MSU softball: Spartans outlast Indiana, 6-5

Michigan State ensured a series victory with a 6-5 win over Indiana on Saturday afternoon at Secchia Stadium.

The Spartans secured the victory with just four hits on the afternoon, which included a two-run home run for Kassidy Kujawa, her team-best fifth of the season. Kujawa had three RBI, as a sac fly in the second inning got MSU on the board. Her homer, which came in the bottom of the fourth, was the first hit surrendered by freshman pitcher Tara Trainer, but MSU scored three in the fourth and two more in the sixth to secure the victory.

Dani Goranson took over in the circle in the second inning, tossing 4.2 innings of two-hit relief to improve to 7-6 on the year. Kristina Zalewskiclosed it out for her fourth save of the season, tying her career high.

The Spartans improve to 22-20, and are now 4-8 in Big Ten play. Indiana falls to 22-19, and 5-8 in Conference action.

The final game of the series at Secchia Stadium is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 1 pm.

Top performers

Sarah Gutknecht was 1-for-1, walking twice and recording an RBI.

Kassidy Kujawa went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run, a sac fly, and three RBI.

Dani Goranson entered the game in the second in relief of starterBridgette Rainey. In 4.2 innings, she struck out three while surrendering just two hits, allowing just one run.

Kristina Zalewski earned her fourth save of the season, the second-most in the Big Ten on the year. She had two strikeouts.

Quotable

"We handled some adversity today, and I'm really happy to see how we approached it. Bridgette Rainey gave us two innings, which set up really well for Dani to give us for innings, and Kristina Zalewski only had to get us a save. We were being no-hit until that home run by Kassidy Kujawa, but we never felt panicked, never felt like we were out of the game. It's a real sign of maturity and growth. We are still battling through injuries, so lots of players are getting opportunities right now, and in the long run, we're going to be better for it."

Head coach Jacquie Joseph

Stats and storylines 

Indiana loaded the bases in the top of the first, aided by a pair of walks - but Bridgette Rainey got a ground ball to third to get out of the inning without any damage.

A double to the wall by Rachel O'Malley put runners at second and third early in the second, and the Spartans made a pitching change. Dani Goranson came in, and while she surrendered a solo run, that was the extent of the damage.

The Spartans got the run back in the bottom of the second. Sarah Gutknecht walked, and came home on a long sacrifice fly two batters later by Kassidy Kujawa.

Indiana scored a run in the top of the fourth. After a one-out walk to Katelyn Conenna, Goranson got the second out of the inning on a popup to Gutknecht at first. Freshman Sarah Galovich got a hold of a 1-0 pitch and sent it to the wall in left center, just out of the reach of a diving Lea Foerster, plating Conenna. A single through the right side by Rebecca Blitz left runners at the corners for Erin Lehman, Goranson got the ground ball, getting out of the inning.

Freshman Tara Trainer was working her way through the Spartan batting order, and hadn't allowed a hit through three and two thirds innings. She did, however, walk Ebonee Echols and Gutknecht in the fourth, and they stood in scoring position with two outs after McKenzie Long advanced the runners with a ground ball to second. Echols tied the game on a wild pitch, and Kujawa hit a bomb that sailed well over the wall in deep center to give the Spartans a 4-2 lead - on MSU's first hit of the day.

The Spartans plated another run in the sixth, thanks to a part to two Hoosier errors. Lexi White stepped in as a pinch hitter, and the left fielder dropped the ball, putting White on second. Gutknecht stepped in and laced a single to center field, went to second on the throw to the plate, and advanced to third as the ball went past the catcher as the run scored for a 5-2 advantage. A single to right by Long brought home Gutknecht with a single to right, and the Hoosiers made a pitching change as Kujawa planned to step to the plate. Emily Kirk retired Kujawa on a popout to shallow center, and Thomas adnvanced Long to second with a sac bunt.

Despite facing a four-run deficit, the Hoosiers refused to go quietly. Blitz and Lehman led it off with back-to-back singles, and pinch-hitter Farmer reached on a fielder's choice. Michelle Huber doubled to bring home a run, and the Hoosiers pulled within a run when Kelsey Dotson's ground ball was thrown away at first, scoring two runs to make it 6-5. Zalewski dug in, struck out the final two batters, and secured the win.

Ebonee Echols' 13-game hitting streak was halted, as she had a pair of hits stolen away by strong defensive plays by the Hoosiers.

Kristina Zalewski's eight career saves is good for fourth place on MSU's career save list.