Michigan State University
Wisconsin
MSU Softball Sweeps Wisconsin
4/13/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 13, 2003
MADISON, Wis. - Junior pitcher Jessica Beech (Okemos, Mich.) pitched two complete-game victories and slugged a two-run home run to help lead the Michigan State softball team to a doubleheader sweep Sunday at Wisconsin. Michigan State scored four times in the top of the seventh to win game one, 4-0, before completing the sweep with a 4-1 victory in game two. MSU improved to 26-11 overall and 6-3 in the Big Ten, while Wisconsin fell to 13-20 and 2-8 in the conference.
Beech threw a two-hit shutout in the opening game, walking one and striking out five. Natalie Phillips, the number nine hitter in the Wisconsin lineup, was the only Badger to hit safely against Beech with a pair of singles.
Wisconsin's ace pitcher, Andrea Kirchberg, was nearly as effective over the first six innings, as the team's entered the seventh in a scoreless tie. Senior Lacy Hauxhurst (Westminster, Calif.) led off the seventh with a single to center field, and moved to second when Beech bunted for a base hit. The next batter, sophomore Janette Hurtado (Rowland Heights, Calif.), lined an 0-2 pitch to rightcenterfield, scoring Hauxhurst with the game's first run.
Junior Angel Merren (Wayland, Mich.) followed with a double down the rightfield line, scoring both Beech and Hurtado. Two outs later with Merren at third, senior Sandy Lewis (Empire, Mich.) lined a single to right field scoring Merren with the fourth and final run.
Michigan State had 11 hits in the game, but couldn't take advantage of its earlier opportunities. The Spartans wasted a chance to take the lead in the fifth inning, failing to score despite getting three hits. Hauxhurst started the inning with a double and advance on a bunt single by Beech. Hurtado blooped a single into shallow centerfield, but Hauxhurst, who was tagging up at third, was thrown out trying to score on the play. Merren then looped a pop fly to shallow left that dropped out of the shortstop's glove, but Beech, thinking the ball was caught, retreated to second base and forced out at third. Senior Brittney Green (Simi Valley, Calif.) then popped out to end the inning.
Beech made sure that it didn't matter, however, as she did not allow a Wisconsin runner past second base in the opening game while hurling her ninth shutout of the season.
Four MSU players had two hits each in the opening game, including Hauxhurst, Hurtado, Beech and senior Tiffany Wallace (Wildomar, Calif.).
In game two, Beech's two-run home run capped a three-run third inning that propelled MSU to the 4-1 victory.
With two outs in the third and MSU trailing 1-0, senior Margaret Schick (Grass Lake, Mich.) singled to left field and stole second for her 24th steal of the season. Green then hit a shot up the middle that deflected off the Badger shortstop's glove and into centerfield, scoring Schick. Beech followed with her second home run of the season to put MSU on top 3-1.
That would be more than enough for Beech, who allowed a run on seven hits but struck out nine in the second game without walking a batter. Wisconsin left eight batters on base in the second game, including three in the third inning when Beech got out of a bases loaded jam with a strikeout and a foul popup.
MSU added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. Lewis singled and stole second, then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Wallace. Junior Natalie Furrow (San Diego, Calif.) then laid down a perfect suicide squeeze bunt, scoring Lewis to put MSU on top 4-1.
The Spartans managed just six hits in game two but made them count. MSU also played errorless defense behind Beech, who improved to 19-4 with the two victories.
The two wins give MSU more total victories and conference victories than it had all of last season, when the Spartans had 24 overall wins and four Big Ten victories.
Michigan State will host Central Michigan Wednesday (April 16) at 4 p.m.
