April 12, 2005

EAST LANSING, Mich. -

Complete Softball Notes in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

MSU Hosts CMU and Travels To WMU, Wisconsin and Minnesota
April 12-13 & 15-17, 2005
(Live Stats available VS. CMU, Wisconsin and Minnesota)
4/12 at Western Michigan - 4 p.m. - Fran Ebert Field
4/13 vs. Central Michigan - 4 p.m. - Old College Field
4/15 & 16 at Wisconsin - 6 p.m. (Fri.) & Noon (Sat.) -
      Goodman SB Complex
4/17 at Minnesota - Noon (DH) - Jane Sage Cowles Stadium

UP NEXT
Michigan State gets back to work with two mid-week games, both against in-state rivals. The Spartans first visit Western Michigan Tuesday before hosting a make-up game with Central Michigan Wednesday at Old College Field. However, that will be the only game at home this week as MSU hits the road for Big Ten play. State travels to Wisconsin Friday and Saturday and then meets Minnesota for a doubleheader Sunday in Minneapolis. Live stats for Wednesday's game along with each contest this weekend will be available at www.msuspartans.com.

OSU AND PSU ROUND-UP
Michigan State salvaged the series split, winning the second game vs. Ohio State, 7-4, Saturday after falling to the Buckeyes Friday, 6-1. In game No. 1, OSU scored all of its runs in the third inning. MSU used three pitchers in the loss, but Lesley Noel shined in the circle by tossing 2.1 innings of no-hit ball. Elizabeth Peterson drove in the Spartans' only run of the game. The second battle was a different story as MSU jumped on Ohio State from the first pitch. Morache led off the game with a single to center and it was all Spartans the rest of the way as they scored three in the first, one in the fourth, two in the sixth and one more in the seventh for the 7-4 win. Morache, Peterson, Janette Hurtado and Nicole Mercado all posted at least two hits for the afternoon.

Michigan State then won a 13-inning game, tied for the fifth longest in program history, in a 2-1 victory over Penn State April 10. However, the Nittany Lions returned the favor and defeated the Spartans, 3-1, in the second game of the doubleheader. Rachel Turney went a career-high 11.0 innings, not allowing an earned run, and Noel pitched the final two innings to set the stage for Caitlin Mahoney's game-winning RBI double in the 13th, driving home Amy Szawara. Traci Nicosia notched a sacrifice fly in the third for MSU's other run while Peterson and Mercado each posted two hits. The Spartan bats could not get anything going in the second game, getting only four hits, two from Nikki Nicosia, in the loss.

MORE ON OSU & PSU
+ MSU left 10 runners on base in the first game with OSU and 11 aboard in the second.
+ The 13-inning contest with Penn State lasted 3:12, far and away the longest game of the year. MSU played its second-longest game, a 2:28 affair, a day earlier with OSU.
+ Michigan State President Lou Anna K. Simon threw out the first pitch before the doubleheader with Penn State. Head coach Jacquie Joseph was recognized soon afterwards for achieving her 500th-career coaching victory earlier in the week.

THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS
Western Michigan
Playing in its first non-conference game since a March 24 loss at Notre Dame, Western Michigan brings a 10-17 record into the week with a 3-2 mark at home. Last week, the Broncos went 1-3 with a split against Ball State and two defeats at the hands of Marshall. WMU's pitching staff, which holds a 2.92 ERA, includes Tricia Vanderslik (5-10, 2.29 ERA, 52 K, 101.0 IP, three shutouts) and Kyla Sullivan (4-7, 3.68 ERA, 46 K, 64.2 IP). Its offense combines for a .200 average with Katie Niemi leading the team with a .316 mark while Amanda Heckaman has a team-best 13 RBI. The Broncos have only six stolen bases this season.

Central Michigan
The Chippewas (15-8) have been on a tear lately, winning nine of their last 10 games and are undefeated in the MAC (8-0). Central Michigan's biggest win came in a 5-4 victory over No. 1 Michigan April 6. After losing the second game to the Wolverines, CMU swept a three-game series at Toledo last weekend. Jessica Garvin is 10-4 in 2005 with a 1.83 ERA and 78 Ks in 99.2 IP. Meanwhile, Amy Hudson leads CMU in numerous hitting categories, including average (.422), runs (15), doubles (seven), HR (two) and RBI (15). The Chippewas have stolen 32 bases out of 40 attempts. MSU lost to Central earlier in the year, a 4-1 decision March 5.

Wisconsin
Opposite CMU, Wisconsin (12-17, 3-5) enters the week on a six-game losing streak. However, it just got done facing No. 1 Michigan and No. 18 Northwestern in Big Ten play last week. Earlier in the year, the Badgers defeated Tulsa, Florida International, Florida Atlantic and swept Ohio State. Eden Brock has made the most starts (16) in the circle and boasts an ERA of 2.39. Katie Layne (eight starts) and Megan Smith (five starts) have also seen a lot of time on the rubber. Five hitters are batting at least .268 with Kris Zacher (.382), Boo Gillette (.359) and Anastasia Miller (.346) heading the list. UW has smacked 27 home runs this season.

