Michigan State University
Houston
Spartan Softball Falls To 0-4 In Speedline Invitational
3/8/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 8, 2002
PLANT CITY, Fla. - The Michigan State softball team lost both of its games in day two action of the Speedline Invitational Friday afternoon (March 8) and fell to 0-4 overall for the tournament. The Spartans dropped their third-straight one-run game with a 4-3 loss to Houston in the first contest of the afternoon. In the second game, MSU was shut out by Brigham Young, 2-0. The Spartans (7-12) are now eliminated from bracket play in the tournament.
In game one, Houston's Ali McDougall hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning to put the Cougars past Michigan State, 4-3. The Spartans scored three runs in the top of the fourth to take a 3-0 lead, but Houston (18-9) came back with two runs in the fourth and sixth innings for the win.
In the fourth inning for MSU, Lacy Hauxhurst (Jr., Westminster, Calif./Westminster) started the scoring off with a RBI single to center, bringing home pinch-runner Kim Stauch (Fr., Durand/Corunna). Carrie Cousino (Fr., Okemos/Okemos) then scored from third on an errant throw by Cougar catcher Arelis Ferreris to second base, who was trying to throw Hauxhurst out on a stolen base attempt. Amanda Melton (Sr., Saugus, Calif./Saugus) completed the three-run inning with a RBI double to left field that plated Hauxhurst.
Keri DeJong (Sr., Portage/Kalamazoo Christian) took the loss for the Spartans. DeJong (1-2) threw 1.2 innings of relief for starting pitcher Jessica Beech (So., Okemos/Okemos), who was taken out of the game in the fifth after allowing two runs on five hits.
BYU pitcher Niki Andersen shut out MSU and gave up four hits in the Spartans' game two loss. A two-run double by Liz VanderLinden with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth inning was all the Cougars (13-10) needed for the win.
Michigan State left seven runners on base and stranded three runners in scoring position in the game.
Becky Gray (Sr., Burr Oak/Burr Oak) surrendered six hits and two earned runs on three strikeouts in the complete game loss (3-7).
MSU returns to action tomorrow (Saturday, March 9) for day three of the Speedline Invitational. The Spartans' final game of the tournament will be against Florida International beginning at 10 a.m. at the International Softball Federation complex.
Game Summaries:
Game One Summary R H EMSU 000 300 0- 3 8 0UH 000 202 x- 4 6 3
WP: Johnson-UHLP: DeJong-MSU (1-2)
Game Two Summary R H EMSU 000 000 0- 0 4 0BYU 000 020 x- 2 6 2
WP: Andersen-BYULP: Gray-MSU (3-7)
Spartan Notebook:
* Lacy Hauxhurst has picked off six runners as teams have only stolen seven bases in 16 attempts against her this year. In 2001, Hauxhurst was second in the Big Ten in runners caught stealing with 23.
* Natalie Furrow (So., San Diego, Calif./Mills E. Godwin) and Lacy Hauxhurst are currently riding three-game hitting streaks. Furrow went 3-for-4 in game one vs. Houston.
*Dominique Van Nortwick (Fr., San Diego, Calif./Mt. Carmel) is batting .400 (2-for-5) in pinch-hitting situations this season. She had a pinch-hit single in game two vs. BYU this afternoon.
