Michigan State University
Florida Atlantic
Spartan Softball Goes 5-0 In Scheduled Play
3/8/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 8, 2003
PLANT CITY, Fla. - The Michigan State softball team wrapped up a perfect 5-0 record of scheduled play at the Speedline Invitational in Plant City, Fla., before dropping a close contest to fourth-ranked Washington in the quaterfinals of tournament action. MSU defeated Florida Atlantic 8-1 in six innings, before dropping the close 4-3 meeting to the Huskies.
The Spartans scored seven of their eight runs against Florida Atlantic in two innings, driving in four in the second and three in the sixth. MSU got on the board as Robyn Golden (Belleville, Mich.) hit a single and Jessica Beech (Okemos, Mich.) crossed home plate. One batter later, Brittney Green (Simi Valley, Calif.) singled, scoring Lacy Hauxhurst (Westminster, Calif.) and Janette Hurtado (Rowland Heights, Calif.). Carrie Cousino (Okemos, Mich.) scored in the third as Beech singled to right field.
Michigan State added to their lead in the bottom of the sixth, as Margaret Schick (Grass Lake, Mich.) singled. After stealing second base, Schick advanced to third and scored on a pair of Florida Atlantic errors. Hurtado also stole home on the same series of plays. After Green was hit by a pitch, she scored on a triple by Sandy Lewis (Empire, Mich.).
With the 8-1 victory over Florida Atlantic, the Spartans completed a successful sweep of the teams competing in their pool, systematically taking down Oklahoma State (6-5), Illinois-Chicago (9-1), Tennessee-Chattenooga (1-0) and Maryland (9-0). The Spartans also led the 24 competing teams in runs allowed, letting just six runs cross home plate in the five games - the next closest team, Stanford, allowed 10 runs.
Michigan State faced Washington - the fourth-ranked team in the nation - in the quarterfinals. Washington put a pair of runs up on the board before Hauxhurst scored on a double by Lewis in the third. Hauxhurst added another run, scoring on an error by the Huskies' catcher. Washington added two more runs in the top of the sixth, but MSU pulled it within the final one run margin. Cousino, pinch running for Tiffany Wallace (Wildomar, Calif.), who advanced on an error by the Huskies' second baseman, crossed home plate as Elizabeth Peterson (Riverside, Calif.) doubled to center field.
The Spartans (15-4) return to action on Friday, March 14 at the Winthrop Invitational in Rock Hill, S.C. Michigan State will play St. Francis (Pa.) at 10 a.m., and Cleveland State at 6 p.m.