Minnesota
The Golden Gophers also fell victim to Northwestern and Michigan last weekend and are now 1-7 in the Big Ten (18-20 overall). Their only win in conference play came against Penn State April 1. Minnesota does have a victory over a ranked opponent, a 6-5 win over then-No. 24 Missouri Feb. 25. With 28 appearances and 21 starts, Lyn Peyer (10-12) is the No. 1 starter for UM and has tossed 15 complete games and 113 strikeouts over 144.0 innings. Minnesota is batting .228 on the year and Stephanie Sward (.313, 21-22 SB), Megan Higginbotham (.305, 15-15 SB) and Chrissy Sward (.275, 11-12 SB) will be three very dangerous offensive threats for MSU.

PURE HONEY AT THE PLATE
Freshman Caitlin Mahoney racked up at least one hit in all seven games last week, and extended her hitting streak to a team-best eight contests. From April 3-10, Mahoney was 10-for-26 with three doubles for a .385 average. She also drove home three and scored a run twice.

THAT'S A LOT OF ZEROES
After giving up a first-inning, unearned run in the first game with Penn State, Rachel Turney did not allow another Nittany Lion to touch home in her next 10 innings pitched. Lesley Noel came on in the 12th and completed the job, also not giving up a run in the final two frames.

"SHORTY" SHINES VS. OHIO STATE
Second baseman Janette Hurtado was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate vs. Ohio State April 9 with an RBI, a run scored and a sacrifice bunt. In the series, the 5-0 native of Rowland Heights, Calif., was 4-for-6 overall.

TWO OUTS, NO PROBLEM
In MSU's past nine games, State has scored 21 of its last 26 runs with two outs. From the 66 total RBI the Spartans have posted, 36 have come when there were two outs, (55 percent of the time). Amy Szawara has been Miss Clutch, driving in seven runs when there were two away. Caitlin Mahoney is next in line with six while Nicole Mercado, Traci Nicosia and Elizabeth Peterson follow with four runs-batted-in.

MMM, McSHUTOUTS
Sophomore hurler Christy McGrew has posted State's only two shutouts on the year, giving her three for her career. In MSU's second game of the Stetson Tournament, McGrew tossed her second-career shutout vs. Bethune-Cookman (3/11) in a 1-0 victory. McGrew held the Wildcats to just three hits and did not give up a walk while adding one strikeout. And in the first game vs. Loyola (4/5), she struck out a season-high six in a two-hitter for shutout No. 3. Her first blanking came Feb. 27, 2004, when she struck out seven in a five-inning 9-0 win over Stony Brook.

WHAT AN EFFORT!
State's second game with Loyola (4/5) could not have gone any better. MSU scored four runs in the bottom of the first after the Ramblers put one across in their half to lock up the win. Lesley Noel was outstanding as she scattered five hits and struck out three for her first collegiate win and complete game. Noel's previous longest outing was back on Feb. 26 when she pitched 5.0 innings vs. LSU.

JOSEPH COLLECTS 500
Michigan State head coach Jacquie Joseph reached the 500-career win milestone April 5 with a home-doubleheader sweep over Loyola-Chicago. With the two victories, Joseph became the 37th active Division I coach to accomplish the feat and the third in the Big Ten (See page seven for a year-by-year look at Joseph's record).

REWARDING A CAREER WEEKEND
Without a hit since March 6, sophomore outfielder Nicole Mercado broke out in a huge way in MSU's Big Ten openers. Mercado went a combined 5-for-7 in the four games April 1-3, driving in six runs, belting two triples, scoring a run, stealing a base, walking once and posting a sacrifice fly and a sacrifice bunt. The amazing statistics did not go unnoticed as the Big Ten honored her with a Big Ten Player of the Week accolade, her first as a Spartan.

CONTINUING THE CLIMB
Listed as Michigan State's fourth all-time leading home run hitter, junior outfielder/designated player Elizabeth Peterson cranked her second four-bagger of 2005 with a two-run shot against Indiana April 1. The dinger moved her within two of Patti Raduenz, who sits in third place with 15 homers.

SOME DAYS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS
Rachel Turney's amazing streak came to an end in the second game against Purdue April 3. For the first time all year (19th appearance), she gave up more than three runs (six) in a game. In 65.1 innings pitched from March 8 to April 3, Turney allowed only seven earned runs for a 0.75 ERA.

CAN'T SCORE ANY EASIER
Catcher Amy Szawara was issued three walks against Indiana April 1 and she made the Hoosiers pay by scoring all three times. The three free passes marked only the 16th time that a Spartan has ever walked three or more times. The MSU record is four set by Sally Green in 1988 and Cheryl Weise in 1986.

WRECKING UP THE BASEPATHS
Freshman pinch-runner Jessica LeFevre demonstrated how much of a threat she can be on the bases against Indiana and Purdue. The native of Saginaw, Mich., stole a base in each of State's first three games in the series while crossing home plate twice. In the first game with the Boilermakers, LeFevre stole home to give her seven steals on the year, tying her with fellow freshman Nikki Nicosia for the team lead.

