Spartan Bats Cold in Doubleheader at IU

GAME CAPSULE

Michigan State dropped both ends of its Saturday doubleheader against Indiana, falling to the Hoosiers, 4-0 and 3-0.

The Spartan pitchers didn't give much to the IU offense, scattering eight hits over the two games. IU fifth-year senior Emily Goodin tossed both ends of the doubleheader after throwing a complete game on Friday and continued to give MSU fits. She combined to surrender just 10 hits to MSU over the two games today and 12 overall in three games this weekend.

MSU committed four errors in game two, two of which led to a two-run fifth for the Hoosiers which blew open a 1-0 game. MSU stranded seven runners in the second contest, able to get runners on but not bring them around.

Michigan State (9-19) and Indiana (19-16) finish out the four-game series on Sunday, beginning at 12 noon.

PLAYER HIGHS

All four MSU pitchers saw action. Sarah Ladd took the loss in game one, throwing five innings of four-hit ball with five strikeouts. Ashley Miller went four innings in game two after a complete game on Friday, and surrendered three hits, three runs, and struck out three. Alli Walker tossed two innings in relief, and Jala Wright one.
Mackenzie Meech had two of MSU's base hits in game one. Kennedy Wyllie had base hits in each game, as did Jenae Wash, who has four hits off Goodin in the three games combined.

STATS AND STORYLINES : GAME ONE

Game one of the doubleheader followed a similar script to Friday's game. Sarah Ladd gave up a two-run homer to Grayson Radcliffe for the early deficit in the bottom of the first, and then a single to Grace Lorsung, and then didn't give up another base hit until the bottom of the sixth, when Radcliffe tripled and Bella Norton homered to double the Spartan deficit.
Sarah Ladd retired 13 of 14 consecutive batters from the start of the second inning through the first batter of the sixth. She had one HBP (fifth inning) but surrendered four runs, while striking out five in her 5.1 innings. Jala Wright walked a pair but got out of the inning on a ground ball.
IU turned double plays in both the first and sixth innings to erase Spartan baserunners.
The Spartans were limited to just two base hits by Goodin in the first six innings, but she surrendered two additional in the seventh inning. Mackenzie Meech had the two early hits, while Jenae Wash, (who had MSU's only two hits on Friday) and pinch hitter Kennedy Wyllie had seventh-inning base knocks.

STATS AND STORYLINES : GAME TWO

IU got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth, manufacturing a run on a pair of base hits. Norton singled up the middle, and pinch runner Tatum Hayes went to second on a wild pitch, was moved to third on a ground ball out, and scored on the two-out single by Abby Meeks.
The Hoosiers looked to stage a rally in the fifth, and got some help from a pair of Spartan errors. Juvia Davis reached on the first error and advanced to second, and then pinch runner Katie Lacefield advanced to third on a single by Brooke Benson. Lacefield came home on a passed ball, and then a sac fly by Jenkins brough home Benson for a 3-0 lead.
MSU generated some base hits in the top of the sixth, as it looked to cut into the lead. With one out, the Spartans strung together three straight base hits – it started with a single by Barroso into the gap in right center, and pinch runner Brooke Snyder moved to second by Caitie Ladd and then tried to come around and score on a base hit by Kendall Kates, but Snyder was gunned down at home on a strong throw from center.
Alli Walker came on in relief in the fifth inning, after Miller went four innings, striking out three. Walker surrendered two base hits in her two innings of work, striking out one.

Players Mentioned

Kendall Kates

Caitie Ladd

Sarah Ladd

Mackenzie Meech

Ashley Miller

Brooke Snyder

Alli Walker

Jenae Wash

Jala Wright

Kennedy Wyllie