Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Minnesota
Minnesota Tops Softball, 3-1
4/15/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 15, 2001
MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota rallied for three runs in the final two innings to come back and defeat Michigan State, 3-1, Sunday afternoon at J.S. Cowles Stadium. MSU falls to 17-29 (4-6 Big Ten) for the season, while the Gophers improve to 24-18-1 (3-9).
After four and a half scoreless innings, Michigan State scored the game's first run in the bottom of the fifth (MSU was the home team due to Big Ten rules). Jessica Beech (Fr., Okemos, Mich.) advanced to first on a fielder's choice, went to second on a wild pitch and got to third on a passed ball. She then scored on a wild throw by UM catcher Meghan Smith after a dropped third strike that advanced batter Amanda Melton (Jr., Saugus, Calif.) to second.
The Gophers weren't down for long, as they grabbed the lead in the sixth on RBI singles from Angel Braden and Morgan Holden. Minnesota added an insurance run in the last frame to increase its advantage to 3-1.
The Spartans loaded the bases in the seventh with two outs on three consecutive walks, but the rally came to an end after a long fly ball hit by Shealee Dunavan (Sr., Yorba Linda, Calif.) to deep right field was caught.
Becky Gray (Jr., Burr Oak, Mich.) threw her 12th complete game of the season in the loss. Gray (7-13) allowed three runs, one earned, and scattered seven hits on one strikeout. Angie Recknor pitched five innings of three-hit ball to earn her seventh win of the year (7-7). Piper Marten came on in relief in the last two innings to pick up her fourth save of the season.
Michigan State returns to action for a single game Wednesday, April 18 to face Central Michigan at Old College Field on the MSU campus. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
Game Summary R H EUM 000 002 1- 3 7 1MSU 000 010 0- 1 3 2
WP: Recknor-UM (7-7)LP: Gray-MSU (7-13)SV: Marten-UM (4)
