April 18, 2005

EAST LANSING, Mich. -

Complete Softball Notes in PDF Format
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State Visits Oakland Before Hosting
Iowa And Illinois At Old College Field
April 19, 22-24, 2005
(Live Stats Available For All Home Games)
4/19 at Oakland - 3:30 p.m. (DH) - OU Softball Field
4/22 & 23 vs. Iowa - 4 p.m. (Fri.) & Noon (Sat.) -
      Old College Field
4/24 vs. Illinois - Noon (DH) - Old College Field
Second game of MSU's doubleheader with Illinois
will be shown on Comcast Local television.

UP NEXT
After playing five of six games on the road last week, Michigan State has only one travel day this week, a doubleheader Tuesday at Oakland beginning at 3:30 p.m. MSU then takes Wednesday and Thursday off before welcoming Iowa and Illinois to town. The Spartans and Hawkeyes will do battle Friday at 4 p.m. and Saturday at noon while State takes on the Fighting Illini in a doubleheader Sunday beginning at noon. Live stats will be available for all of MSU's home games at www.msuspartans.com. Comcast Local will be televising Sunday's second game of the twin-bill and it will be shown April 27 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. as well as April 28 at 6 a.m. and 2 p.m.

WISCONSIN AND MINNESOTA ROUND-UP
It was a tale of two teams when Michigan State met Wisconsin and Minnesota April 15-17. The Spartans put everything together in two wins over the Badgers, but lost its momentum in a doubleheader sweep at the hands of Minnesota. In the first contest with UW, Lesley Noel gave up only six hits for the complete-game 4-2 victory. Victoria Morache, Elizabeth Peterson and Janette Hurtado each had two hits as State scored once in the second and three times in the third to seal the win. In the series finale April 16, MSU's pitching once again shined as Rachel Turney tossed a four-hit shutout, striking out four without giving up a walk for the 6-0 triumph. Nikki Nicosia tied a career-high with three hits, adding an RBI, a run, a sacrifice bunt and a stolen base. All of MSU's six runs were driven in by six different players.

Michigan State and Minnesota appeared to be in for quite a battle as neither team got on the board through the first three innings of the their first game April 17. But after the Golden Gophers scored in the fourth, they took off and added seven more in the sixth for the 8-0 win. State managed only two hits in the game while committing two errors. The loss seemed to deflate the Spartans as they fell behind early in the second game en route to a 9-2 defeat. UM scored three unearned runs in the first and after MSU made it a 3-2 game entering the fifth, the Gophers put it away by scoring six runs in the final three innings.

MORE ON WISCONSIN AND MINNESOTA
+ Michigan State made only one error in the field in the two-game set with Wisconsin but made three errors vs. Minnesota.
+ State pitching held the Badgers to 10 total hits, but gave up 24 against the Gophers.
+ The sweep of Wisconsin marked the second time in the last three years that MSU won both regular season games over the Badgers. Conversely, Minnesota earned a sweep of MSU for the third time in the last four seasons.

THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS
Oakland
Off since losing a doubleheader against Bowling Green April 11, Oakland has been struggling with a 5-29 record and is 0-8 in the Mid-Continent Conference. The Golden Grizzlies opened the year by losing their first eight games and enter this week on a six-game losing skid. OU's victories on the year came against Georgia State, Mercer, Furman, IPFW and Detroit. Laura Chomokos has started the most games in the circle (16) but holds a 5.02 ERA. She does lead the team in complete games (11) and strikeouts (63). Offensively, Oakland is batting .233 as a team with Stephanie Zellner boasting a team-best .303 average. Meanwhile, Camie Knorr leads the Grizzlies in runs scored (14) and slugging percentage (.420). OU has hit only eight home runs and has stolen six bases out of 16 attempts. State defeated Oakland at the Buckeye Invitational, 10-0, and swept last season's doubleheader, 7-1 and 8-0.

Iowa
In its first Big Ten game of the year, Iowa defeated No. 1 Michigan, 5-2, to continue a very impressive season for the Hawkeyes (37-9, 8-4). They enter Big Ten play this week by winning their last six conference games, including sweeps over Indiana, Ohio State and Penn State. Earlier in 2005, UI topped Virginia Tech three times while going 1-1 against Stetson and losing a 7-2 contest with California. Iowa has all three parts of its team playing excellent ball, with a staff ERA of 1.35, a fielding percentage of .964 and an average of .274 at the plate. Lisa Birocci (21-7, 1.13 ERA, 194 Ks in 185.1 IP, 10 shutouts) and Ali Arnold (15-2, 1.54 ERA, 151 Ks in 113.1 IP, seven shutouts) combine to make one of the Big Ten's most dangerous pitching duos. With the bat, nine Hawkeyes have an average above .250 with Emily Nichols leading the way with a .339 mark and 15 home runs. Iowa has belted 46 homers on the year and has been caught stealing only five times in 52 attempts. The Hawkeyes defeated MSU by identical 8-2 scores in 2004.

