MSU Softball Falls in 4-1 Heartbreaker to No. 2 Michigan
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EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State softball team (20-30, 4-14 Big Ten) fell, 4-1, to No. 2 Michigan (44-6, 16-1 Big Ten) on Sunday, May 9 at Old College Field. The game marked the final game for the Spartans in their current stadium set-up, as they will welcome a new stadium in 2011. Junior Lindsey Hansen led MSU with a double and one run as she went 1-for-2 on the day.
“I have been very proud of our players all year,†said MSU head softball coach Jacquie Joseph. “We have never put our chin down and I thought that we competed hard. We are a program that one can be proud of. I thought we executed through six and a half today, but that isn’t the game. The game is seven, or as many as you need to play. Michigan is a great, great team and they made us pay. That is what great teams do, you give them an opening and they march right through it and that is what they did.â€
With MSU leading 1-0 in the top of the seventh, the Wolverines got a grand slam from Amanda Chidester to power past the Spartans, 4-1.
Sophomore pitcher Lauren Kramer battled strong in a left-handed pitchers match-up against Nikki Nemitz of Michigan all game. Entering the final inning, Kramer had not allowed a run on two hits over the course of the first-six innings of the game. However, after hitting two batters and bobbling a grounder, Kramer found herself with bases loaded when Chidester hit a home run to left field.
Kramer got off to a great start as she was able to go 1-2-3 in the opening frame. Freshman Kylene Hopkins made two great plays in right field to record two of the three outs in the inning. Hopkins’ highlight play occurred off a shot by Angela Findlay which was heading towards the outfield fence, but a diving play from Hopkins recorded the Spartans’ second out of the inning.
The sophomore pitcher remained untouched by the Wolverines heading into the third when Stephanie Kirkpatrick singled to left field to break-up Kramer’s no-hitter.
Nemitz also was throwing a no-no before she allowed the first MSU hit in the fourth inning.
Hansen led off the inning with a double to right. After a sacrifice from fellow junior Jessica Bracamonte, Hansen found herself in scoring position at third base with sophomore Ali Grant at the plate. Gant hit a shot towards third base which was bobbled on the play, allowing Hansen to score from third, bringing the score to 1-0 in favor of MSU.
MSU looked to build upon its lead in the bottom of the fifth when it found runners on second and third after senior Kelly Confer and junior Heidi Purtzer reached on a single and a walk, respectively. Sophomore Lori Padilla laid a sacrifice bunt to first to advance Confer and Purtzer up one base. With two outs and runners at second and third, Hansen was intentionally walked by Nemitz to load the bases, however the Spartans we unable to capitalize as the following batter struck out.
The Green and White looked to rally in the bottom of the seventh when sophomore Melanie Bensema recorded a pinch-hit double with two outs. However, the MSU rally was short lived as the next batter struck out swinging.
Kramer falls to 15-18 on the season in her complete game against Michigan. Nikitz improved her record to 19-3 as she struck out 10 batters faced.
Today also marked MSU’s largest crowd of the year as 1,481 fans were in attendance for Mother’s Day.
“The crowd once again is an indication of peoples respect for the sport and the fact that there is a top-10 opponent only 50 miles away, and the fact that they know they are going to get a great game. I am very pleased that everyone came out today and supported both teams,†noted Joseph on today’s turn out.
MSU will hit the road for the final weekend of the year May 14-15, when it travels to Madison, Wis., for a showdown with the Badgers. The Spartans face UW on Friday at 7 p.m. ET, and return to close out the season on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.
