Senior outfielder Dana Briggs hugs head coach Jacquie Joseph before the game against Nebraska on April 27, 2014, at Secchia Stadium at Old College Field. The seniors were honored before the game. Julia Nagy/The State News
Nebraska completed a weekend sweep over MSU Sunday afternoon, yet for some of the Spartans it was a day of celebration.
It was Senior Day at Secchia Stadium, and outfielder Sarah Bowling, outfielder Dana Briggs, catcher Emma Fernandez and pitcher Kelly Smith were honored preceding the first pitch.
"They're going to remember whatever time they had here, playing and being on campus and celebrating what all of it means to be an athlete here at Michigan State," head coach Jacquie Joseph said.
The No. 19 Huskers (35-13 overall, 13-4 Big Ten) tallied 14 hits in an 8-0 rout of the Spartans (12-33, 4-16) in six innings.
"Means a lot," Bowling said. "I can't believe this day is actually here. Of course, I wish we could have ended on better terms, but what can you say."
Smith pitched the first two innings, allowing one run and three hits. Freshman pitcher Valerie Kaff pitched the remaining four, allowing 11 hits and seven runs.
Senior and starting pitcher Tatum Edwards led the Huskers with three RBI's, hitting a three-run home run in the top of the third. Junior first baseman McKinzie Freimuth had MSU's ony hit on the day.
Sophomore second baseman Hailey Decker hit a single home run to left field to score the first Nebraska run at the top of the first
A second Nebraska home run at the top of the third by Tatum Edwards added three additional runs, making it a 4-0 advantage.
Lead-off hitter Taylor Edwards singled up the middle, and Decker followed up with a single to the left to advance Edwards to second. Tat stepped to the plate and hammered the ball out of the park with one strike on the count.
Taylor Edwards added another run at the top of the fourth, singling to left field to score Sophomore infielder Alicia Armstrong, who previously stole second before advancing to third to put herself in better scoring position.
A strong double by freshman outfielder Kat Woolman at the top of the fifth scored Armstrong, pushing the Nebraska lead to 6-0.
With the bases loaded, the Spartans missed a prime opportunity to score at the bottom of the fifth. Following a single up the middle by Freimuth, freshman catcher Lindsay Besson stepped to the plate to pinch hit.
Tatum Edwards pitched three consecutive strikes to send Besson back to the bullpen, and the Spartans remained without a run.
Pinch hitter and freshman outfielder Austen Urness recorded an RBI at the top of the sixth for MSU, scoring Lotte Sjulin and advancing Tatum Edwards to third.
Freshman infielder Marjani Knighten added the final run in the sixth frame, scoring Tatum Edwards on a single to left field.
Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
