Hoosiers’ Late Rally Comes Up One Run Short at Michigan State

Saturday, April 16

East Lansing, MI

1:00 PM

Indiana University

22-19, 5-8

Michigan State University

22-20, 4-8

Indiana

Michigan State

Hoosiers’ Late Rally Comes Up One Run Short at Michigan State

4/16/2016 4:59:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

EAST LANSING, Michigan – The Indiana Softball team (22-19, 5-8 Big Ten) scored three times in the top of the seventh inning and had the tying run in scoring position, but that run was stranded there as the Hoosiers lost to Michigan State, 6-5, at Secchia Stadium.

Rebecca Blitz, Erin Lehman and Michelle Huber all registered two hits in the game for Indiana while Sarah Galovich, who entered the game with seven RBI on the year, had a sac fly and RBI double in the game. Huber helped key the IU comeback bid in the seventh inning with an RBI double.

Michigan State (22-20, 4-8 Big Ten) did not register a hit off Indiana starting pitcher Tara Trainer until the bottom of the fourth inning. But they scored three times in the bottom of the fourth inning and Trainer would end up taking the loss, giving up six runs – three earned – four hits while walking five and striking out two in five innings. Emily Kirk pitched a perfect sixth inning of relief.

Indiana loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the first inning but came up empty and put together an early threat in the top of the second inning with a leadoff walk to Katelyn Conenna and Rachel O'Malley followed with a long double to left center to put two on for Sarah Galovich. The shortstop lifted a fly ball to fairly deep center to allow Conenna to score easily from third base and put IU on top by a 1-0 margin.

After Michigan State tied the game in the bottom of the second inning on a sac fly, without the benefit of a hit, it was the bottom of the order once again coming through to put Indiana back in front in the top of the fourth inning.

Just like she did in the second inning, Conenna was issued a walk – this time with one out. After O'Malley popped out for the second out of the inning, Galovich laced a double off the wall in center field to allow Conenna to come all the way around to score and put IU ahead, 2-1.

Although she had given up a run earlier, Trainer had yet to allow a hit as she took the circle in the bottom of the fourth. She issued a pair of walks and there were runners at second and third with two outs when a wild pitch allowed Michigan State to tie the game at 2-2. The next batter followed with the first hit of the game for MSU, a home run to left center, and the Spartans took a 4-2 lead.

Michigan State added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, leaving the Hoosiers with three outs to make up a 6-2 deficit. But Indiana did not go away quietly.

Rebecca Blitz and Erin Lehman both singled to start the top of the seventh. A fielder's choice off the bat of pinch hitter Kassi Farmer left IU with two on and one out and the middle of the order coming up. Michelle Huber lined a sharp double to the wall in center field to score one run and put runners at second and third. Kelsey Dotson then hit a slow ground ball to shortstop, and when her throw to first went into the MSU dugout, Indiana scored two runs and trailed, 6-5, with one out and the tying run in scoring position. Kayla Mathewson came on a pinch hitter and struck out for the second out, leaving it up to Conenna. The senior battled in the count but eventually struck out to end the game, with the Hoosiers on the short end of a 6-5 score.

The Hoosiers and Spartans will close the weekend series on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. Fans can watch the action with a subscription to BTN2Go or follow along with live stats at IUHoosiers.com.