MSU softball team advances to NISC regional final

Michigan State erupted for 10 runs in the bottom of the sixth to defeat Murray State, 10-6, Wednesday in the National Invitational Softball Championship in Normal, Ill.

MSU (32-23) advances to play Illinois State (32-21) in the regional final at 1 p.m. Thursday. If Spartans win, they will play the Redbirds again at 4 p.m.

Kelcey Carrasco's two-run homer and Lea Foerster's two-run single fueled the sixth-inning uprising. McKenzie Long, Kaitlyn Eveland, Sarah Gutknecht and Ebonee Echols also supplied run-scoring hits in the frame.

Kristina Zalewski gave up three earned runs on two hits while striking out three and walking one in 2.2 innings to pick up the win. Bridgette Rainey earned the save, yielding two earned runs on two hits while walking four and striking out three in 4.1 innings.

Earlier, Eveland collected three hits, including a three-run homer in the sixth inning to lead the Spartans to a 7-1 victory over IUPUI in the loser's bracket.