March 29, 2005
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
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Spartans Tour The Hoosier State - Open up Big Ten Play Against Indiana And Purdue
March 31 - April 3, 2005
(Live Stats Available Against IU and The Boilermakers)
3/31 at Valparaiso - 2 p.m. CT (DH)
4/1 & 2 at Indiana - 3 p.m. & 1 p.m.
4/3 at Purdue - Noon CT (DH)
UP NEXT
With their home openers postponed last week due to unplayable field conditions, the Spartans had the week off and it may have come at a good time. MSU will embark on its journey through the tough Big Ten this weekend, heading to Indiana April 1 and 2, then meeting with Purdue for a doubleheader April 3. Before traveling to Bloomington, State visits Valparaiso March 31 in a non-conference twin-bill.
LINKS TO LIVE STATS
For Michigan State's doubleheader against Valparaiso, a live internet broadcast will be available at www.valpo.edu/athletics. For State's Big Ten games, links to live stats vs. the Hoosiers (care of Indiana's web site) and MSU's Gametracker against the Boilermakers will be provided at the Spartans' home page, www.msuspartans.com.
FAU TOURNAMENT ROUND-UP
The Spartans wrapped up a 24-game season-opening road swing March 18-20 by finishing in second place at the Florida Atlantic Tournament. MSU went 3-2 in Boca Raton, with both loses coming against No. 12 Texas A&M. The Aggies dominated the Spartans in the tournament's first game by taking a 7-0 decision, helped by six MSU fielding errors. State's offense got it together in the second game against Tulsa, posting a 3-1 victory. Traci Nicosia went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored, sister Nikki Nicosia was a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate and scored twice while Rachel Turney struck out six in a three-hit complete-game performance.
During the second day of competition, Turney once again gave up only three hits, this time to Florida International, as the Spartans scored one in the fourth and three in the fifth for the 4-1 win. In the final game of round-robin play, Michigan State bounced on host Florida Atlantic early, scoring twice in the first inning and added four more in the fourth as Christy McGrew did not allow an earned run in State's 6-2 triumph. Nikki Nicosia tied an MSU single-game record with three SBs. With a 3-1 mark, MSU was the No. 2 seed in the six-team field and advanced to play A&M one more time March 20. Although Turney pitched flawlessly, giving up a season-low two hits, A&M's freshman phenom Amanda Scarborough (15-0) no-hit the Spartans to claim the FAU Tournament Championship.
MORE ON THE ACTION IN BOCA RATON, FLA.
+ Sophomore Dana Rosenblatt had her first two-hit game of her career, going 2-for-3 with an RBI vs. Florida Atlantic. Against Florida International that afternoon, she had a key two-out, two-run single to help put the victory away for MSU.
+ Michigan State strung together three straight victories for the first time all season, defeating Tulsa, Florida International and Florida Atlantic.
+ The Spartans collected 13 total runs in their three-game win streak, marking the best scoring outburst over a three-game span this year.
+ State's defense committed five errors vs. FAU, its second highest total of the year, but still managed to defeat the Owls, 6-2.
+ In their last four games, the Spartans held their opponents to a total of five runs.
+ Texas A&M (28-2) went into the championship game with an incredible .363 batting average, but Rachel Turney and State's defense held the Aggies to two hits in the 1-0 loss, which set a new season-low for A&M. It was also only the fourth time in 2005 that A&M scored one run or less.
THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS
Valparaiso
Although entering the week with an 0-17 record, Valparaiso maybe finally starting to find its offense. In its first 10 games, the Crusaders were shut out seven times, including a 6-0 loss in their season-opener vs. Southern Illinois. However, while going 0-4 against conference foe Centenary, Valpo posted at least eight hits in three of those games and scored a season-high seven runs in the first meeting. Previously, its highest totals before the four-game set were three runs and five hits. Chris Halstead has started the most games in the circle (eight) and has tossed three complete games in 2005. Megan Carroll leads the Crusaders in numerous hitting categories, including average (.333), hits (12), doubles (five), runs (five), slugging percentage (.556) and total bases (20). Michigan State swept Valparaiso last year in a doubleheader March 27.
Indiana
The Hoosiers have had a difficult month of March in 2005. IU went on a nine-game skid March 5-16, but four of those contests were against ranked opponents (two vs. Long Beach State and one each vs. Florida and Oklahoma). Indiana went home three days later and split a doubleheader with Western Michigan to get back on track. IU then shut out IPFW and Ball State March 20, but suffered a 6-1 loss to Loyola-Chicago March 22. With an overall mark of 9-21, Indiana is led by pitcher Megan Roark, who claims a 2.35 ERA and four shutouts in 20 starts. She has posted an amazing 156 strikeouts in only 146.0 innings of work while walking only 27. Hitting an even .300 on the year and knocking in a team-best 14 runs, Tory Yamaguchi guides the Hoosier offense with Lauren Hines (.274), Jennilee Huddlest (.269) and Kim Richards (.266) closely behind. Indiana leads the all-time series with MSU, 50-38, and the two schools split their 2004 doubleheader April 25 in East Lansing. Michigan State won the first game 6-4 in 10 innings before dropping an 8-3 decision in the second meeting. The 10-inning affair marked State's longest game in 2004.
