Michigan State University
Minnesota
MSU Softball Falls At Minnesota, 2-1
4/11/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 11, 2003
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The Michigan State softball team fell in its first Big Ten road game of the season, losing at Minnesota, 2-1. Michigan State outhit the Gophers, 10-6, but could not take advantage of its opportunities, leaving 10 runners on base. The Spartans slipped to 24-10 and 4-2 in the Big Ten, while Minnesota improved to 28-11-1 and 5-2 in the conference.
MSU junior pitcher Jessica Beech (Okemos, Mich.) pitched well in defeat, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out six and walking just one, but was saddled with just her fourth loss of the season against 17 victories. Beech had her string of eight consecutive victories come to an end, but did record her 300th career strikeout with her sixth and final strikeout.
MSU jumped on top early getting a run in the top of the first inning. With one out, senior Sandy Lewis (Empire, Mich.) doubled to deep center field. One out later, senior Tiffany Wallace (Wildomar, Calif.) lined a shot the opposite way into the leftcenterfield gap for a double, scoring Lewis.
The Spartans had a chance to add to the lead in the second inning, when a hit batter, a walk and a wild pitch put runners on second and third with two out for Lewis, but Minnesota pitcher Piper Marten struck out Lewis to end the threat.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Gophers had a runner at second base with two outs, but Lindsey Erickson lined a Beech pitch up the middle, but senior Margaret Schick (Grass Lake, Mich.) made a diving catch to retire the side and save a run.
Minnesota finally broke through in the bottom of the fifth, as Jordanne Nygren, the Big Ten's all-time home run leader, belted a two-run shot over the centerfield fence to put the Gophers on top, 2-1.
Michigan State had a golden opportunity to tie the game or take the lead in the top of the sixth, but hit into bad luck. MSU loaded the bases with one out with senior Brittney Green (Simi Valley, Calif.) at the plate, but Green's line drive was snared by a diving Hailee Nanchy at first base, and Nanch doubled off Schick at first base to end the inning.
Beech, Wallace and Schick had two hits each to lead Michigan State's offense.
Michigan State and Minnesota will meet again tomorrow (Saturday, April 12) at noon.
