Michigan State University
Fresno State
Christner's Two-Hitter Lifts MSU Softball Into Regional Finals
5/17/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 17, 2003
FRESNO, Calif. - The Michigan State softball team stayed alive at the 2003 NCAA Regional, knocking host Fresno State out of the field with a 2-0 victory Saturday night. The victory sets up a rematch for MSU in the regional finals against No. 2 UCLA, which defeated the Spartans, 6-2, earlier Saturday. Michigan State, which won its third NCAA Tournament game for the first time ever, must defeat UCLA twice in order to advance to the College World Series. The first game begins at 12 p.m. local time (3 p.m. Eastern), and should MSU knock off UCLA in that game, the teams would meet again immediately following game one.
Sophomore Stephanie Christner (Sigourney, Iowa) was the story for MSU, firing a two-hit shutout, striking out three while walking just one to improve to 11-5. Christner did not allow a hit until one out in the sixth, and did not allow a Bulldog baserunner past second base all game.
Michigan State improved to 40-18, winning 40 games for just the third time in school history. Fresno State slipped to 36-22.
"I'm thrilled for our program," said MSU head coach Jacquie Joseph. "This is what we've been working for all year long, getting to the finals. After our loss to UCLA, to come back and beat a very good Fresno State team is incredible."
The game featured a classic pitcher's duel through the first four innings, as Christner and Fresno State's Jamie Southern held the hitters in check. A first-inning single by MSU junior Natalie Furrow (San Diego, Calif.) was the only hit allowed by either pitcher until the fifth inning.
Sophomore Janette Hurtado (Rowland Heights, Calif.) led off the top of the fifth with a single for MSU, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, becoming the first Spartan to move into scoring position. But senior Lacy Hauxhurst (Westminster, Calif.) lined out to first, and junior Angel Merren (Wayland, Mich.) struck out to end the inning.
MSU finally broke through in the sixth inning for a pair of runs. Senior Margaret Schick (Grass Lake, Mich.) led off with a single to left, and junior Brittney Green (Simi Valley, Calif.) followed with a ground ball to short that was booted for an error, putting two on with none out. Senior Sandy Lewis (Empire, Mich.) sacrificed both runners over a base, and Furrow came through with a single to left, scoring both runs.
In each of the last two innings, Fresno State got a one-out single, but in each case the runner never moved past first base. Christner stayed in control the entire game, getting a ground ball to shortstop to end the game and move the Spartans into the finals.
Furrow had two of MSU's five hits, and junior Jessica Beech (Okemos, Mich.) had a double. The game moved briskly, taking just 1:32, as MSU left only four runners on base and Fresno State just three.
