Michigan State University Athletics
Softball's Bid For College World Series Ends
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Site: Flames Field - Chicago, IL - NCAA Regionals
Result: DePaul 2, Michigan State 0
Records: Michigan State 41-23; DePaul 52-12
Next MSU Game: Season Complete
Chicago, IL -- DePaul senior Nicole Terpstra threw a three-hitter to lead the Blue Demons to a 2-0 win over Michigan State in NCAA Regional finals action at Flames Field in Chicago on Sunday. With the victory, DePaul (52-12) advances to the College World Series, while the Spartans end the season with a 41-23 mark.
Junior Erica Strutz (Howell, Mich.) suffered the loss, despite pitching an outstanding contest. She allowed eight hits, walked two and struck out four to end the campaign with a 27-14 mark.
The Blue Demons got on the board in the top of the second inning when Julie Luna opened the inning with a single to left field. Pinch runner Molly Sircher moved up to second on a sacrifice and eventually scored on a single by Shavaughne Desecki. DePaul added another run in the top of the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly by Dana Jakusz.
MSU's best opportunity to score came in the first inning when junior Carrie Fry (Cerritos, Calif.) singled to left field and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by junior Stacey Phillips (St. Clair Shores, Mich.). Terpstra recorded the first of her nine strikeouts in the game to end the inning.
Fry, who collected two of MSU's three hits in the game, was the only Spartan to reach second base. Freshman Amanda Melton (Saugus, Calif.) was the only other player to record a hit for MSU.
POST-GAME QUOTES
MSU Coach Jacquie Joseph
"We are obviously very, very disappointed to see our season come to an end like that. I would have liked to see my team compete a little bit more offensively. I thought we pitched well enough to win and played defense well enough to win, but we didn't do anything offensively."
"In saying that, you have to give credit to the DePaul pitching staff. Twice, they proved that their pitching staff was better than our team. In the end, you have to give credit where credit is due and that's certainly to Terpstra and Brown."
"Overall, I was pleased with our season. It is our expectation to be here every year and we are one step further than we were in our first trip (1997) to the NCAA Tournament and that is a good thing. We have a lot to be proud of this season and we have a lot to look forward to in the years to come."
"Certainly, we wish DePaul well and hope they do well in Oklahoma City representing our region."
Junior pitcher Erica Strutz
"I think that I pitched close to as well as I would have liked to. That second inning I probably should have gone to an off-speed pitch to the first batter who got a hit. Other than that, I thought we stuck to our game plan pretty well."
Junior second baseman Carrie Fry
"We had a great season this year and we were excited to make it to regionals. It was the same feeling we had my freshman year, we just wish we could have made it a little further this time."
NOTES
Sophomore Shealee Dunavan, junior Carrie Fry and senior Molly Hugan were named to the NCAA Region 8 All-Tournament team.
MSU's 41 victories are the third most in program history.
Junior Carrie Fry extended her hitting streak to a season high nine games.
For more information contact, Lori Schulze (517) 355-2271
