Jordan Davis’ double gives Michigan State softball victory over Indiana

Jordan Davis made the most of her opportunity on Thursday. 

Now, Michigan State gets a shot to eliminate its biggest rival from the conference tournament. 

Davis, who entered as a Michigan State pinch hitter in the sixth inning, delivered a go-ahead two-run double down the leftfield line as the Spartans staged a two-out rally over 10th-seeded Indiana, 8-7, in the opening round of the Big Ten Softball Tournament.

“Every kid in the country likes to bemoan their role when they don’t get to start,” said Michigan State coach Jacquie Joseph. “Here’s a kid sitting next to me who stayed dialed in, not knowing what her role is. Nobody could predict that you’re in the Big Ten tournament, coming in with the game on the line and you’re a senior, nonetheless. It’s because this kid never quits and constantly works and that put her in that position.”

Added Davis: I’ve been in the pinch-hit role most of this year. I just kinda go in whenever they tell me to and stay at a one pitch mentality. I went in and tried to stay loose and not overthink anything. so when I got that pitch I went for it and a good thing happened.”

Michigan State, the No. 7 seed, advances to play No. 2 seed Michigan in Friday's 4:30 p.m. quarterfinals at Wilpon Complex/Alumni Field. The Spartans are 0-2 this season against Michigan, falling 5-1 on April 12 and 3-1 on April 18. 

Michigan State (30-21) trailed Indiana, 7-4, entering the sixth inning on Thursday and had been held mostly in check by Indiana right-handed pitcher Tara Trainer, who walked nine batters. 

Kaitlyn Eveland blasted a three-run homer in the first inning off Trainer, as Michigan State raced to a 3-0 lead. Lexi White added a solo homer in the second, tying it at 4-4, but the Spartans managed just one more hit, until the decisive sixth. 

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The rally came just days after Michigan State won 2 of 3 games over Indiana at then end of the regular season.

MSU starter Kristina Zalewski lasted just two innings on Thursday, though, allowing four runs on five hits. Bridgette Rainey scattered three runs in five innings of relief, holding serve until the Spartans offense came to life.

Trainer walked four MSU batters in the sixth. The Spartans only had three hits in the inning, including Lea Foerster's RBI single and Davis' double with two outs. Eveland also walked in a run before Rainey finished the game in the seventh. 

“It wasn’t our best game and a difference is that in years’ past  we would’ve lost the game,” Joseph said. We didn’t play well and we won. And that’s a step for us. It’s good for us, that these kids never counted themselves out. They competed until the bitter end.”