Michigan State University
Dayton
Spartan Softball Splits With Dayton
3/23/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 23, 2003
DAYTON, Ohio - The Michigan State softball team split a pair of games with Dayton on Sunday, March 23, at Stuart Field in Dayton, Ohio. The Spartans dropped the first game in a close 1-0 decision, but defeated the Flyers, 3-0, in the nightcap, as Jessica Beech (Okemos, Mich.) struck out 13 batters and allowed just one hit.
Beech, who already holds the school-record for single-game strikeouts (15 -set against Virginia in a ten-inning affair on Feb. 28, 2003), is now also listed with Becky Gray (1999-02) in second-place on the program's single-game strikeout record after today's 13.
In the day's opening game, Dayton scored in the first inning and that was all it took as the Flyers held on for the 1-0 victory. Sandy Lewis (Empire, Mich.) and Tiffany Wallace (Wildomar, Calif.) registered the only hits of the game for the Green and White, while Stephanie Christner (Sigourney, Iowa) took the loss on the mound.
Michigan State wasted no time taking the lead in the day's second game, as Lewis stole home in the first inning. Elizabeth Peterson (Riverside, Calif.) scored on a RBI-single by Wallace to put the Spartans up by two before the opening frame was complete. Peterson crossed the plate again in the fourth, as Natalie Furrow(San Diego, Calif.) doubled to left center.
Beech stole the show from the mound in the nightcap, striking out 13 would-be hitters, while walking just two. She allowed just one hit to improve her record to 12-3 on the season. The junior hurler also saw action in the final two outs of the day's first game to bring her daily totals to 15 strikeouts, one hit and two walks.
The Spartans (18-8) will open the home slate of the season on Friday (March 28), when they host Big Ten rival Northwestern at 3 p.m. at Old College Field.
