Michigan State University
Arizona St
Ninth-ranked Arizona State slams No. 17 Spartan Softball Team
2/19/2000 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 19, 2000
Tempe, Arizona - Ninth-ranked Arizona State handed No. 17 Michigan State an 11-2 loss in five innings in the Louisville Slugger Classic today in Tempe, Arizona. The Spartans fall to 2-2 with the loss, while the Sun Devils improve to 9-0 overall and 3-0 in the classic.
ASU scored six runs in the second inning, capped by a pinch-hit grand slam by Andrea Rodgers. Nichole Thompson also had an RBI double in the inning, followed by an Erica Beach single that drove in one run.
The Spartans cut the lead to four by scoring two runs in the top of the fifth. Freshman Margaret Schick (Grass Lake) hit a sacrifice fly that scored pinch runner Sandy Lewis (Empire), while Tiffany Thomas (Ontario, Calif.) singled down the right field line to score pinch runner Demita Clark (Detroit).
In the bottom of the inning, the Sun Devils ended the game by scoring five runs, enough for the eight run mercy rule. Erica Beach hit the second grand slam of the game to win it for ASU, sending a line drive over the right field fence. Beach ended the game 2-for-3, with one run and five RBI.
Kirsten Voak was the winning pitcher for Arizona State, improving her record to 5-0. Sophomore Niki Stemberger (San Jose, Calif.) took the loss for MSU, losing her first game of the season.
Senior Carrie Fry (Cerritos, Calif.) went 1-for-2 for the Spartans, extending her hitting streak to 13 games, dating back to last season.
MSU closes out action in the Louisville Slugger Classic on Sunday, Feb. 20 when it faces Arizona State again.
Summary R H EMSU 0 0 0 0 2 - 2 4 1ASU 0 6 0 0 5 - 11 9 0
E: Phillips-MSU (1)HR: Beach-ASU, Thompson-ASU2B: Wallace-ASU, Thompson-ASU, Wardein-ASUSB: Braga-ASUSAC: Hixon-ASULOB: MSU-2, ASU-8
WP: Voak (5-0)LP: Stemberger (0-1)