Illinois
After beginning the Big Ten campaign with an 0-11 record, Illinois finally picked up its first conference win with an 8-7 decision over Ohio State April 17. Out of the conference, Illinois is 18-12 including victories over LSU and Louisville. The Illini hold a team ERA of 4.11 with Mary Miller (12-9 in 37 appearances) and Claire DeVreese (5-12 in 30 appearances) seeing the most time in the circle. Jenna Hall is .357 with the bat with seven homers and 36 RBI. Rachelle Coriddi has stolen 19 of 21 bases, leading a team that has 50 swipes total. The last time these two teams squared off came back on May 15, 2004, in the Big Ten Tournament championship game with MSU winning, 7-5.

I WANT MY, I WANT MY, I WANT MY COMCAST LOCAL
Michigan State will appear on television for the first time this year when its second game of the doubleheader with Illinois will be broadcast by Comcast Local. The tape-delayed game will be shown April 27 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. as well as April 28 at 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. State's doubleheader at Michigan May 1 will also be televised on CL with air times to be determined.

IT MAY BE NICE, BUT....
Michigan State may sit in fourth place entering this weekend's Big Ten slate. However, the Spartans still have to face the league's top three teams in Northwestern (12-0), Michigan (11-1) and Iowa (8-4).

GET ON THE BOARD EARLY
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 5-0 record and went it scores first overall, MSU is 10-3.

THAT FIRST ONE CAN BE TOUGH
After tossing 12 complete games and coming so close to her first Division I shutout numerous times, Rachel Turney pitched marvelously against Wisconsin April 16, limiting the Badgers to only four hits while striking out four and not issuing a free pass. Turney faced two batters over the minimum of 21 in the 6-0 victory.

HURTADO'S JOURNEY UP THE LADDER
With four more hits last weekend, senior Janette Hurtado continues to climb Michigan State's all-time hit chart. For her career, the second baseman has racked up 121 hits, good for 22nd place. With five more, Hurtado will enter the top 20 on the illustrious list. Also, she has been issued 63 walks as a Spartan, tying her for fourth all-time with Becky Aimesbury. The record was set by Brittany Green (104 BBs) from 2001-04.

NOT JUST A QUICK CENTER FIELDER
Nikki Nicosia is making sure her early hitting slumps are forgotten. The freshman holds an overall average of .222 but leads the Spartans in Big Ten games with a .367 mark (11-for-30). Nicosia posted three hits against Wisconsin (4/16) and the second game vs. Purdue (4/3) while successfully completed four sacrifice bunt attempts.

JUST DOING MY JOB
A cast protecting her left wrist and arm has not been stopping freshman pinch-runner Jessica LeFevre. Though sitting out the doubleheader with Loyola April 5 due to the injury, she has entered eight of the last 11 games and scored a run in three straight from April 15-17. The native of Saginaw, Mich., also stole a base in each of State's first three games while crossing home plate twice in the weekend with Indiana and Purdue. In the first game with the Boilermakers, LeFevre stole home to give her seven steals on the year, which is second on the team.

NOW THAT IS CALLED PUTTING THE BALL IN PLAY
Traci Nicosia is working on Michigan State's longest string of at-bats without striking out. Since her second at-bat vs. Eastern Michigan April 6, Nicosia has gone 31 official at-bats, not counting any walks or sacrifice hits, without falling victim to the K.

MAKING HER FINAL YEAR COUNT
Victoria Morache has been one of State's most consistent hitters this season. Earlier in the year, the left fielder recorded MSU's then-longest hitting streak by recording a hit in seven-straight games from Feb. 26-March 8. Recently, Morache is tearing it up at the plate with at least one hit in 10 of her last 11 games. Over this stretch, she is 15-for-38 for a .395 average with 10 runs scored. Meanwhile, the senior has a hit in her last nine Big Ten games and is batting .366 overall in conference play.

PURE HONEY AT THE PLATE
Freshman Caitlin Mahoney racked up at least one hit in nine-straight games, marking a team high for 2005. Though the string ended April 13 against Central Michigan, Mahoney was 12-for-30 with three doubles for a .400 average. She also drove in four and scored three runs while walking twice.

TRACI'S TRIPLES
With her three-run triple against Western Michigan April 12, shortstop Traci Nicosia moved into a five-way tie for fifth on MSU's single-season

Freshman Traci Nicosia is in second place of all Big Ten hitters with five triples.

THAT'S A LOT OF ZEROES
After giving up a first-inning, unearned run in the first game with Penn State April 10, 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.

MMM, McSHUTOUTS
Sophomore hurler Christy McGrew has posted 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
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.

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.

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.

GOING HOME WAS FUN
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, who hail from nearby Plantation, Fla., 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 two outs. 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.

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 twice) and seven other schools who finished second (California, Central Florida, Texas A&M, Tulsa, Florida International, Temple and Western Michigan). One more non-conference team that finished in second place ( Miami-Ohio) awaits MSU later this year.

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.

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.