MSU SOFTBALL: Spartans Hold on, Down Terriers 4-3
Jordan Davis's pinch hit sac fly in the top of the sixth broke a 1-1 tie, and Kaitlyn Eveland's RBI triple later in the inning helped MSU post a 4-3 win over Boston University on Saturday afternoon. Kristina Zalewski got the start for the Spartans (8-4) , and tossed four innings, while Bridgette Rainey threw three innings of two-hit relief to earn her second win of the season.
A pair of fifth-inning hits was all it took for MSU to take the win, using five walks and some heads-up baserunning. A pair of impressive defensive plays by McKenzie Long also aided the cause. BU tried to mount a seventh-inning comeback, as Rainey walked the bases loaded and surrendered a two-run two-out single to right, but got a ground ball to second to end the game.
The Spartans take on tournament host Florida Atlantic in a game that starts at 6 pm.
TOP PERFORMERS
Celeste Wood went 1-for-3 and scored the go-ahead run in the fifth inning. Kaitlyn Eveland had a fifth-inning RBI triple, her first career extra-base hit. Kristina Zalewski went four innings, striking out three and walking one, leaving the game a 1-1 stalemate. Bridgette Rainey entered in relief in the fifth inning, and allowed two runs on two hits and three walks.
STATS AND STORYLINES
The Terriers tried to make something happen right out of the gate, but stranded two runners in the first. BU led off the second with a double by Gabi Martinez, who was then sacrificed to third for Alexa Ponce. Ponce sacrificed Martinez home for the 1-0 lead.
Eveland reached on an error to lead off the third, and Foerster walked to put a pair in place with one out. Long reached on a fielder's choice, erasing Eveland at third, and Wood flew out to right to end the inning.
Gutknecht drew a leadoff walk and was replaced for pinch runner Kelly Zachrison. Besson laid down a bunt to move her to second, but the ball was thrown far over the head of the first baseman, allowing the runners to advance to second and third with no outs. After Kassidy Kujawa popped out, Shanin Thomas hit a sac fly to center to plate Zackrison to knot the game 1-1.
The Spartans looked to take a lead in the fifth, as Celeste Wood led off with a single to center and Sarah Gutknecht earned a free pass. Besson sacrificed the runners into scoring position, and pinch hitter Jordan Davis hit a fly ball deep to center field to score Wood for a 2-1 lead. Shanin Thomas walked, and Sarah Gutknecht came home on a wild pitch to add MSU's third run. Kaitlyn Eveland then delivered a two-out triple to the gap in left center, bringing home Thomas and spelling the end of the day for pitcher Melanie Russell, who allowed just two hits in 5.2 innings, but walked five.
Rainey had her second strong outing of the weekend, allowing two hits and walking three in her three innings of relief. She walked the bases loaded in the seventh, and a base hit to right plated two runs to make it 4-3, but the Spartans held on for the win.