Tory Yamaguchi gave Indiana the lead for good in the seventh with a two-run double. |
Four Home Runs Give Hoosiers 9-7 Win In Game Two At Michigan State
April 20, 2008
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Tory Yamaguchi drilled a double to right center field that gave Indiana the lead in the seventh inning and they went on to defeat the Michigan State Spartans, 9-7, at Old College Field in the second game of a doubleheader. The Hoosiers also hit four home runs that aided their comeback from a 6-2 deficit after five innings, scoring seven runs over the last two innings for the win.
Michigan State opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning on a solo home run by Kara Weigle, but that lead only lasted until the top of the third inning when Hoosier left fielder Brittany Devitt launched her fourth home run of the season over the left field wall to even the score at 1-1. Later in the inning, Jennilee Huddleston dropped an RBI single into center to give Indiana a 2-1 lead.
The Spartans (23-21, 7-7 Big Ten) tied the game in the fourth on a bases loaded walk issued by Indiana starting pitcher Sara Olson. They jumped out in front by scoring four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning with the big blow coming on a three-run homer by Jessica Bracamonte to give Michigan State a 6-2 lead.
Indiana (13-31, 3-11 Big Ten) responded with three runs of their own in the top of the sixth, using the long ball to get back in the game. Emily Bergeson launched a solo home run to center field, her fifth home run of the season. The next batter, Sara Olson, reached on an error by Spartan third baseman Traci Nicosia before Stephanie Pellerito blasted her second home run of the season, a two-run shot to left center to bring the Hoosiers to within a run at 6-5.
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The Hoosiers bats kept coming in the top of the seventh, starting with Huddleston, who crushed a leadoff home run over the 220 foot sign in center field to even the score at 6-6. Tory Yamaguchi came up in yet another spot to drive in a pair of runs and came through in a big way with a double to right center that brought home two runs to give Indiana an 8-6 lead. Brittany Devitt then laced a single back up the middle to bring in Yamaguchi and give the Hoosiers a three run cushion going to the bottom of the seventh.
Michigan State was able to get one run back but Monica Wright (10-13) got Lindsey Hansen to line out to Bergeson at shortstop to seal the win. Wright came on and pitched the final 2.1 innings to earn the win. Michigan State's Lesley Noel (13-14) took the loss after coming and giving up three runs in the top of the seventh.
Indiana will return home on Wednesday for a non-conference game against Louisville starting at 4 p.m. at the IU Softball Field.
NOTES
-- Yamaguchi threw out her 14th runner attempting to steal this season in the game
-- The Hoosiers rallied to for the third time this season when trailing after six innings
-- Huddleston's home run give her 13 in her career, moving her into sole possession of ninth place on the career home run list at Indiana
-- Indiana is now 3-1 when they hit two or more home runs in a game, after hitting four in game two against the Spartans
-- The last time the Hoosiers hit four home runs in a game was April 1 of this year in game two at the University of Kentucky (a 16-13 win in eight innings)
