May 10, 2005
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
Complete Softball Notes in PDF Format
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May 12-14, 2005
First Round of the Big Ten Tournament
5/12 vs. Michigan - 7:30 p.m. - Alumni Field in Ann Arbor
Live Broadcast and Gametracker
Available At www.msuspartans.com
BIG TEN TOURNAMENT INFO
Michigan State's Big Ten Tournament history can be found on page six of the PDF file located in the link above. The 2005 tournament schedule as well as the regular-season standings are located on page two.
UP NEXT
Michigan State will travel to its third-straight Big Ten Tournament this weekend and heads into the 2005 version as the defending champions. The Spartans claim the eighth seed and head to Ann Arbor Thursday for a 7:30 p.m. first-round showdown with No. 1 Michigan. Live stats will be available, while Scott Moore will be handling play-by-play duties for a free internet broadcast. Links for these can be found at www.msuspartans.com. If State advances, it would play either Ohio State or Wisconsin Friday at 7:30 p.m. with the championship game taking place the following day at noon. Saturday's final will be broadcast live on CSTV.
MIAMI (OHIO) ROUND-UP
The Green and White concluded the regular season at home with two 4-0 shutouts over Miami (Ohio) May 7. Rachel Turney dominated the RedHawks in the first game, tossing a three-hitter and striking out eight for her fourth blanking of the year. Senior Victoria Morache capped off her career at Old College Field with a two-run homer in the second inning. Meghan Darhower posted State's other two RBI in the win. Lesley Noel completed the sweep by scattering eight hits and striking out three for her second-career shutout. Senior Janette Hurtado wrapped up her four-year career at home with a 1-for-2 effort and her Big Ten-leading 15th sacrifice bunt. The Spartans scored a single run in the first four innings to earn their 25th victory of the year, marking the 10th time in the program's history that MSU racked up at least 25 wins in a season.
RECAPPING DETROIT
Although some of the Spartans still had some exams to worry about, State managed to post two victories over Detroit May 5 at home. A five-run outburst in the fifth inning of game one, as well as a three-hit, six-strikeout performance in the circle from Rachel Turney, highlighted the first win, 6-1. Meghan Darhower and Nikki Nicosia each had two hits to lead State.
Lesley Noel pitched a career-high eight innings and five Ks as MSU came back from a one-run deficit on two occassions to take game two, 4-3. The Spartans scored their four runs on three sacrifice flies and a squeeze bunt. Nikki Nicosia was a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs and two stolen bases, Victoria Morache added two hits and a run and Traci Nicosia knocked in a pair of runs on two sac-flies. MSU won the night-cap when Morache led off the eighth with a double, was sacrificed to third and after Detroit elected to intentionally walk the bases full, scored on Traci's fly ball to left.
MORE ON LAST WEEK'S ACTION
+ The four-straight victories mark the second-longest winning streak of the year for the Spartans (longest is five from April 19-29).
+ Through 53 games, MSU is now 56-for-67 in stolen bases, has 55 sacrifice hits, a fielding percentage of .959 and an ERA of 2.79. Those numbers are big improvements compared to last season's NCAA Regional squad that played in 62 games. That team was 47-for-65 in steal attempts, had 47 sac-hits, a .954 fielding percentage and an ERA of 3.05.
A REVIEW OF THE 2004 BIG TEN TOURNAMENT
The scenario for 2005 is virtually the same as 2004 when the Spartans squeezed into the tournament as the eight seed and Michigan won the regular-season title. MSU proceeded to shock everybody by winning three-straight games to take its first-ever conference title. In the first round, Jessica Beech allowed UM to score one run in the first inning, but kept the Wolverines off the board the rest of the way as State scored four in the fourth, three of which came by way of a home run by Brittney Green, and one in the fifth to eliminated the Wolverines.
After rain postponed their semifinal game vs. Northwestern, the Spartans had to play two games on the final day of the tournament. Against the Wildcats, Beech tossed a complete-game shutout and Elizabeth Peterson knocked in the game's only runs in a 2-0 win. MSU appeared to lose momentum in the championship game as Illinois held a 4-1 lead going into the fourth. But at that point, Green came through again with another three-run homer to tie the game. State took the lead in the fifth by way of an error and an RBI single by Janette Hurtado to bring the score to 6-4, and Natalie Furrow doubled in Angel Merren in the sixth for the seventh run. The Illini added a run in the bottom half and had two hits in the seventh, but Beech did not fall victim to the pressure and led State to the 7-5 win.
MICHIGAN STATE VS. MICHIGAN
MSU has defeated Michigan in each of the last two Big Ten Tournaments and is 2-1 overall against UM in the conference's post-season. Michigan may lead the all-time series 59-24, but State is 5-3 in the teams' last eight contests. The Spartans were 3-0 against the Wolverines in 2003 and went 2-1 in 2004 with both of those victories coming at Alumni Field. This season, UM outscored the Spartans 17-1 in two five-inning victories May 1. An Alumni Field record crowd of 1,903 was on hand to watch both teams carry out different goals. MSU carried a 7-7 Big Ten record and was hoping by the end of the day it would clinch a spot in the eight-team conference tournament, whereas UM came in needing to win its final four conference games to win the regular season title. Fortunately for both teams, they reached their goals and will now meet in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament Thursday.
