Michigan State University
Indiana
Spartan Softball Routs Indiana, 7-0
4/25/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 25, 2003
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Junior Jessica Beech (Okemos, Mich.) threw a complete-game five-hit shutout as the Michigan State softball team routed Indiana, 7-0, Friday in front of 771 fans at Old College Field. The victory improved MSU's record to 31-14 overall and 9-5 in the Big Ten, giving the Spartans their highest overall and conference win totals since winning 41 games, including 13 Big Ten contests, in 1999.
Beech struck out 10 hitters, including five looking, and walked none while throwing her school-record 11th shutout of the season. Beech, who improved to 21-6, also singled in a run, walked and scored twice.
Senior Sandy Lewis (Empire, Mich.) had a triple and a double and drove in four runs to lead the Spartan offensive attack, while junior Angel Merren (Wayland, Mich.) had two hits and scored three runs. Michigan State had seven hits, including three for extra bases, and took advantage of three Indiana errors, scoring five unearned runs.
The Spartans jumped on top early, scoring a run in the bottom of the first when Beech walked and later scored on an RBI triple to centerfield by junior Natalie Furrow (San Diego, Calif.).
MSU added another run in the second inning thanks to a two-out rally. Merren singled, moved to second on a Hoosier error, and scored on an RBI single up the middle by Beech.
The Spartans blew the game open in the fourth inning, scoring four times on just two hits. Senior Lacy Hauxhurst (Westminster, Calif.) and sophomore Janette Hurtado (Rowland Heights, Calif.) reached on back-to-back errors to start the inning, and Indiana tried unsuccessfully to force Hauxhurst at third on Merren's sacrifice bunt, loading the bases. An infield single by senior Margaret Schick (Grass Lake, Mich.) scored Hauxhurst, and after a forceout at home, Lewis doubled to deep centerfield to drive in three runs and give Michigan State a 6-0 lead.
MSU scored its final run in the bottom of the sixth. Merren led off with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice, went to third on a groundout, then scored when Lewis tripled into the rightcenterfield gap.
Abby Stark had two hits for Indiana (17-28, 0-13 Big Ten), while Valerie White had a double.
Michigan State and Indiana will meet again Saturday for a 1 p.m. game.
