MSU Softball Sweeps Season Series with Boston College, Wins 8-6

 

Purtzer knocks in game-winning RBIs in fifth inning. Photo courtesy of the MSU SID.

 

DELAND, Fla. – In its second game against Boston College (1-2) in as many days, the Michigan State softball team (3-1) once again topped the Eagles 8-6 in its second game of the day in DeLand, Fla. Senior Heidi Purtzer ripped in the game winning RBIs in the bottom of the fifth to help MSU hold off the late inning surge from BC.

After a scoreless first inning on both sides, MSU was the first strike when in the bottom of the second, junior Lauren Kramer led off with a single up the middle. Fellow junior Lori Padilla proceed to run for the pitcher in Kramer. Padilla advanced to second after sophomore Jayme O’Bryant drew a full-count walk. A double by junior Brett Williams to right center drove in Padilla and advanced O’Bryant to third. Freshman Sarah Bowling hit into a fielder’s choice, causing O’Bryant to be tagged out at home and Williams to advance to third, leaving MSU with runners on first and third. Junior Ali Grant ripped a single to left and brought Williams home from third and moved Bowling to third. Grant advanced to second on the throw to home. Senior Jessica Bracamonte brought in both runners on a dropped pop fly by the pitcher with two outs. Grant and Bowling scored to make MSU’s lead 4-0. Sophomore Kylene Hopkins reached off a fielding error at third, resulting in Bracamonte scoring from third after she advanced to the base on a wild pitch. The Spartans ended the inning leading 5-0.

The Spartans notched their sixth run of the game in the bottom of the fourth. Bowling led off the inning with a walk, but was replaced with sophomore Jenny Ramsaier as a pinch runner. A sacrifice bunt by senior Heidi Purtzer and a wild pitch put Ramsaier on third. Two batters later, with two outs, Bracamonte ripped a single through the right side to score Ramsaier.

The Eagles got on the board for the first time in the top of the fifth when Gemma Ypparila and Ali Lynette-Krech had back-to-back walks to open the inning. Alison Kooistra singled to left to bring in Ypparila. Both Krech and Kooistra each advanced an extra base on the throw to the plate. A double by Alana Dimaso to left brought in Kooistra and Krech from second and third, respectively. BC ended the inning trailing 6-3.

MSU responded in the bottom half of the frame with an additional two runs scored. Kramer opened with a walk and was replaced on the bases once again by Padilla. A single to left center by O’Bryant moved Padilla to third with no outs. After the next two Spartan batters went down in order, Purtzer knocked in both O’Bryant and Padilla with a double to left. Purtzer’s RBIs put MSU’s lead at 8-3.

Kramer was replaced at the top of the sixth by freshman Cassee Layne. After Brittany Wilkins singled to right to lead off the inning, Carolyn Jones replaced her on the bases. Following a BC strikeout, Ypparila drew a full-count walk to put Eagles runners on first and second. Krech loaded the bases with a single to center field with only one out. Pandolfo doubled to right center to score Ypparila from second and Jones from third. Sophomore Shelby Wise took to the rubber in relief of Layne following the two BC runs scored. Kooistra singled to center to score Krech from third for the final Boston College run of the game. The Eagles ended the inning down 8-6.

Wise took care of business in the top of the seventh to capture her first save of her career.

In 5.0 innings of work, Kramer (2-0) struck out four batters and walked two. Kramer allowed three runs, two of which were earned while facing 20 batters. Wise tossed 1.2 innings and allowed three hits. Layne allowed three earned runs in her 0.1 innings.

Taking the loss for Boston College was Nicole D’Argento (1-1). D’Argento only recorded 2.0 innings pitched, allowing two earned runs on five scored. Morgan Kidd entered in relief and allowed three earned runs on four hits in 3.0 innings. Amanda Horowitz finished the final 1.0 innings for BC and allowed only one hit.

The Spartans close out their opening weekend at the Stetson Lead-off Classic tomorrow (Feb. 13) with their second game against No. 4 Tennessee.