Spartans Split Sunday Series with Penn State :: Lesley Noel throws one-hitter victory in game one, as Mondo and Bracamonte tally homers.

April 27, 2008

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Michigan State softball (26-25, 8-10) split games Sunday afternoon against Penn State (33-20, 6-10) in University Park, Pa., taking game one, 6-0, but dropping the second contest, 4-3. Lesley Noel (14-16) allowed just one hit and struck out four in the complete-game shutout win in game one, while Gina Mondo and Jessica Bracamonte each homered. In game two, a walk-off homer pushed the Nittany Lions past MSU, 4-3.

Mondo's lead-off homer in the top of the second and Bracamonte's bomb in the top of the fourth gave MSU an early 2-0 advantage. Starting pitcher Ashley Esparza gave up Mondo's homer, while reliever Jenn Reynolds pitched Bracamonte's shot over the fence. In the fifth inning, Bianca Mejia extended the lead to 3-0 with an RBI single up the middle, scoring Nikki Nicosia.

A big sixth inning produced three additional runs for MSU. With Jessica Bracamonte and Karen Fox on second and third, Jessica LeFevre drove in Fox while bumping Bracamonte to third; LeFevre reached first on an PSU error, and advanced to second, to put two Spartans in scoring position. Nicosia continued MSU's offensive drive with a single up the middle, and advanced to second while both Bracamonte and LeFevre crossed home to make it 6-0.

In game two, Penn State posted a 3-0 lead with all runs scored in the third inning against MSU hurler Shae Bass. Kelly Confer entered the game after 2.2 innings, and closed out the third to halt PSU's damage.

The Spartans fought off the shutout in the sixth inning, as Traci Nicosia roped out an RBI single to centerfield with Mondo and Bracamonte on base. While Mondo easily scored, Bracamonte, who started the play on second, was waved through third, but tagged out by a strong throw from centerfielder, Danielle Kinley to the catcher, Hollee Haines.

MSU refused to settle and in the top of the seventh, as Mejia came up with a game-tying single to right field. LeFevre scored on the hit, while Nikki Nicosia slid into home safely after the right fielder let Mejia's hit bounce past her; Mejia advanced to third on the error. With the game tied 3-3, Penn State was able to retire the inning with two infield outs.

But a walk-off homer by PSU's lead-off hitter Desi Giordano gave the Nittany Lions the winning run in the bottom of the seventh, as Penn State salvaged the series with the 4-3 win. Confer (1-2) went down as the pitcher of record in the loss.

The Spartans return to action for their final home games on Thursday, May 1 against Detroit Mercy. The doubleheader will begin at 3 p.m. at Old College Field.