Michigan State University
Penn St
Spartan Softball Defeats Penn State, 5-3
4/19/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 19, 2003
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - The Michigan State softball team bounced back from a disappointing loss last night, scoring two runs with two outs in the bottom of the sixth to pull out a 5-3 victory at Penn State. The victory improved MSU's record to 28-12 overall and 7-4 in the Big Ten, and kept MSU ahead of Penn State in the Big Ten standings. PSU slipped to 23-16 and 5-5 in the conference.
With the score tied at three in the bottom of the sixth, senior Sandy Lewis (Empire, Mich.) walked and senior Margaret Schick (Grass Lake, Mich.) reached on an infield hit. With two outs and Lewis on second and Schick on first, junior Natalie Furrow (San Diego, Calif.) lined a double to rightcenter, scoring both runners and putting MSU ahead, 5-3.
Sophomore Stephanie Christner (Sigourney, Iowa) earned her first Big Ten victory, pitching six-plus innings and allowing three runs of which two were earned. Christner, who improved to 6-5, allowed seven hits and two walks while striking out one, and got help in the seventh inning from junior Jessica Beech (Okemos, Mich.), who earned her second save.
Beech came in after a leadoff walk in the seventh, and promptly gave up a single to put the tying runs on base with no outs. After a strikeout and a forceout, Erin Norton looped a ball into shallow left field, but Schick made a running, over-the-shoulder catch to end the game.
A frightening scene occurred in the bottom of the first inning when Lewis lined a drive off the jaw of Penn State's starting pitcher Marisa Hanson, who was the winning pitcher in relief in last night's contest. Hanson laid on the ground nearly motionless for about 15 minutes before an ambulance arrived and she was taken away on a stretcher.
Lewis' single led to a run when with two outs senior Tiffany Wallace (Wildomar, Calif.) doubled to give MSU a 1-0 lead.
Penn State tied the score at 1-1 in the top of the second when a throwing error by junior Brittney Green (Simi Valley, Calif.) allowed a run to score. MSU got out of further trouble when the next batter grounded out to short, and the runner at second was then gunned down trying to move to third.
The Spartans reclaimed the lead in the bottom half of the second on an unusual play. With sophomore Janette Hurtado (Rowland Heights, Calif.) on second, Christner on first and two out, Beech ripped a double to rightcenter, scoring Hurtado. Beech headed to third with an apparent triple, only to discover Christner retreating to third. Beech was caught in a rundown and headed back to second, making it in ahead of the throw, but Christner was then thrown out trying to score on the play.
Penn State answered with a run in the third, before MSU responded with a run of its own in the fourth. Hurtado and Christner started the inning with singles, and one out later, Green's ground ball to the pitcher was thrown away, and Hurtado came around to score. The Spartans had a chance to add more runs, but Wallace struck out with the bases loaded and two outs.
Michigan State had another golden opportunity in the fifth, loading the bases with nobody out. But Christner popped to second base for the first out, before Beech lined into a double play.
Penn State evened the score at three in the top of the sixth on a two-out single, before Furrow's late heroics.
MSU outhit Penn State, 11-8, getting two hits each from Wallace, Furrow and Christner. However, the Spartans left double-digit runners on base for the second-straight game, stranding 10 runners.
Michigan State will travel to Ohio State, where the Spartans and Buckeyes will play a doubleheader Sunday beginning at noon.
Michigan State 5, Penn State 3WP- Christner (6-5)LP- Riggleman (5-3)
Score By Innings R H EPenn State 011 001 0 3 8 2Michigan State 110 102 X 5 11 1
