Michigan State University
Tulsa
Softball Splits Games In Day One Of Winthrop Invitational
3/15/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 15, 2002
ROCK HILL, S.C. - The Michigan State softball team split its opening games in pool play in the first day of action at the Winthrop Invitational Friday night (March 15). MSU lost to Tulsa, 10-5, in game one, but came back to defeat Providence, 3-0, in game two. The Spartans now stand at 8-14 for the season.
MSU's second game was delayed due to other tournament games and didn't finish until minutes before midnight. Becky Gray (Sr., Burr Oak/Burr Oak) shut out the Friars (4-14) and held them to two hits en route to her fourth victory and ninth complete game on the season. Gray also struck out nine batters in the game.
Natalie Furrow (So., San Diego, Calif./Mills E. Godwin) had an RBI single to knock in Lauren Pedersen (Fr., Portage/Central) and Kim Strauch (Fr., Durand/Corunna) scored on a failed suicide squeeze attempt in the bottom of the third. Robyn Golden (Jr., Belleville/Belleville) blasted a shot over the center field fence in the fifth to round out the Spartan scoring.
In game one, MSU started off strong with a five-run first inning, but the Golden Hurricanes countered with five runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. In the Spartan first, Brittney Green (So., Simi Valley, Calif./Simi Valley), Tiffany Wallace (Jr., Wildomar, Calif./Pacifica) and Janette Hurtado (Fr., Rowland Heights, Calif./Diamond Bar) all had RBI singles.
The game remained tied at five apiece until Tulsa (25-2) scored two runs in the fifth and three in the sixth to break the game open for a 10-5 lead.
MSU threatened to score in the seventh but stranded two runners to end the game.
The Spartans out-hit the Golden Hurricanes nine-to-six, but MSU pitchers gave up seven walks and hit two batters in the game. Keri DeJong (Sr., Portage/Kalamazoo Christian) threw 5.1 innings in relief and took the loss for MSU (1-3).
MSU returns to action for day two of the Winthrop Invitational Saturday afternoon (March 16). The Spartans face St. Peter's at 1 p.m. and Winthrop at 5 p.m.
Game One Summary R H EMSU 500 000 0- 5 9 1TULSA 500 023 x- 10 6 2
WP: Day-TULSA (10-0)LP: DeJong-MSU (1-3)
Game Two Summary R H EPC 000 000 0- 0 2 1MSU 002 010 x- 3 5 0
WP: Gray-MSU (4-7)LP: Van Dusen-PC
Spartan Notebook:
* Natalie Furrow extended her hitting streak today to six games.
* Brittney Green returned to the lineup for the first time all season today. She hit in both games as a designated player and went a combined 1-for-6 with an RBI.
* MSU's win over Providence snapped a seven-game losing streak dating back to March 5.
* Coach Jacquie Joseph won her 397th career game tonight with the win over Providence.
* Robyn Golden hit her third homer of the season tonight.
