GREEN & WHITE

MSU softball: Spartan seventh-inning rally leads to series victory

Lansing State Journal

Michigan State rallied for five runs in the top of the seventh inning, and took the season series from homestanding Ohio State with a 9-7 victory in the regular-season finale for both teams.

Softball - First base

Sunday's finale was another slugfest between the teams, combining for 16 runs and 24 hits on the day. The Spartans hit three for extra bases: doubles by Celeste Wood and McKenzie Long, and a home run by Lea Foerster. Trailing 6-4 entering the top of the seventh, MSU kept chipping away, plating five runs in the top of the frame - including four runs with two outs - and held off the Buckeyes in the bottom of the seventh to claim the series victory.

"I cannot express how truly proud of this team I am, and how excited I am that things seem to be coming together for us at the right time.," said head coach Jacquie Joseph. "Our players have been so resilient - we have battled through injuries in the big picture, but they never quit. We were behind in both the Saturday and Sunday games this weekend, and we rallied both times, refusing to give up. It worked out better for us today than it did yesterday, and that is a just reward for our players. Never give up, never fold. That's one of the most enjoyable traits of this team, and we'll look to continue this in the Big Ten Tournament. "

Kristina Zalewski got the start on her 21st birthday, scattering 13 hits and striking out four. The Buckeyes managed a pair of doubles but played a conservative small-ball game, but the trio of OSU pitchers issued 10 walks on the day, in addition to a home run and a pair of doubles to the Spartans.

The Big Ten tournament begins on Thursday, with the top 12 teams descending on State College for the four-day tournament. MSU (27-27, 8-15 B1G) has won five of its last seven games, and enters the Big Ten Tournament as the No. 10 overall seed and will play Illinois (34-20, 12-11 B1G) on Thursday at 2:30 pm to open the tournament.

Top performers

Celeste Wood went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI.

Lea Foerster hit her sixth home run of the season and finished with two RBI.

Kristina Zalewski improves to 15-14 on the season, tossing her fourth consecutive complete game and scattered 13 hits, striking out four.