Michigan State University
Purdue
Purdue Edges Spartan Softball, 1-0
4/26/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 26, 2002
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue used a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the seventh inning to drive in the game's only run to defeat the Michigan State softball team, 1-0, Friday afternoon (April 26) at the Varsity Softball Complex. MSU falls to 24-30 (4-11 Big Ten) on the season, while Purdue improves to 33-22 (3-10 BT).
MSU starting pitcher Becky Gray (Sr., Burr Oak/Burr Oak) had a no-hitter through six innings, but Purdue's leadoff hitter in the seventh, Angi Roembke, rapped a single up the middle to give the Boilermakers their only hit of the game. Roembke advanced to second on a wild pitch and then reached third after a fielding error by first baseman Natalie Furrow (So., San Diego, Calif./Mills E. Godwin). With runners on first and third, Gray intentionally walked Purdue cleanup hitter Heidi Foster to load the bases. Gray then walked the next batter, forcing in the game-winning run.
Michigan State's biggest scoring threat came in sixth, when the Spartans had runners on second and third with two outs. Robyn Golden (Jr., Belleville/Belleville) hit a single and advanced to second while Kim Strauch (Fr., Durand/Corunna) reached third. The threat came to a halt, however, as the next batter flew out to center field to end the inning.
Gray (13-15) threw six innings and struck out four in the loss. Purdue's Leighann Burke tossed a complete-game six-hitter with two strikeouts to earn her 13th win of the season.
In the fifth, Margaret Schick (Jr., Grass Lake/Chelsea) stole her 27th base of the season, tying the season mark at Michigan State set by Tiffany Yager in 1999. Schick now needs eight more stolen bases to become MSU's all-time stolen bases leader.
Michigan State returns to action tomorrow (Saturday, April 27) to face Purdue for a single game at West Lafayette, Ind., beginning at noon.
Game Summary
R H EMSU 000 000 0- 0 6 2PUR 000 000 1- 1 1 1
WP: Burke-PUR (13-10)LP: Gray-MSU (13-15)
