March 16, 2008

Bowling Green Box Score
Elon Box Score

DeLAND, Fla. - The Michigan State softball squad (12-12) began the final day of the Stetson Invitational by beating Bowling Green, 6-2, behind a pair of home runs from Gina Mondo, but would end the day with a 7-6 loss to Elon.

In game one, Megan Hair tallied the win from the circle and improves her record to 3-1. Hair pitched five innings, striking out two while giving up two runs on 16 at bats.

Nikki Nicosia spurred Michigan State's first scoring drive in the opening inning, singling to left field. After a strikeout, Mejia then took first on a walk, and with two outs and two runners on, Mondo's three-run shot dipped over the 194-foot left-field fence, sending the trio around the diamond to put MSU ahead 3-0.

Mondo revisited the other side of the left field fence with a solo homer in the top of the fourth, extending the Spartans' lead to 4-0.

In the sixth, Kara Weigle came up with a strong single to left field, driving in Mondo, for Weigle's first RBI in 13 games. Lindsey Hansen continued MSU's drive, sending Weigle home, who had advanced to third on a fielding error, with a single up the middle.

But the Falcons showed signs of life with a 209-foot home run by Allison Vallas with one on base, as Bowling Green lessened the Spartans' lead to 6-2. Kelly Confer entered the game in the circle for MSU in the bottom of the sixth and pitched a scoreless inning.

After a scoreless top of the seventh for the Spartans, Confer opened the bottom of the seventh, but after two hits Lesley Noel was brought in to close out the game. Noel struck out the first two batters she faced and a routine grounder to Mondo at second wrapped up the game in MSU's favor.

In the finale, the two teams combined for 18 hits, though Elon's two home runs boosted the Phoenix to their second win over the Spartans in as many days. Lesley Noel went down as the pitcher of record for MSU, throwing seven innings with two strikeouts. Offensively for the Spartans, Weigle and Jessica LeFevre each had a two-hit game, while Heidi Purtzer lead the team with two RBI.

After the Phoenix picked up a one-run lead with a solo homer by Allison Hartmann in the top of the second, Michigan State rebounded with a five runs in the bottom. The Spartans roped out six hits for five runs as Traci Nicosia sparked the drive with a double down the left-field line. Nicosia would score on LeFevre's ensuing single up the middle, tying the game 1-1. LeFevre, who advanced to second on an error by the second baseman and on to third on a wild pitch, would eventually score when Heidi Purtzer singled to short. Kristen Aidem continued the rally with a single, while Nikki Nicosia followed with an RBI single to right center, as MSU pulled ahead with a 3-1 lead.

Nikki Nicosia stole second, and with Aidem on third, Weigle kept the ball rolling with a single to left center, scoring Aidem. Nicosia went to third and Weigle advanced to second on the throw to home. Elon then made a pitching change, bringing in Samantha Schroeder, but the runs would continue for MSU as Bianca Mejia drove in Weigle. The Spartans took a 5-1 lead after two innings.

The top of the third started nicely for MSU, as Noel struck out the lead-off batter and the next batter grounded out the second. But the Phoenix would get to tally three hits for four runs, including a three-run home run by Melanie Helterbran, and capitalize on two MSU errors to tie the game 5-5.

The Spartans went back to work in the bottom of the third as Purtzer bunted Nikki Nicosia home ands MSU regained the lead 6-5.

But much like yesterday's game, Elon came up with big runs in the late innings as the Phoenix regained the lead with two runs in the top of the sixth.

A late spurt in the bottom of the seventh put runners on second and third for Michigan State, but Elon avoided the surge and Schroeder finished the game for her second win of the season.

Michigan State travels to Miami, Ohio next weekend for the Best Western Miami Invitational on March 22-23.