Michigan State University
Michigan
MSU Softball Stuns No. 13 Michigan, 2-0
5/3/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 3, 2003
EAST LANSING, Mich. - It had been five years and eight tries since Michigan State had earned a softball victory against Michigan, but senior Sandy Lewis (Empire, Mich.) changed all that with one swing of the bat, blasting a game-winning home run over the centerfield fence with one out in the bottom of the seventh to give the Spartans a 2-0 victory over the No. 13 Wolverines. Lewis' home run, her second of the year, improved MSU's record to 34-15 overall and 12-6 in the Big Ten, solidifying the Spartans' chances at obtaining their first NCAA Tournament bid since 1999.
Michigan, which had not lost to MSU since a 7-4 Spartan win April 14, 1998, was trying to clinch its third straight Big Ten title. The Wolverines will have one more chance tomorrow in Ann Arbor against the Spartans, but today's loss dropped UM to 39-11 overall and 13-4 in the Big Ten.
Lewis' heroics made a winner out of MSU starting pitcher Jessica Beech (Okemos, Mich.). The junior extended her school record with her 12th shutout of the season, limiting Michigan to four hits and one walk while striking out three. No Michigan runner advanced past second base as the Wolverines were shut out for just the fifth time all season. Beech, who improved to 23-7, outdueled Michigan All-American Marissa Young, who lost for just the second time this season while falling to 19-2. Young struck out nine and allowed five hits and a walk.
Both pitchers got out of potential trouble early and often. Michigan looked to get on the board first, advancing a runner to second with one out in the first inning, but Melinda Moulden lined a shot right at MSU third baseman Brittney Green (Simi Valley, Calif.), and Monica Schock flied out to end the threat.
Lewis' double with two outs in the bottom of the third gave MSU life, but senior Margaret Schick (Grass Lake, Mich.) struck out to end the inning.
Michigan put together back-to-back singles with two outs in the top of the fourth, but Beech struck out Young swinging to retire the side.
With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Green belted a long fly ball to deep left field, but Moulden made a sensational catch against the wall, robbing Green of a home run.
Schick returned the favor in the top of the fifth from her shortstop position, leaping high to snag a line drive headed for left field off the bat of Nicole Motycka.
Michigan State made some noise in the bottom of the fifth, as sophomore Janette Hurtado (Rowland Heights, Calif.) led off with a single, then beat the throw to second on a sacrifice bunt, putting two on with nobody out. But Young got Beech to fly out and struck out sophomore Angel Merren (Wayland, Mich.) for the first two outs. Lewis was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but Schick fouled out to third, keeping the scoreless tie intact.
Beech retired six of the next seven batters and MSU wasted two more base runners in the sixth inning, setting up the heroics in the bottom of the seventh. Senior Robyn Golden (Belleville, Mich.) reached on an error to lead off the inning. Young responded by recording her ninth strikeout, but Lewis then stepped to the plate and hit her game-ending shot to center, scoring both runners and giving MSU its biggest win of the season.
Lewis had two of MSU's five hits, with the others coming from Schick, Hurtado and senior Tiffany Wallace (Wildomar, Calif.). Junior Natalie Furrow (San Diego, Calif.) saw her hitting streak end at 11 games.
Michigan State and Michigan will meet again tomorrow at 1 p.m. in Ann Arbor in the final game of the regular season. The Spartans will then compete in the Big Ten Tournament May 8-11.