IT'S GOING TO BE A BUSY APRIL
Since Old College Field was not ready to host Central Michigan March 24 and Loyola-Chicago March 26, both teams visit East Lansing in April instead. The Spartans and Chippewas will do battle April 13 at 4 p.m. while the Ramblers took on State in a doubleheader April 5. With the rescheduling of these games, MSU now plays 27 contests in the 30-day month of April.

PUT THE PRESSURE ON
When MSU's bats jump on opposing pitchers early this season, the Spartans have been very intimidating. When State has scored in the first inning, it holds a 4-0 record and went it scores first overall, MSU is 8-3.

A ROSIE WEEKEND
Sophomore Dana Rosenblatt had a career weekend at the FAU Tournament. As a freshman, Rosenblatt collected one hit in eight at-bats and did not crack the starting lineup. But March 19 against Florida International signified the first of three straight starts for the designated player. She concluded the tournament by going 3-for-7 with three RBI and two walks.

WE'LL BE SEEING A LOT OF THESE NOTES IN THE COMING YEARS
Freshmen Nikki and Traci Nicosia dominated play during Michigan State's three-game win streak at the Florida Atlantic Tournament as each had at least one hit in all three of those wins. Against Tulsa, the duo combined for four hits, three runs and two RBI as Traci drove in her sister in the third and fifth innings. Nikki then made a game-saving catch, a diving snag in the second inning, when Florida International had the bases loaded with nobody out. At the plate vs. FIU, Traci had an RBI double and scored a run while Nikki picked up a SB. Finally against Florida Atlantic, Nikki tied an MSU record by stealing three bases in the game, marking only the eighth time a Spartan player has ever accomplished the feat.

COMING THROUGH WHEN IT COUNTS
Michigan State's offense scored nine of its 13 runs in Boca Raton when there were two outs on the scoreboard. Of those nine runs, eight were driven in by MSU hitters while the other scored on an error. Against Tulsa (three) and Florida International (four), all runs were scored with two down and State's two runs in the first inning vs. Florida Atlantic were also with two away.

IS THIS ERROR STAT AN ERROR ITSELF?
MSU committed 14 errors during its five-game tournament at Florida Atlantic, but still went 3-2. Amazingly, State is only 3-9 when it plays flawless defense and when it makes at least two blunders in the field, it has a 6-6 mark.

LIVING UP TO ITS PROMISE
Michigan State understood before the season started that its 2005 schedule would be tough and the Spartans were right. MSU has played in seven games that featured a ranked opponent, including then-No. 1 California, then-No. 10 LSU and twice against then-No. 12 Texas A&M. It also battled six teams that won their respective conference regular-season titles in 2004 (Southern Illinois, Florida State, Lehigh, Eastern Kentucky, Florida Atlantic and Central Michigan) and six other schools who finished second (California, Central Florida, Texas A&M, Tulsa, Florida International and Temple). Two more non-conference teams that finished in second place (Western Michigan and Miami-Ohio) await MSU later this year.

STREAKING V
Victoria Morache laid claim to Michigan State's then-longest hitting streak of the season when she pelted a hit in seven-straight games Feb. 26 to March 8. During that stretch, she went 9-for-14 (.643) with three walks, two stolen bases and one run.

I'LL HAVE TWO
Of Michigan State's 10 total hits in its second game with Bethune-Cookman March 12 (W, 3-2), half came by way of the double. Sophomores Dayna Feenstra and Victoria Morache both connected for two 2Bs while Elizabeth Peterson added one of her own. The doubles by Feenstra and Morache marked the 44th and 45th time a Spartan player racked up two two-baggers. It was also the third time Feenstra accomplished the feat in her career. The MSU record for doubles in a game is three, set by Shealee Dunavan March 6, 1999, vs. Mississippi State.

GATHER `ROUND FOR CHARON TIME
Freshman Heidi Charon picked up a perfect time to post her first career collegiate hit. In the fourth inning vs. BCC March 12, Charon came in as a pinch-hitter with MSU trailing 1-0. After the Wildcats made a pitching change, she blasted a single up the middle to score Amy Szawara from third and tie the ball game. State went on to defeat BCC, 3-2, in eight innings.

HOW SWEET IT WAS
Sophomore Meghan Darhower went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate vs. Eastern Kentucky March 6 and posted 3 RBI and a run as well in the 5-1 MSU win. The three hits and three driven in marked career highs for Darhower.

SO CLOSE, BUT STILL MAGNIFICENT
Against Eastern Kentucky (March 6), pitcher Rachel Turney opened the game by no-hitting the Colonels through 5.1 innings. She ultimately gave up only three hits while striking out six en route to the 5-1 Spartan win.

WHAT A WAY TO OPEN A CAREER
In her first collegiate game and at-bat, freshman Traci Nicosia belted a three-run home run in the first inning to cap off a five-run frame for the Spartans in a 9-8 victory over Florida. She finished the game going 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored.

NOT TO BE OUTDONE
Sophomore Rachel Turney opened her Michigan State career with a strong weekend in Las Vegas. Turney came on in relief against Florida and pitched 5.0 innings, giving up two runs on five hits while sitting down five for the victory. In all, she fanned 16 batters in 16.1 innings and held the opponents' batting average to .214.