Spartans Lose Fifth Straight With 2-1 Setback Against Western Michigan

Spartans Lose Fifth Straight With 2-1 Setback Against Western Michigan
Kara Weigle posts 2-for-3 performance with one RBI in the loss.
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State managed just three hits against Western Michigan’s Krysten Schumaker on Tuesday, suffering a 2-1 non-conference loss at Old College Field. The setback extends a season-long five game losing streak for the Spartans, who fall to 32-19, 8-6 Big Ten for the year. Kara Weigle paced the Green and White offense with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate, adding one RBI.
Spartan hurler Lesley Noel allowed seven hits, which included one home run and one double in the loss, while Schumaker held MSU to just five base runners for the day.Â
WMU scored in the opening two innings behind a Katie Niemi home run and Becky Bartosz RBI single for an early 2-0 advantage.
The Spartans mounted a threat in the third, when Gina Mondo took second on a miscue in the Bronco infield, before Erin Harvey recorded State’s first hit of the afternoon. Michigan State had runners in scoring position twice in the inning but failed to capitalize on the opportunity, stranding two on the bases.
After a quiet offensive performance from both sides of the plate through the stretch, Dayna Feenstra reached second on an error by the Bronco shortstop and was replaced by pinch runner Megan Hair in the bottom of the seventh. Hair scored on a Kara Weigle RBI double over the Bronco left fielder, narrowing the lead to 2-1. Dana Rosenblatt struck out and Jenny Poff grounded out to first base, allowing WMU to escape with the 2-1 non-conference victory.
Michigan State continues non-conference action on Wednesday when it travels to Central Michigan at 4 p.m. Courtesy of MSU SID.