to right that cut the Spartan deficit to three, 8-5. Caitie Ladd and Mackenzie Meech continued the rally with base hits, but Kiersen George's diving catch in center of an Alexis Barroso offering ended the inning.
MSU threatened again in the bottom of the seventh. Walks to Trivelpiece and Kendall Kates put two on with one out, and an RBI double by Shae Schreckengost got two on the scoreboard and pulled MSU within one at 8-7. Pitcher Kaitlyn Brannstrom got the final two outs of the inning to strand the tying run at second.
Jala Wright started the game and went 1 1/3 innings, surrendering six hits and three earned runs, then re-entered in the top of the sixth to throw an additional 1 1/3 and worked out of a seventh-inning jam with two on . Alli Walker came on in relief and threw 4.1 innings, scattering six hits, allowing three runs, and striking out four.

Next Event

Team Stats

Caitie Ladd

Mackenzie Meech

Jenae Wash

Courtney Callahan

Players Mentioned

Alexis Barroso

Courtney Callahan

Zaquai Dumas

Abby Joseph

Kendall Kates

Caitie Ladd

Sarah Ladd

Mackenzie Meech

Ashley Miller

Riley Paxson

Shae Schreckengost

Marissa Trivelpiece

Alli Walker

Jenae Wash

Jala Wright

Players Mentioned

Alexis Barroso

Courtney Callahan

Zaquai Dumas

Abby Joseph

Kendall Kates

Caitie Ladd

Sarah Ladd

Mackenzie Meech

Ashley Miller

Riley Paxson

Shae Schreckengost

Marissa Trivelpiece

Alli Walker

Jenae Wash

Jala Wright