Softball Falls to Michigan State, 5-3

Sunday, February 14

Ft. Myers, Fla.

10:15 a.m.

University of Memphis

1-4

Michigan State

4-1

Michigan State

MEMPHIS

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Feb 14, 2016 | Softball

Box Score

Strickrod adds second home run of seaso

By: Tammy DeGroff

MEMPHIS – Lindsey Stickrod hit her second home run of the season to score three Tiger runs in the bottom of the first inning, but Memphis could not push another run across, falling 5-3 to Michigan State (4-1), Sunday in the Tigers' final game of the Florida Gulf Coast tournament. The loss moves Memphis to 1-4 on the season. The Tigers will be back in tournament play next weekend, playing at Arizona State and facing Illinois State, Michigan State, Northern Iowa, Montana and host Arizona State.

NOTES

Jessie Lamb made her first career start for Memphis, starting as the Tigers' DH.
Michigan State opened the game with a triple from Ebonee Echols, who then scored on one of two Tiger errors in the first inning. A Sarah Gutknecht double scored another Spartan run and Gutknecht cross the plate after the second Tiger error and a Celeste Wood single.
Memphis stopped the onslaught when both Wood and Lindsey Besson were thrown out at home.
After Michigan State scored three runs at the top of the first inning, junior Lindsey Stickrod helped Memphis answer back with her second home run of the young season, scoring both Brittany Seale and Tyler Johnson, who had both drawn walks to get on base.
Memphis threatened in the fourth. Brooke Lee doubled, her first of the season, and advanced to third on a Katie Brignac single down the left field line. But with Breana Valenzuela in for Brignac as a pinch runner, Memphis grounded out and fouled out to end the threat.
Michigan State tacked on a run in the fifth. Lea Foerster singled and advanced to second on a fielders' choice. A Tiger throwing error advanced her to third and Besson singled, to score Foerster.
After the run scored, Molly Smith got the next three hitters to pop up to end the inning.
In the seventh, Michigan State led the inning off with a double from Foerster. The centerfielder scored on the next at bat, a single from Gutknecht.
Hannah Harrell singled to get on base in the bottom of the seventh as the Tigers tried to rally, but was stranded. Memphis left six on base for the game.
Molly Smith pitched the complete game for Memphis, taking the loss. She struck out two and walked one in seven innings, giving up five runs, four earned.
Hannah Harrell was caught stealing for the first time this season, she is 4-for-5 on stolen bases for the season. Kyler Trosclair is a perfect 5-for-5 in stolen bases, but was called out in the first inning for leaving the bag early.
Michigan State's pitching staff gave up just four hits over seven innings. Dani Goranson picked up the win with four innings of work, striking out two and walking three while giving up three runs, all earned. Kristina Zalewski picked up her second save of the season, striking out six of the 11 batters she faced over three innings of work with just one hit and one walk allowed.
Memphis and Michigan State will meet again next weekend in a different time zone. The two teams will both play in the Arizona State tournament and will face off at 1:30 p.m. next Sunday.