Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Eastern Mich
Eastern Michigan Defeats Spartan Softball, 6-2
4/11/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 11, 2001
YPSILANTI, Mich. - Michigan State was held to just three hits in Eastern Michigan's 6-2 victory over the Spartans Wednesday afternoon at Varsity Field. MSU falls to 15-27 on the season, while the Eagles improve to 10-23.
MSU squandered a chance to take the early lead in the first, leaving the bases loaded with a two-out groundout.
Eastern Michigan took a 3-0 lead in the third, scoring three runs on two hits and a Spartan error. Crystal Thompson had a sacrifice bunt for an RBI and Tauna Kinsey hit a sacrifice fly to knock a run in for the Eagles.
EMU added three runs in the fifth on five consecutive hits including three RBI singles to increase the margin to 6-0.
After the first, EMU starting pitcher Aimee Hamilton didn't allow another hit until the seventh while striking out five. In the seventh, Natalie Furrow (Fr., San Diego, Calif.) hit a one-run single that brought in pinch-runner Angel Merren (Fr., Wayland, Mich.). Shealee Dunavan (Sr., Yorba Linda, Calif.) also scored on the same play due to an Eagle error in the outfield, cutting the lead to 6-2. A two-out groundout ended MSU's rally to complete the game.
Hamilton got the win for EMU (5-7), while Becky Gray (Jr., Burr Oak, Mich.) took the loss for the Spartans. Gray (6-12) tossed her 10th complete game of the season in the losing effort, allowing six runs (five earned) on 10 hits and four strikeouts.
Michigan State returns to Big Ten action this weekend. On Friday (April 13), MSU will face Wisconsin in a doubleheader in Madison at 2:00 p.m. Saturday (April 14) and Sunday (April 15), the Spartans take on Minnesota in single games in Minneapolis.
Game Summary R H EMSU 000 000 2- 2 3 1EMU 003 030 x- 6 10 2
WP: Hamilton-EMU (5-7)LP: Gray-MSU (6-12)
