Michigan State University
Northwestern
MSU Softball Completes Sweep Of No. 22 Northwestern
3/29/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 29, 2003
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The weather was cold but the Michigan State softball team stayed hot Saturday, as the Spartans completed a two-game sweep of No. 22 Northwestern with a 6-3 victory at Old College Field. The win improved MSU's overall record to 20-8 and gave the Spartans a 2-0 Big Ten record. Michigan State is off to its best start since the 1998 team started 20-8, and the Spartans had not won their first two league games since 1999.
Freshman Elizabeth Peterson (Riverside, Calif.) struck the big blow for the Spartans, blasting a grand slam over the scoreboard in left field in the third inning to dig MSU out of an early 3-0 hole. From there, MSU turned things over to junior Jessica Beech (Okemos), who shut out the Wildcats over the final 5.2 innings to improve to 14-3 this season.
Northwestern (17-8, 0-2 Big Ten) jumped on MSU starting pitcher Stephanie Christner (Sigourney, Iowa) for a pair of runs in the first inning, and added another in the second before Beech came in with a pair of runners on base but got the Spartans out of the jam.
In the top of the third, senior Margaret Schick (Grass Lake) and junior Brittney Green (Simi Valley, Calif.) both walked to start the inning. Senior Sandy Lewis (Empire) singled to the hole between shortstop and third, loading the bases for Peterson, who followed with her third home run of the season.
Michigan State added another run in the fourth, when Schick and Green both walked again, and Lewis singled to right field, driving home Schick to give MSU a 5-3 lead.
Northwestern threatened in the bottom of the fifth, putting the tying runs in scoring position with two outs, but Beech induced J.C. Kira to fly out to center to end the inning.
The Spartans added an insurance run in the sixth when Green doubled, and scored on another Lewis single, just beating the throw home from centerfield.
Northwestern put a pair of runners on base in the bottom of the seventh, but Kira grounded weakly to third base to end the game.
Lewis had three hits of Michigan State's seven hits and drove in two runs, while junior Natalie Furrow (San Diego) added two singles. Green and Schick both scored twice for the Spartans. Northwestern outhit MSU, 8-7, but allowed five walks.
Beech surrendered just four hits and no walks in her 5.2 innings of relief, although she managed just one strikeout.
Michigan State will host Illinois in a doubleheader Sunday (March 30) beginning at noon.