THURSDAY'S OPPONENTS
Michigan
Owners of six Big Ten Tournament titles, Michigan enters this year's tournament as the top seed and the favorite to win it all again. The Wolverines swept Northwestern, who was in first place, last weekend to claim their 10th regular-season crown in 14 years. Their only two Big Ten defeats came from Iowa April 1 and Penn State April 22, both at home.
UM was voted as the No. 1 team in the nation March 23 and has not budged from the top-spot since. It is outhitting opponents .324 to .151 while the Wolverines' team ERA sits at 0.90. Three players, pitcher Jennie Ritter, shortstop Jessica Merchant and second baseman Tiffany Haas, have all been named among 25 finalists for the 2005 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award. Ritter holds a 26-1 record and a 0.93 ERA while striking out 282 in 187.2 innings. Lorilyn Wilson is right there with her with a 21-2 mark and a 0.88 ERA. Wilson has 172 Ks in 127.1 IP. Haas leads all batters with a .393 average while Merchant and Samantha Findlay each have 17 homers on the year. Michigan only has 34 steals, but does not need to run that match since it has hit 84 home runs in 2005.
IF THERE WERE ONLY MORE HOME GAMES
Michigan State played in its final home games May 8 and finished with a
10-3 record at Old College Field. Both the Spartans' pitching staff and offense were untouchable as MSU had a 1.23 ERA and a .291 team batting average in East Lansing.
Lesley Noel dominated opponents by going 5-1 with a 0.78 ERA while
Rachel Turney was 4-2, had an ERA of 1.38 and sat down 36 batters on strikes. At the plate,
Victoria Morache was .386 with a .591 slugging and .481 on-base percentages.
Meghan Darhower (.344),
Caitlin Mahoney (.323),
Nikki Nicosia (.314),
Amy Szawara (.313) and
Elizabeth Peterson (.303) all batted over .300 and Nicosia was 9-for-9 in stolen bases.
The Spartans wrapped up their schedule by playing in only 13 games at Old College Field in 2005, and a lot of that was due to the weird weather this spring. The record for lowest amount of home games tha tMSU played in was 11 in 2000. Meanwhile, dating back to 1983 when teams began playing a full Big Ten schedule, the Spartans hosted an average of 11 conference games in a single season. This year, however, MSU got in only four Big Ten games, eclisping the previous low of six set in 1985.
THE SENIORS
Two outstanding seniors conclude their collegiate careers this season with Michigan State. Four-year starter Janette Hurtado has been a staple at second base for the Spartans and this year, entered the top 20 on MSU's career-hit chart. Hurtado also ranks in the top four in walks (65) and is sixth in games played (228). She also leads all Big Ten hitters with 15 sacrifice hits. Victoria Morache also takes the field for the final time and she has made her senior year a memorable one, posting four separate hitting streaks of at least four games. Morache came into her own this year in the lead-off spot, consistently holding a batting average over .300 while also connecting for two home runs. One of those dingers came May 8 in her final home date of her career, a two-run blast in a 4-0 game one win over Miami.
SINGLE-SEASON RECORDS WATCH
Several Spartans have cracked the top 10 of Michigan State's single-season record charts. With her three-run triple against Western Michigan April 12, shortstop Traci Nicosia moved into a five-way tie for fourth on MSU's single-season triple list with five. The Michigan State record is 12 set by Izzy Forester in 1980.
On the bases, Nikki Nicosia has 18 successful swipes, putting her at seventh all-time. With two more, she can own sole possession of sixth. Margaret Schick laid claim to the record in 2002 when she racked up 28 stolen bases.
In the circle, Rachel Turney has quickly entered her name on the strikeout list with 160, putting her in fifth all-time. Also, Lesley Noel has only 14 walks on the year. While the record is 10 (Shelley Wynn in 1991), by pitching at least 80 innings, Noel qualifies to be listed on the MSU single-season list and currently has the second-best all-time performance.
ALL OVER THE BOX SCORES
Similar to the note on page six, the Nicosias tore apart Detroit in the doubleheader May 5. In the first battle, Nikki was 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI single, scored a run, was hit by a pitch and stole a base, while Traci had a two-run single and scored as well in a 1-for-3 affair. The second game saw Nikki go a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, score two runs lay down a sacrifice bunt and swipe two bases. Traci came through with two sacrifice flies, including the game-winner, and was 1-for-2. Overall, the duo combined for seven hits, five RBI and four runs.
NICE STREAK
MSU put together its longest winning streak of the year from April 19-29 by winning five straight, including two doubleheader sweeps. The Spartans shut down Oakland 4-0 and 5-0, breezed past IPFW 5-2 and 7-0 and then capped it off with a 2-0 upset over No. 15 Northwestern. Combined, State outscored its opponents 23-2 over that stretch.
