Michigan State University
Oakland
Softball Defeats Oakland In 10 Innings, 2-1
4/3/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 3, 2002
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Late-inning heroics propelled the Michigan State softball team past Oakland for a 2-1 win amid chilly conditions Wednesday afternoon (April 3) at Old College Field on the MSU campus. The cold weather limited the originally scheduled doubleheader to a single game. The extra-inning win puts MSU at 13-21 for the season, while the Grizzlies fall to 8-23-1.
With the game tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the 10th-inning, Jessica Beech (So., Okemos/Okemos) scored from third base on a wild pitch by Oakland's Jaymie Voss for the game-winning run. Beech, who was placed on second due to a tiebreaker rule after nine innings, had advanced to third on a throwing error by OU catcher Megan Piar.
The game went into extra-innings after Michigan State erased a one-run deficit and tied the game in the bottom of the seventh. With the bases loaded and one out, Angel Merren (So., Wayland/Union) hit a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing home pinch runner Carrie Cousino (Fr., Okemos/Okemos) to tie the game.
The Spartans squandered a chance to win the game in the eighth as a two-out groundout ended a bases loaded threat.
After both teams went quietly in the ninth, OU threatened in its half of the 10th. With one out and a runner on third, OU's Jaymie Voss nailed a shot up the middle, but pitcher Jessica Beech got a glove on the ball, deflecting it to shortstop Margaret Schick (Jr., Grass Lake/Chelsea). Schick then picked up the ball and gunned down Julie Anderson at home as catcher Robyn Golden (Jr., Belleville/Belleville) blocked the plate, preventing the winning run from scoring. The Spartans went on to score the winning-run in the bottom half of the inning.
Beech, who came in for relief of starting pitcher Becky Gray (Sr., Burr Oak/Burr Oak) in the 10th inning, picked up the win for MSU, her fifth of the season (5-5). Gray struck out 11 batters, scattered five hits and only allowed one run in nine innings of work.
Voss (4-9), who started the first six innings and came back in relief in the eighth, took the loss for the Grizzlies.
OU took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the third on an Ericka Burns home run over the right-field fence. Burns led all players with three hits in the game.
Michigan State returns to action Thursday, April 4 to face Eastern Michigan at Old College Field beginning at 4 p.m.
Game Summary R H EOU 001 000 000 0- 1 5 1MSU 000 000 100 1- 2 6 0
WP: Beech-MSU (5-5)LP: Voss-OU (4-9)
