Michigan State University Athletics
Softball Shuts Out No. 15 Iowa 3-0
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Softball
East Lansing, MI -- The Michigan State softball team defeated No. 15 Iowa, 3-0, today at Old College Field to sweep the three-game series from the Hawkeyes for the first time in program history. The victory was MSU's fourth straight and improved its overall record to 20-7 and its Big Ten mark to 3-0. The Hawkeyes, who were swept in a Big Ten series for the first time since 1988, fall to 15-9 overall and 0-3 in the conference.
"We picked up three wins from an excellent Iowa team," coach Jacquie Joseph said. "We had excellent pitching and timely hitting all weekend. These wins give our team something to build on for the rest of the Big Ten season."
Senior Stefanie Noffsinger threw a complete-game three-hitter to pick up her 10th win of the season and her sixth shutout of the campaign. Noffsinger scattered three hits, didn't allow a walk and had two strikeouts in the winning effort.
MSU took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when pinch hitter Kelly Carr's grounder to shortstop couldn't be handled, scoring freshman Shealee Dunavan from third base.
The Spartans added a pair of insurance runs in the fifth inning when sophomore Stacey Phillips doubled to left center to bring home junior Tiffany Yager. Phillips crossed the plate when sophomore Margaret Hollis hit a single to left field.
Yager led the offensive charge, going 2-for-3 and scoring a run. She also tied the MSU single-season record with her 14th steal of the season.
Senior Debbie Bilbao (10-4) suffered the loss for Iowa. She allowed just six hits, walked one and struck out two.
The Spartans will host Western Michigan in a doubleheader on Wednesday, April 1 at 2 p.m., before hosting Wisconsin in a three-game series, April 4-5, at Old College Field.