IT'S BEEN A TOUGH ROAD
Michigan State understood before the season started that its 2005 schedule would be difficult and the Spartans were right. MSU has played in 11 games that featured a ranked opponent, including match-ups against then-No. 1 California and current No. 1 Michigan, and took on five of the eight teams that made up the 2004 College World Series. It also battled seven teams that won their respective conference regular-season titles in 2004 (Southern Illinois, Florida State, Lehigh, Eastern Kentucky, Florida Atlantic, Central Michigan twice and Michigan twice) and eight other schools who finished second (California, Central Florida, Texas A&M, Tulsa, Florida International, Temple, Western Michigan and Miami).
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 7-1 record, and went it scores first overall, MSU is 17-3.
LOAD `EM UP
Michigan State has a .321 average when it gets the bases loaded, whereas its opponents are batting .288 with the bags juiced. However, the Spartans have had only 28 at-bats compared to allowing 52. Caitlin Mahoney and Elizabeth Peterson each have two hits when they face this situation to pace MSU.
PRODUCING AT THE BOTTOM
Sophomore right fielder Nicole Mercado went on a nine-game stretch April 17-May 5 where she posted at least one hit in eight games, all from the nine hole. The native of LaHabra, Calif., had her best day by going 3-for-3 in a twin-bill at Michigan May 1. Mercado's two-run game-winning double vs. Northwestern April 29 capped off a six-game hitting streak, where she was 6-for-17 (.353) with four RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base.
TURN, TURN, TURN (NOTES ON Rachel Turney)
+ 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. She followed that performance April 19 with a five-hit shutout in MSU's game one win over Oakland, where she also did not allow a walk and struck out eight. Against IPFW April 27, Turney was perfect in her four innings of work in game one, sitting down all 12 batters she faced, striking out six of them. Her most important outing took place April 29 when she pitched eight scoreless innings in MSU's 2-0 victory over No. 15 Northwestern. She held the Wildcats to five hits and sat down three on strikes to win her third-straight decision. Turney then allowed three hits and one unearned run while striking out six for the win in game one vs. Detroit (5/5) and backed that up with another three-hit game, this time striking out eight in a shutout win in the first game with Miami (5/8).
+ Turney gave up a first-inning, unearned run in the first game with Penn State April 10, and then did not allow another Nittany Lion to touch home in her next 10 innings pitched. The 11.0 IP marked the longest outing by an MSU pitcher this season.
+ In 34 appearances, the sophomore transfer from Lansing Community College has struck out at least five batters 19 times and has at least one K in all but one appearance. Turney has racked up 160 strikeouts in her first year with the Spartans, which is already good enough for ninth on the all-time list.
+ Turney's amazing streak came to an end in the second game against Purdue April 3. For the first time in 2005 (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.
SHE HAS ARRIVED (NOTES ON Lesley Noel)
+ Upper Peninsula native Lesley Noel made only seven appearances in MSU's first 29 games of 2005, including not seeing time from March 11 to April 2. In all of those contests, Noel gave up at least one run and her longest outing was a five-inning loss to LSU Feb. 26. Then against Loyola-Chicago April 5, everything seemed to come together. Noel went the distance to earn her first collegiate victory, allowing only one run on five hits, striking out three and did not walk a single batter.
+ Noel was 0-2 on the season until the victory over Loyola. That game began a string that has seen her go 8-3 in her last 11 decisions.
+ Noel picked up her first shutout against Oakland (April 19). The freshman from Escanaba gave up only three hits vs. the Golden Grizzlies while striking out four and not walking a batter for the victory.
+ In her start in game two with Detroit May 5, Noel set career highs with eight innings pitched and five strikeouts to guide State to the extra-inning 4-3 victory. She once again did not issue a free pass in the game. Her next appearance marked her second complete-game shutout as she scattered eight hits and struck out three for the 4-0 win in game two vs. Miami May 8.
SHORTY SACRIFICES
By posting 15 sacrifice hits on the year, senior Janette Hurtado is all alone in first place of all Big Ten hitters. The second baseman currently holds a .512 percentage when it comes to advancing runners (44-for-86).
HURTADO'S JOURNEY UP THE LADDER
Janette Hurtado continues to climb Michigan State's all-time hit chart. For her career, the second baseman has racked up 131 hits, good for 20th place. She also has been issued 65 walks as a Spartan, good enough for fourth all-time. The record was set by Brittney Green (104 BBs) from 2001-04.
NOW THAT IS CALLED PUTTING THE BALL IN PLAY
Traci Nicosia put together Michigan State's longest string of at-bats without striking out. Dating back to her second plate appearance vs. Eastern Michigan April 6, Nicosia went 31 official at-bats, not counting any walks or sacrifice hits, without falling victim to the K. The streak finally came to an end in game one vs. Oakland April 19.
PURE HONEY AT THE PLATE
Freshman Caitlin Mahoney racked up at least one hit in nine-straight games April 3-12, marking a team high for 2005. During the streak, Mahoney was 12-for-30 with three doubles for a .400 average. She also drove in four and scored three runs while walking twice.
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 the coaching staff page for a year-by-year look at Joseph's record).
REWARDING AN AMAZING PERFORMANCE
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.
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.
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.
ROSIE TAKES BOCA RATON BY STORM
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.
PERFECTION
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.
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.
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.