Purdue
While Indiana may be 5-12 in March, Purdue has posted a 10-7 record in the month and is 20-12 overall. Only three of its games were vs. ranked teams, two of which were loses against then-No. 5 Louisiana-Lafayette and the other a 2-1 loss to then-No. 19 Georgia Tech. In their last eight games, the Boilermakers went 7-1, including a one-run victory over UCF March 13 and a home-doubleheader sweep over Detroit March 26. Purdue has used three pitchers this year and all have been impressive. Diana LaRiva leads the Boilermakers with a 1.72 ERA and 86 Ks in 69.0 IP. But Brooke Baker has made the most appearances with 21 and claims a 10-8 record with a 2.21 ERA. Meanwhile, Melissa Burns holds three shutouts, a 2.70 ERA and three saves. Combined, the pitching staff has struck out 212 batters, walked 59, pitched seven shutouts among 18 complete games. The Spartans defeated Purdue, 3-0, April 23, but suffered an 11-1 five-inning loss April 24. Both games were in East Lansing.
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 will visit East Lansing in April instead. The Spartans and Chippewas will do battle April 13 at 4 p.m. while the Ramblers take on State in a doubleheader April 5 beginning at 3 p.m. With the rescheduling of these games, MSU will now play 27 contests in the 30-day month of April.
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 line-up. 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.
TASTES PROGRESSIONY
Through MSU's first three weekends, State's team ERA sat at 4.40. After the Stetson Tournament, that number dropped to 3.40 and the Spartan pitching staff followed that up by lowering it even more after the Florida Atlantic Tournament. Through 24 games, Michigan State's team ERA sits at 3.05. In the last 10 games, MSU pitching has a 1.41 ERA and has limited its opponents to two runs or less eight times.
CLIMBING THE LEADERBOARD
Rachel Turney is finally cracking the top 10 in numerous Big Ten categories. As of March 20, she ranks fourth in innings pitched (95.2), starts (13) and batters struck out looking (28), seventh in appearances (16), ninth in ERA (1.54) and 10th in opposing batting average (.205) and strikeouts (82).
SHINING SOPHMORES
Rachel Turney and Christy McGrew have been posting strong numbers in their recent outings. Turney has not given up more than one earned run since March 8 vs. Temple. In all, opponents have scored only five earned runs in the last 51.0 innings vs. Turney. Also, Turney has posted a complete game in each of her last six outings, including three extra-inning games. In the FAU championship game vs. Texas A&M, Turney gave up a season-low two hits and held the Aggies to one run. Entering the UCF Tournament, she held an ERA of 2.62 and since then, she has lowered it to 1.54.
Meanwhile, Christy McGrew pitched two complete games in the FAU Tourney, including a remarkable performance vs. Florida Atlantic. Against the Owls, McGrew picked up her second win of the season, striking out three and giving up six hits. She took a shutout into the seventh but FAU scored two unearned runs to ruin the bid. In 10 total appearances, McGrew has never walked more than one batter in a game.
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. Through State's first 19 games, the Spartan bats had connected for a total of eight two-out RBI and last weekend helped them double that amount to 16. Amy Szawara and Traci Nicosia sit atop that category by posting four apiece this year.
GOTTA GET RUNNERS ABOARD
Posting only three home runs on the season, Michigan State is realizing its need to put runners on base before it can have some fun. In all, Victoria Morache (5-for-13, .385) and Traci Nicosia (13-for-34, .382) lead the charge while Caitlin Mahoney (10-for-34, .294) is also producing well when it comes to hitting with runners aboard. Nicosia holds a .440 average (11-for-25) when she has at least one teammate in scoring position and Mahoney is close behind with a .409 mark (9-for-22).
LIVING UP TO ITS PROMISE
Michigan State understood before the season started that its 2005 schedule would be tough. Through 24 games, 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 title 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.
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 2-0 record and went it scores first overall, MSU is 4-1.
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 1-8 when it plays flawless defense and when it makes at least two blunders in the field, it has a 4-5 mark.
JOSEPH CLOSES IN ON 500
Michigan State head coach Jacquie Joseph is inching closer to the 500-career win milestone. Entering this week, Joseph has posted 496 total wins in 15 years of collegiate coaching, needing only four more victories to reach the mark. At MSU, she has racked up 360 Ws in 12 seasons.
STREAKING V
Victoria Morache laid claim to Michigan State's 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 scored.
I'LL HAVE TWO
Of Michigan State's 10 total hits in it 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.
A McSHUTOUT TASTES GOOD
In MSU's second game of the Stetson Tournament, Christy McGrew tossed her second-career shutout vs. Bethune-Cookman in a 1-0 victory. McGrew held the Wildcats to just three hits and did not give up a walk while adding one strikeout. Her first blanking came Feb. 27, 2004, when she struck out seven in a five-inning 9-0 win over Stony Brook.
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.
THAT FIRST INNING WAS SWEET
Michigan State's five runs scored in the first inning of its first game of the year against Florida were the most since the 1998 opener when it scored five against Wiscosin Feb. 20 in a 6-1 win.
